DOOR GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

This booklet contains Installation Instructions for the following:

REPLACING your existing door glass

Pages 3-6

ADDING door glass to a panel or flush door without glass

Pages 7-10

INCREASING the size of door glass in a door with existing glass

Pages 11-15

FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS
Page 16

For more information, please visit www.zabitat.com, or contact customer service at 855-813-3111

PAGE 1
FOR 1-3/4" THICK DOORS
STATEMENT OF INTENDED USE
Door glass panels are for use in 1-3/4" thick
residential steel and fiberglass doors.
May be used in wood doors when panel dimensions and door thickness
dimension match specified measurements.
THEY ARE NOT DESIGNED FOR USE IN DOORS THAT DO NOT
HAVE RIGID STEEL FRAMES, OR AS WINDOWS IN A WALL
ANY MISUSE OR INSTALLATION OTHER THAN STATED WILL VOID THE WARRANTY.

CAUTION
When working with glass and frames, care should be taken. Door glass is made

SAFETY of tempered safety glass but should be carefully supported at all times.
We recommend that you install the door off the hinges and lying down.
FIRST!
Door glass kits may be heavy and of an awkward size, so two installers
may be required to remove the old glass from the opening and lift the door glass.

TOOLS YOU WILL NEED TOOLS

FIND A HELPER
• Safety Gloves
• Safety Glasses
• Dry Wall Screw (size optional)
• Power Screw Driver with Phillips Head Bit
• Putty Knife
• Window Cleaner
• Tape Measure
• Pencil
• Painter's Tape
• Drop Cloth
MEASURE TWICE FOR ACCURACY
IF YOU NEED TO CUT
AN OPENING…
Additional tools will be needed.
• 2 Saw-horses
• Drill with 3/8" or 1/2" bit
• Jigsaw with a short-stroke blade
• Ear Protection

PAGE 2
DOOR GLASS CONSTRUCTION
OUTSIDE FRAME
& DOOR GLASS INSIDE FRAME
The outside frame section The inside frame section with SCREWS
and glass. holes for the attachment screws. & SCREW PLUGS
OUTSIDE GLASS & FRAME INSIDE FRAME WITH SCREWS

The attachment
screws are placed
into the door glass
from the inside
of the home for
added security.

REPLACING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

IF YOU ARE ADDING GLASS MOVE TO STEP 1 ON PAGE 7. IF YOU ARE INCREASING
GLASS MOVE TO STEP 1 ON PAGE 11. FOR REPLACING GLASS CONTINUE READING.

1 MEASURE THE EXISTING OPENING

Existing door glass must be removed prior to installing this product. Removal may make the existing door glass
or sidelight unusable. If you have questions or concerns, consult an Zabitat Customer Service Representative at
855.813.3111 for help.

MEASURE THE THICKNESS MEASURE THE WIDTH AND

of the existing door. Door glass is HEIGHT of the existing doorglass. If
designed to FIT DOORS THAT ARE the measurements correspond to the
1-3/4" ± 1/16" THICK. chart, our glass will fit your door.

FOR 1-3/4" THICK DOORS WIDTH X HEIGHT

PAGE 3
 REPLACING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

2 REMOVE FRAME USE DRYWALL SCREW TO REMOVE SCREW HOLE PLUGS

& GLASS
A. LOCATE SCREWS
AND REMOVE THEM
Old paint, putty, or caulk may need to
be removed from the screw plugs first.
REMOVE ALL SCREW PLUGS AND
ALL ATTACHMENT SCREWS. A A

HAVE A HELPER SUPPORT THE GLASS B. REMOVE INNER FRAME

Once the screws are removed, have a helper stand on the outside
INSIDE of the door and hold the frame. REMOVE THE INNER FRAME.

CAREFULLY PRY FRAME LOOSE

C. LOOSEN
OUTER FRAME
 pply painter's tape to protect the
A
outside surface. INSERT THE PUTTY
KNIFE between the outer frame and
the door to break the old caulk seal.

TIP: 
Spray window
C
cleaner around
outer frame's
edge to help
release caulk.

