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entry door glass replacement

June 18, 2016, 04:35:17 pm

Hi all
We're looking for a little direction. The front entry window on our 1998 U320 has lost its seal and has accumulated an unseemly amount of moisture.
We've called FOT who directed us to call Peninsular Glass. After calling them for a price, we were fairly shocked at the amount of $500 plus shipping.  Installation would be in addition to this amount here in Mich.
Q. Is this price out of line our am I just being too frugal?
Q. Is there another alternative than a new insulated unit?
We had a glass Co come and measure to make an insulated unit but that price was $1000 and it's still not installed.
I'm just recently disabled so any tear down etc would have to be done by an outside firm we use close to us in MI

Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated.  Thanks in advance

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #1 – June 18, 2016, 05:18:35 pm

Go to Home Depot and buy a sheet of that really expensive transparent plastic stuff that's similar to plexiglass but much improved, and cut out a new window using the old glass as a template. You can cut it to size with an ordinary table saw, then round the corners with a band saw, then sand the edges smooth with a belt sander. It's much lighter, much more durable, much better insulated, won't fog up, and much more affordable than dual pane safety glass. I replaced my little sliding window by the driver's seat with this stuff two or three years ago thinking it was a temporary fix until I could get the "real" glass window custom made, but it's so impressive that I'm leaving it in there permanently. I will replace any broken windows except the windshield with this stuff in the future. Sorry that I can't remember what the brand name is but you'll find it in Home Depot or probably Lowe's. Be aware the stuff is scratchable, but that's only an issue in sliding windows, not your entry door. I have a narrow scratch where one of the screws from the latch gouged the window, but it's not a big enough deal to switch back to the expensive custom made glass window. If you don't like it you can always replace it with a glass window later, which is what I originally intended to do.

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #2 – June 18, 2016, 05:21:43 pm

It cost us $200 at the RV Fog Doctor, in Searcy, AR. They even have full hookups for free!

Trent

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #3 – June 18, 2016, 05:22:44 pm

Scott,
 
I think you may be referring to Lexan?
 
Trent

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #4 – June 18, 2016, 05:37:49 pm

I had enough left over in the sheet to make another little sliding window for the passenger side and probably a big sliding window too. It says "Optik" is the brand name and it's some kind of acrylic. It hasn't discolored like plexiglass does. I think you'll like it and not bother to replace it with a glass window. Try it for a while as a temporary fix and see if you like it.

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #5 – June 18, 2016, 05:39:42 pm

Some things you'll notice right away about the acrylic are how lightweight it is and what a good insulator it is... and of course the price and the ease of cutting it to shape compared to cutting glass.

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #6 – June 18, 2016, 08:02:17 pm

Here's what I did.

Rich

Entry door window & latch repair

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Re: entry door glass replacement

Reply #7 – June 18, 2016, 08:12:04 pm

Cost at FOT was one CB out the door.

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