DIY Your Own Wood Door With Glass Panels

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If you've been thinking of changing your internal doors to give a bright, fresh look to your home, wood doors with glazed panels can be particularly appealing. The light they allow through is beneficial in darker rooms, and you can choose between clear glass or a variety of obscure pattern options for more privacy. You have several options for getting these doors: Buy new from a store or a local carpenter, give your existing doors a trendy refresh with a chic DIY panel design, or make your own. If the latter sounds a bit intimidating, it needn't be. As we'll see shortly, there's one method that uses surprisingly straightforward joinery while still providing all the strength you need.

Over on YouTube, content creator Shara Woodshop Diaries runs through a project to create a ladder-style wood door with glass panels that is modern and attractive. She installs it barn-door style, but it could also be hinged. Given that store-bought equivalents cost anywhere from $200 to $400, the DIY approach could also save you money. While making the door requires care and attention, it can be achieved by those with relatively modest woodworking skills. However, if so far you only have the basic tools worth investing in to start woodworking at home, you will probably need to add to your collection.

You will need a table saw. Larger is definitely better. If you have standard doorways, some of the lumber you cut will be 80 inches or longer. If you're using a small table saw, it's important to secure it so that it can't tip. You'll also need some kind of outfeed support after the lumber has passed through the blade.

A jointer is a good idea for squaring up the pieces, although you might be able to find planed and sanded lumber of the correct size at the store. The store associates may cut it to size for you, but that's not usually recommended, as accuracy can vary. You'll also need a half-dozen clamps big enough for the door width.

Almost any kind of wood can be used. Poplar is easy to work with and paints and stains well. Cedar and red oak are widely available and have an attractive grain. Plexiglas is one option for the door lites, but real glass definitely adds a touch of class. For safety, you'll want tempered glass. While you may find suitable glass cutting boards that offer a budget-friendly solution, if you want a particular size or obscure glass, you'll need to order it. Bear in mind that tempered glass cannot be trimmed, so it's vital to get the size right. You'll also need some wood glue, and Titebond III Ultimate Wood Glue is an excellent choice.

The door has two uprights (stiles) and several cross rails. If you're hanging it as a barn door, the thickness will need to suit your chosen hardware. If you're opting for hinges, the doors would usually measure 1⅜ inches thick, but do check. Also measure the height and width of the doorway. Decide how many glass panels you want, and what size. The door in the video has nice proportions, but there are no set rules. It's a good idea to sketch a scale version or even a full-size paper mockup. Adjust sizes until you're happy.

There's an old woodworker's adage that says, "measure twice, cut once." It saves a lot of lumber from being wasted. When ready, saw the lumber to suit your plan. In the video, the creator uses dowels inserted into holes. This is a very straightforward technique, but care is needed with marking and drilling to ensure proper alignment. Carefully dry-fit everything together to check for alignment before gluing and clamping. Wipe off any glue that squeezes out and leave to dry for 24 hours.

The glass is fitted between moldings that can be bought at the store. Modern wood glues provide all the strength necessary, though fixing the glazing in this way makes it difficult to remove a panel if one gets damaged. The traditional alternative is to hold the moldings in place with brads. If you tap them just below the surface and apply wood filler and sand, they will be all but invisible even if you don't paint the door.

In theory, there's nothing to stop the same design from being used for a front door. In fact, wood and glass is one of the show-stopping front door design ideas from your favorite HGTV stars. It will probably need to be thicker (front doors are usually 1¾ inches), but that's actually the least of the challenges you'll face. Front doors need to comply with relevant building code, and while there are national standards, it's quite possible that your jurisdiction has made amendments or additions to them. There are particular rules affecting the type of glazing and the style of lock, for example. It's something that can't be taken for granted, so you need to check with local building authorities first.

For your own benefit, you might also want to add a weather strip or other feature to prevent drafts. Additionally, as it will face all weathers, the choice of finish will be important. So, while it's perfectly feasible to DIY a wood front door with glass panels, there are a number of additional considerations. Having a bespoke wood and glass front door can certainly be an attractive feature, especially if it's the same style as your internal doors. Whether it's worth the hassle is up to you.