D. REMOVE
REMOVE EXISTING DOOR GLASS EXISTING DOOR GLASS
While wearing safety glasses
and gloves, GENTLY REMOVE
THE EXISTING GLASS.

REMOVE EXCESS CAULK & DIRT

E. CLEAN & PREPARE
DOOR SURFACE
After the door glass has been
safely removed, CAREFULLY
SCRAPE any old or excess caulk
and dirt from the inside and
outside openings.

D E

PAGE 4
 REPLACING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

3 PREPARE DOOR
CUTTING A STEEL
PREPARE
OR FIBERGLASS
DOOR DOOR A. REMOVE DOOR FROM HINGES
B. REMOVE HANDLE SET FROM
DOOR

A
A B

4 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS

LAY NEW FRAME INTO POSITION A. Lay down the exterior frame over the
sawhorses, then add the glass overtop.

TIP: 
To ensure that the glass is correctly
installed the temper stamp should
appear on the bottom of the door.
A

LAY DOOR OVER DOOR GLASS B. Carefully lay the door over the door
glass. To properly distribute the weight
of the door glass, place the bottom edge
of the door opening snugly to bottom
of the door glass.

PAGE 5
 REPLACING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

4 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS CONTINUED

PLACE INTERIOR FRAME C. Place interior frame with exposed screw
holes over the inside of the door.

ALIGN THE FRAMES AND INSERT SCREWS D. A

 lign the frames by matching the
screw hole guides.

E. Insert each screw working from side

to side. Tighten firmly so that the
frame fits snugly against the door
and the seal is compressed. AVOID
OVER TIGHTENING THE SCREWS
to allow the window to expand and
contract. Recommended torque
setting around 4 to 6.

F F. Align the screw plugs with the

DD E
frame profile. Insert and tap
each one into place.
PLACE DOOR BACK ON HINGES G. Place the door back on it's hinges.
Use standard window cleaner to make
your new door glass shine!

SEE PAGE 16 FOR FRAME FINISHING CONSIDERATIONS.

PAGE 6
 ADDING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

IF DOOR GLASS IS NOT CURRENTLY PRESENT OR A LARGER SIZE

DOOR GLASS IS BEING INSTALLED, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:

1 PREPARE DOOR
CUTTING A STEEL OR FIBERGLASS DOOR A. REMOVE DOOR FROM HINGES
B. REMOVE HANDLE SET FROM
DOOR
C. LAY DOOR ACROSS SAWHORSES

A C

2 MEASURE, MARK, AND CUT

MEASURE AND MARK

A. Refer to THE MEASUREMENT GUIDE on
zabitat.com, MEASURE AND MARK
THE CUTTING AREA of front side of
door. If your door is flush (no emboss-
ments), measure corner to corner of the
cutout marking to make sure opening is
A square.

B. APPLY PAINTER’S TAPE around

APPLY PAINTER'S TAPE
cutting area to prevent damage
while cutting.

DRILL STARTER HOLES C. DRILL 3/8" OR 1/2" STARTER HOLE

in all 4 corners of the measurement.

PAGE 7
 ADDING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

2 MEASURE, MARK, AND CUT CONTINUED

DON'T CUT THROUGH DOOR D. Do not attempt to cut all the way through the door.
The up-stroke should not leave the door and the
down-stroke should not exceed 1" into the door.

CUT ALONG GUIDE E. Using starter hole, INSERT JIG SAW with a short-
stroke blade into the inner core of the door and CUT
ALONG MARKED GUIDELINES, corner to corner.

DIFFERENT DENSITY NEAR LOCK F. Y

 ou will be cutting through material of a different
density near the lock, you will feel slightly more
resistance.

FLIP DOOR OVER AND REPEAT G. FLIP DOOR OVER AND REPEAT STEPS A TO E for the
back side of door.

REMOVE TAPE AND DEBRIS H. REMOVE TAPE AND DEBRIS

I. REMOVE all packaging from the door glass kit.
J. SEPARATE the inner frame from the outer
frame and glass insert.

PAGE 8
 ADDING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

3 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS

LAY DOWN OUTSIDE DOOR GLASS A. Lift the door off of the sawhorses and
lay down the outside frame over the
sawhorses, then add the glass overtop.

