Garage door window replacement

I have a Overhead Garage Door with a broken window. I already have the replacement glass but can't figure out how to remove the inside frame bezel. I tried prying it apart but am afraid to break it. Is this crimped on or something?
http://home.comcast.net/~bostonbruins/OHDOORWINDOW.jpg

 

Is the piece that touches the glass all one piece with the piece where you have the arrow? Either way, if it breaks it breaks. There isn't too much you can do. Try using 2 flat bars. Start at one end, not in the middle.

 

From outside in it goes
1)rectangular plastic piece with mitered 90 deg angles
2) plastic domed (Picture #2) shaped piece that is recessed it to item 1
3) Glass
4)U shaped rectangular piece (Picture #1 W/ Arrow) that seems crimped onto item 1

I didn't know if there was a special tool for removing item 4

 

I don't know of any special tool for that.

 

Ok this one is a bit harder to fix than most. You should consult a professional in your area.
First of you need to take the top section down.
The back pieces of the frame clamp down on the front so be very careful when removing not to break the teeth otherwise you need new clips.
Place the section face down preferably on a piece of plywood the size of the exterior window frame.
Insert glass.
Carefully pound the interior clips to the frame with a mallet.
Make sure you start at the corners of the longer clips and work your way to the other end.
Then the smaller vertical clips starting at the corner working to the other end.
Without the plywood on the frame you will break the glass since the raised panel part is about 1/8" countersunk from the rest of the door.
I hate the fact that years ago all the window frames were screwed on from the back but now the manufactures figured out they can make more money by using these clip style frames.
You really should consult a professional.
Hope this helps you out.

 

I searched long and hard for how to replace the window in this type of door. I see posts saying it's hard and that putting it back together you'll need to take things down and pound and that you might break the glass. That's all well and good but how the heck do you get the thing apart in the first place. Do you remove the outside bezel or do you remove the inside u-shaped pieces. I've tried to pry both without much luck. Is it easier if the remaining glass is removed? Is there caulk or glue between the glass and the outside bezel? Are the u-shaped insided pieces glued to the metal somehow? If I destroy the u-shaped pieces can I get new ones someplace? Or am I over a barrel and have to hire a garage door company?

 

I just recently had the same issue. From your picture it looks the exact same as mine. There is no putty or glue holding it in, it basically has three ridges that run the length of the molding that holds the window frame in place with the three ridges that run the length of the window frame. I got mine iff just by useing paint scrapers and screw drivers but did damage some of the molding in the process. I was still able to re-use it though, it just doesnt look pretty. I want to change out the molding with new molding but so far I have not been able to find out where they sell it.

While searching for molding I came across this forum, I did see a tool from Sears that is supposed to help in removeing the molding though, not sure how great it will work.

 

Well I just got acclimated to this issue. As a Handyman I figure I can do anything, well here I think I was wrong. I damaged the inside piece getting it off figuring "no problem, I can get 3 feet of this stuff anywhere no dought". Wrong!.

They are hording it .... lol

If there is no mention of it on ebay you are in trouble my friend.

It turns out that out of 10 to 15 calls to garage door fixit guys in my neighborhood, only one suggested that he could get a new frame for me if I could figure out the manufacturer.

Great! In the mean time all other venders act like they never heard of it.

Getting it off without damaging it is the trick but I think it can be done. Remove all the broken glass so not to get cut. Then work a corner with a blade screwdriver or maybe a putty knife until it parts. I found it pretty hard to get started but once I could see how it mated it was easier to pry open. Well, not so fast, I got ahead of my self and kinked it. Not good! I noticed that the more you pull away towards kinking it, the tighter it gets to itself. So that's not it. Perhaps a hair dryer to soften it up a bit and some patients. I wouldn't suggest a heat gun. I think it would melt.

I talked to some pro glass guys that claimed they can do it ..... slowly.

If you can get it off without damaging it I'm sure you've all read that mysterious artical about how to hammer it back on. Take the entire panel off the door and lay it on the ground makes sense. Back it with plywood or something like that. The pro glass guy suggest he and a helper can do it in place. The help holds a piece of 2x4 to the side while he hits it together from the inside. Good luck with that method.

Anyway, good luck to you all finding new trim molding for this condition. I think I have a lot of explaining to do if the one garage door contractor that said he can help decides not to.

Signed,
Humbled Handyman

 

Do you know the manufacturer? Maybe they can help.

 

My garage door was manufactured by COLEMAN and it looks just like the photos of the original poster, farringd, some five years ago.

It is my understanding that COLEMAN stopped making garage doors.

The owner of a local garage door business turned out to be the original installer of my garage doors some 20 years ago. He said he had never replaced a broken glass in any of the COLEMAN garage doors in all his many years in business but he said he would look to see if he had any old panels laying about but I have not heard back from him in over a week.

I am now considering getting a whole NEW garage door but that is going to be an expensive proposition as I have triple garage doors ... meaning I would have to buy three new doors if I wanted them to match!

I am tempted to just leave the garage door alone and live with no glass in the one panel of the four panel garage door. You can hardly notice it from the street. I will need to remove the "emergency opening rope" since anyone can just reach through the vacant glass panel, pull the cord to open the door, and help themselves to the contents of my garage and home.

Another idea would be to break and remove the glass panes from the remaining eleven openings. [3 garage doors with 4 glass panels on each] It would look uniform and might even provide some air circulation. I'm sure my wife would hit the roof with that idea.

 

Without looking closely at your door, I feel sure that, if the manufacturer installed the panes, there is a method of replacing them. Easy fix would be to contact a local glass shop. They have the experience with many styles of windows and methods of installation.

You could also probably get a piece of plexiglass at a big box and cut it to fit.

 

Hi,
I have the same problem but had some success in getting the trim off without breaking it. When I purchased the home the broken glass had been removed, so do that first. I used two putty knives. I stood on the outside of the door and used a stool to be able to see better. I started at a corner and pried it up and away from the fins that are underneath and holding it in place. It helps to pry it back with the other putty knife a few inches away also. Here is where I tried something I have not seen elsewhere. Instead of continuing to try to pry it up and over the fins, I put my fingers around the back side of the trim. With my fingers between the door and the bottom side of the trim I pulled the trim away from the door and up. That allowed it to roll back toward me and come off of the fins easier. I did this with each piece and just gently worked my way along and none of the pieces broke. I haven't put the new glass in yet but thought I would pass this along.

 

"SUPER TITE SNAP FRAME
HAMMER DOWN STYLE" as one site called them. But its amazing that it doesn't appear to be an easily obtained part.

I've had my window taped for over a year now, as i can't find these parts and really replacing the window frames and cutting out the garage to fit the new frames will cost about 50% of a new door, so really almost seems that buying a new door is a better deal.

 

I know this is an old post, but I searched this topic and after seeing a couple of videos explaining how to remove screws from a very simple frame style. (That style seems very straight forward, not really needing a video) then I saw this thread. I am having this problem today and hoped there was a relatively simple solution. I do appreciate that this snap on style really does secure the window well, but glass breaks and there needs to be a reasonable way to fix, maintain or replace it. Anyway, your posts have helped me appreciate that I need to not break the frame as I take it off.
I've had some success using a small flat bar, couple of putty knives, a small flat screwdriver, mechanic's pick. I first broke the seal on both sides, then gently prying the snap connector off one click ( of two or three) at a time, working along the length until it pops off. I hate breaking brittle plastic whether on something like this, own auto appliance etc. so it's a matter of finesse, patience and watching very closely for stress on the plastic - whitening and hopefully stopping before there is any cracking. Anyway, it can be done.