DIY CABINET GLASS REPLACEMENT GUIDE

Glass is a multifunctional item used in interior decoration. It is functional and visually aesthetic. The addition of glass as an upgrade to a cabinet can transform a dull or traditional cabinet to a modern looking one instantly.

Apart from making the home visually appealing, you can use glass cabinets to store essential items that leave your home organized. While glass cabinets are used in keeping things and the house organized, you can also use them to showcase valuables that are important to you and that you want people, including yourself, to see.

Glass cabinet door are a great addition to the kitchen. A glass cabinet upgrade will instantly update the everyday look of your kitchen to a modern one with a feel of luxury. They make your kitchen organized and stylish, make cooking efficient, and can also be used to showcase that valuable china you just acquired. 

Besides the above, compared to other cabinet materials, glass cabinets are straightforward to maintain and clean. A simple clean with a dishwashing solution and lint-free cloth will keep the glass clean and shining again. Glass cabinets also add a touch of luxury to the home or wherever the glass cabinets are placed. Glass upgrades are one way to tune up the glamor in any space.

TOOLS AND MATERIALS NEEDED TO INSTALL A CABINET GLASS

To install a cabinet glass upgrade in a wooden cabinet, you will need the following:

• Panel-inserts cabinet doors
• 1/8-inch thick glass sheets
• Tape measure
• Silicone (the clear one)
• Screwdriver
• Utility knife
• Pliers 
• Buzzsaw
• Chisel
• Straight edge or carpenter’s square
• Masking tape
• Hearing protection
• Safety eyeglasses

DIY STEPS TO REPLACE CABINET GLASS 

• STEP 1 – REMOVE CABINET DOORS

Please note that your panel-insert cabinet doors must have a frame surrounding them for this DIY tutorial to work.

Detach the cabinet doors from the cabinet. Label and number the parts on the doors and cabinets using masking tape to make coupling back easy. 

Check the detached cabinet door and frames for staples, small nails, wood pieces, and if there are any, you can use pliers to remove staples and short nails. 

• STEP 2 – MEASURE DETACHED CABINET DOORS

Examine the top edge of the detached cabinet doors. Tongue-and-groove joint corners should be present on each cabinet door. 

Measure the spread of groove on the cabinet door insides and measure the depth as well. 

Using a carpenter’s square or straight edge, mark the cabinet doors on the interior frame to show the depth. Use the carpenters’ square to mark the depth dimensions on all sides. 

• STEP 3 – CROP OUT PANEL INSERTS

Put on your safety eyeglasses and hearing protection. Position the buzz saw on the cabinet door and align with the marks made to indicate the depth dimensions of the groove on all sides.

Steady the cabinet door on a flat or work surface and carefully use the buzz saw to cut marked lines indicated on the cabinet doors.

After cutting, using a chisel, free the insert corners of the panel from the cabinet frame and remove it from the groove.

Measure the cut-out panels and note the measurements.

• STEP 4 – CUT THE GLASS SHEETS

The measurements of the panel inserts have been determined, now it’s time to measure the glass sheets. You can get your cabinet glass sheets from Fab Glass and Mirrors.

Measure the dimensions of glass panels to be used in your cabinet doors using the dimensions obtained from measuring the wooden panel inserts. Mark the dimensions on the glass sheets with a straight edge or carpenters square. 

Use the utility knife to nick the glass sheets down midway. Using a clamp to keep a straight board on the glass sheets to keep it steady, snap the glass sheets on the nicked lines. 

• STEP 5 – PAINT THE DETACHED CABINET DOOR PANEL/CABINET

If you plan to do this as a makeover, you can paint the cabinet into a new color and paint the detached cabinet door panels too.

If you do not plan to paint the whole cabinet, repaint the detached cabinet door panels in the color of the cabinet to give it a polished and finished look.

It is optional, and you can skip this if you feel it is not needed.

• STEP 6 – SILICONE APPLICATION

After painting the detached cabinet door panel and paint has dried up, the next step is to apply silicone to the panel.

On the silicone tube nozzle, you should see slanted lines with fraction numbers beside them. These marks are to show you how small or big the nozzle cut will be. If you do not understand the numbers or are not sure of how big the nozzle will turn out after cutting, start with the smallest mark size. 

It is easier to make a bigger cut when it is needed but difficult to go back to a small size after making a big cut.

Turn the detached cabinet door frame to the inner side and spread crystal clear silicone on the entire frame line. Steady the nozzle of the silicone and keep at an angle of about 45 degrees. 

• STEP 7 – PLACE GLASS SHEETS

After the application of silicone to the detached cabinet door frame, it is time to place the glass sheets.

Try as much as possible to pick the glass up by the edges. Make sure this is safe as some glass edges can be razor-sharp. If the glass is not safe to pick up by the sides, pick it up in such a way that it should not be an area that will be placed on the silicone.

Position the glass sheet on the cabinet frame, place the cut glass sheets, and pin actively into the frame.  

Clean up excess silicone on the glass sheet surface using a moist microfiber cloth or cloth free of lint to gently wipe the stains after inserting the glass and allow applied silicone to dry up.

• STEP 8 – FIX THE GLASS CABINET DOORS TO YOUR CABINETS

After placing the glass on the detached cabinet door panels, allow the silicone to dry up completely. You can check the amount of drying time indicated on the silicone tube, use the maximum time suggested for complete drying.

Once dried, fix the new and finished glass cabinet doors back into the cabinet. Check out these trends https://www.thesmartconsumer.com/waterfall-counter-top-trend