TIP: 
To ensure that the glass is correctly
installed the temper stamp should
appear on the bottom of the door.

B. Carefully lay the door over the door

LAY DOOR OVER DOOR GLASS
glass. To properly distribute the weight
of the door glass, place the bottom edge
of the door opening snugly to bottom
of the door glass.

C. Place interior frame with exposed screw

PLACE INTERIOR FRAME
holes over the inside of the door.

PAGE 9
 ADDING GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

3 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS CONTINUED

ALIGN THE FRAMES D. Align the frames by matching the screw
hole guides.

E. Insert each screw working from side to side.

INSERT SCREWS
Tighten firmly so that the frame fits snugly
against the door and the seal is compressed.
AVOID OVER TIGHTENING THE SCREWS
to allow the window to expand and
contract. Recommended torque setting
around 4 to 6.

F. Align the screw plugs with the

frame profile. Insert and tap
each one into place.

F
E

G. Place the door back on its hinges. Use

PLACE DOOR BACK ON HINGES
standard window cleaner to make your
new door glass shine!

G SEE PAGE 16 FOR FRAME

FINISHING CONSIDERATIONS.

PAGE 10
 ADD/INCREASE GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

1 REMOVE FRAME USE DRYWALL SCREW TO REMOVE SCREW HOLE PLUGS

& GLASS
A. LOCATE SCREWS
AND REMOVE THEM
Old paint, putty, or caulk may need to
be removed from the screw plugs first.
REMOVE ALL SCREW PLUGS AND
ALL ATTACHMENT SCREWS. A A

HAVE A HELPER SUPPORT THE GLASS B. REMOVE INNER FRAME

Once the screws are removed, have a helper stand on the outside
INSIDE of the door and hold the frame. REMOVE THE INNER FRAME.

CAREFULLY PRY FRAME LOOSE

C. LOOSEN
OUTER FRAME
 pply painter's tape to protect the
A
outside surface. INSERT THE PUTTY
KNIFE between the outer frame and
the door to break the old caulk seal.

TIP: 
Spray window
C
cleaner around
outer frame's
edge to help
release caulk.

D. REMOVE
REMOVE EXISTING DOOR GLASS EXISTING DOOR GLASS
While wearing safety glasses
and gloves, GENTLY REMOVE
THE EXISTING GLASS.

REMOVE EXCESS CAULK & DIRT

E. CLEAN & PREPARE
DOOR SURFACE
After the door glass has been
safely removed, CAREFULLY
SCRAPE any old or excess caulk
and dirt from the inside and
outside openings.

D E

PAGE 11
 ADD/INCREASE GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

2 PREPARE DOOR
REMOVE ALL DOOR ACCESSORIES A. Remove door knob or handle and any
locksets and carefully set them aside
until after the door glass is installed.

B. Remove door from hinges.

Lay door across sawhorses.

A B

3 MEASURE, MARK, AND CUT

EXTEND EXISTING DIMENSIONS

A. Refer to THE MEASUREMENT GUIDE on zabitat.com,
MEASURE AND MARK THE CUTTING AREA of front
side of door. If your door is flush (no embossments),
measure corner to corner of the cutout marking to make
sure opening is square.

APPLY PAINTER'S TAPE B. APPLY PAINTER’S TAPE around cutting area

to prevent damage while cutting.

DRILL STARTER HOLES

C. DRILL 3/8" OR 1/2" STARTER HOLE
in all remaining corners to be cut out.

PAGE 12
 ADD/INCREASE GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

3 MEASURE, MARK, AND CUT CONTINUED

DON'T CUT THROUGH DOOR D. Do not attempt to cut all the way through the door. The
up-stroke should not leave the door and the down-stroke
should not exceed 1" into the door.

CUT ALONG GUIDE E. Using starter hole, INSERT JIG SAW with a short-stroke
blade into the inner core of the door and CUT ALONG
MARKED GUIDELINES, corner to corner.

