Sliding Door Glass Replacement
I own a mid-century house in San Jose built in 1956 by a local architect. The house has three large aluminum structural sliding glass doors that are original to the home and are not available anymore. A pane of plate glass in one of he sliding glass doors recently cracked and is need of replacement. I understand that most / all window repair contractors will not replace the glass with plate glass (code) and that it may not be possible to use tempered safety glass or laminiated glass.
Does anyone know of someone / have personal experience replacing plate glass with safety glass into an aluminum sliding glass patio door. Please send recommendations directly to: soreese AT pacbell.net
Thanks.
Yes, I had the plate glass in my circa 1960 Arcadia aluminum frame sliding doors replaced with tempered safety glass about 5 years ago. I'm not sure who would tell you you couldn't replace it with tempered glass, or why they thought that was the case.
At the time I had mine done, since I had 5 sliding door sets to be done, the screen and glass company I used (from Cupertino) sent a guy on-site to do the work. If you have only one window to replace, I'm not sure they would be willing to come onsite. 'Course you can always call and find out. There is also a well known glass and screen company in San Jose you might try--check the yellow pages.
If you end up needing to remove the frame from the track and take it in yourself, you'll need to exercise caution as plate glass can be very nasty. Others might have a better suggestion, but off the top of my head, I'd suggest purchasing some mactac to cover the entire glass pane--perhaps both sides to make sure if it fractures it is contained. *Don't* pay big money to buy new, premium clear mac-tac. Instead, make use of off-price/ discontinued patterns since it doesn't have to be pretty. Once you've "laminated" the glass, lift the the sliding door frame up into the head of the tract to free the bottom edge which you should them be able to swing outward from the track. I'd suggest you use work gloves and grab a friend or family member to help handle the frame.
Good luck.
Jake
Jake -
Thanks for the response. Since my post I have found a little bit more information on the internet that seems to indicate that replacing plate glass in an aluminum frame sliding glass door is done.
I know that it is physically possible ( a pane of glass is a a pane of glass) but there was the issue of the built-in fragility of safety glass, laminated or not. I guess the issue is that the safety glass, if not properly isolated from the aluminum/metal frame with a gasket, silicon or putty (as it is with plate glass) can be fractured when closed hard. Theoretically the glass contacts the metal frame and shatters. Apparently plate glass is stronger and can withstand the vibration/contact with the aluminum frame.
It appears as though your installation has performed well over the last five years though, and that's good enough for me.
I live in the Rose Garden area of San Jose. I notice you live in the Willowglen area. Any chance you can recall the name of the glass people you delt with?
Thanks again for your response.
Scott