DIFFERENT DENSITY NEAR LOCK F. Y

 ou will be cutting through material of a different density
near the lock, you will feel slightly more resistance.

FLIP DOOR OVER AND REPEAT G. FLIP DOOR OVER AND REPEAT STEPS A TO E for the back
side of door.

REMOVE TAPE AND DEBRIS H. REMOVE TAPE AND DEBRIS

I. REMOVE all packaging from the door glass kit.
J. SEPARATE the inner frame from the outer
frame with glass.

PAGE 13
 ADD/INCREASE GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

4 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS

LAY DOWN OUTSIDE DOOR GLASS A. Lift the door off of the sawhorses and
lay down the outside frame over the
sawhorses, then add the glass overtop.

TIP: 
To ensure that the glass is correctly
installed the temper stamp should
appear on the bottom of the door.

B. Carefully lay the door over the door

LAY DOOR OVER DOOR GLASS
glass. To properly distribute the weight
of the door glass place the bottom edge
of the door opening snugly to bottom
of the door glass.

C. Place interior frame with exposed screw

PLACE INTERIOR FRAME
holes over the inside of your door.

PAGE 14
 ADD/INCREASE GLASS INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

4 INSTALLING NEW DOOR GLASS CONTINUED

ALIGN THE FRAMES D. Align the frames by matching the screw
hole guides.

E. Insert each screw working from side to

INSERT SCREWS
side. Tighten firmly so that the frame fits
snugly against the door and the seal is
compressed. AVOID OVER TIGHTENING
THE SCREWS to allow the window to
expand and contract. Recommended
torque setting around 4 to 6.

F. Align the screw plugs with the

frame profile. Insert and tap
each one into place.

F
E

G. Place the door back on its hinges. Use

PLACE DOOR BACK ON HINGES
standard window cleaner to make your
new door glass shine.

G SEE PAGE 16 FOR FRAME

FINISHING CONSIDERATIONS.

PAGE 15
 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

FINISHING THE FRAME

CONSIDER PAINTING OR STAINING THE DOOR GLASS FRAME

TO COORDINATE WITH YOUR DOOR FINISH.

PREMIUM PAINT- AND STAIN-READY TAN PLASTIC FRAME

Tan frames are manufactured with a specially engineered plastic that is designed to be painted or stained.
No primers or adhesion promoters are required when painting or staining this frame. We recommend using the
same high quality exterior grade paint or stain as you will use to finish your entry door.

FRAME SURFACE PREP

The frame should be free of any dust and debris. Use mild detergent and water. The frame should be dry and
acclimated to room temperature before applying paint. No other surface prep is necessary for finishing this frame.
NOTE: DO NOT APPLY ADHESION PROMOTERS or PRIMERS containing adhesion promoter to this frame.

PAINTING AND STAINING

Painting – Recommended for use with exterior latex paint. Apply thin coats, allowing paint to dry between coats, to
achieve the desired coverage and finish.

Staining – A 2-Step Staining process is recommended for the most desirable level of adhesion.
Step 1 - Apply an opaque base coat of paint to the frame, as described above.
Step 2 - Apply the stain to the frame. Work stain into the graining with a sponge or cloth. Wipe off the excess stain
for the desired finish. Stain manufacturer's instructions may differ or provide additional information. Please follow
their instructions. Apply a compatible clear top coat to the manufacturer's recommendation to protect finish.

HIGH PERFORMANCE MAINTENANCE-FREE

WHITE FRAME FINISHING INSTRUCTIONS
White frames are the perfect solution for a durable, maintenance-free frame that DOES NOT REQUIRE PAINTING.
It will not yellow over time and when unpainted, will not warp behind a storm door.

If you desire to paint the frame around your door glass, we recommend that your purchase the Premium Paint- and
Stain-Ready Tan Frame. However, if you choose to paint a White Frame:
1. For increased paint adhesion use adhesion promoting primer made for use with polypropylene.
2. Finish with an exterior grade acrylic latex paint. CAUTION - Apply paint in a well-ventilated area and follow all
paint manufacturer's cautions, warnings and instructions.

214129 • (04/14)

PAGE 16