How To Add Glass To Your Old Cabinet Door!

One way to upgrade that unpleasant looking cabinet door is by adding glass to the equation. This not only improves the look of the door but also adds a nice visual point.

The process to add glass to cabinet door is easy if you take preparation. Mark the cabinet door, cut it with the router and sand the surface of the door frame’s edge. After that, cut the glass and insert it into the door. Use sealant, primer, and paint. Done!

If you want to know the in-depth version about how to add glass to cabinet door, then the entire discussion below is what you must read!

Follow Step-by-step Instruction To Add Glass To a Cabinet Door!

Inserting the glass in the old cabinet door is straightforward if you can pick a simple design. Here’s how to put glass in a cabinet door:

Tools You’ll Need:

• Router.
• Router bit.
• Drill with drill bits.
• Screwdriver or screw gun.
• Chisel.
• Sander.
• Glass or plexiglass.
• Silicon caulk.
• Marker or pencil.
• Paint and primer.
• Painter’s tape.
• 4 clamps.
• Vacuum cleaner or cleaning brush.
• Measuring tape.
• Brushes.

1. Preparation

• Wear safety equipment like gloves, ear protection, and eyewear.
• Organize all the tools and gears.
• Take out the hinges from the cabinet door. Use the screwdriver or screw gun to detach the 3 screws on each hinge.

2. Mark The Cabinet Door Surface

Grab the pencil or marker and simply mark the cabinet door surface. It’s better to mark the border of the center panel even if the shape is square or rectangular. 

Note: Avoid adding a new design on a panel-included cabinet door.

3. Use Router On The Marked Area

After marking the cabinet door surface, place it in the flat or even workstation. Insert the right-size router bit into the router machine. Be sure to understand the depth of the cabinet door when picking the router bit.

Then, turn on the router and simply run it to match the lines of the center panel’s edge. Ensure you are moving the router in a straight line.

Next, remove the tool from the door surface and tap on the center panel to remove the cut portion. Bring the chisel and remove the excess area from the cabinet door center panel areas.

Pro Tip: Use tape on the edges of the marked area to ensure not to cross the line when cutting the center panel.

4. Level The Surface With A Sander

Bring the sander machine or sandpaper with the block and rub the cabinet door surface. This is a necessary step if you are thinking of painting the wooden part.

5. Cut The Glass Surface

Grab the removal center panel of the cabinet door that you have cut using the router. Measure the inner open area of the cabinet door with the measuring tape. Mark the glass surface using the marker and scale.

Take a reliable and good-quality glass cutter like the Toyo Custom-Grip glass cutter. Use it to cut the glass or plexiglass matching the marked line.

Be sure to insert the customized glass or plexiglass on the cabinet door frame to understand if it requires any adjustments or not. Sand the corners of the glass to avoid cuts or accidents.

Pro Tip: Grab the removal center panel of the cabinet door that you have cut using the router and place it below the glass or plexiglass to cut the perfect piece.

6. Seal The Glass In The Door Frame

Place the glass inside the door frame and cover the glass area with painter’s tape. Use an all-weather silicon caulk like the Gorilla Waterproof Caulk & Seal. After using it, smear the paste on the border with your fingerprint to ensure full sealing.

Pro Tip: To ensure a better visual effect on the cabinet door, add the wood trims above the glass surface.

7. Apply Primer And Paint The Door Frame (Optional)

Take a brush and simply dip it into the primer to run in the door frame. Be sure to do it on another side as well and let it dry for around 30 minutes.

After that, grab another paint brush and dip it into the paint to cover all the old cabinet look. Ensure to do the same thing on another side. Dry the surface for up to 1 hour to touch.

Then, put the door in the cabinet area and attach 2 hinges by securing the 3 screws using the screwdriver or screw gun. You also need to add the doorknobs by attaching the 2 – 3 screws with the same tool.

How Much Does It Cost To Put Glass In Cabinet Doors?

The cost would be different based on DIY or getting help from a professional carpenter. Both will require some spending, but one seems more cost-efficient than another.

For the expert way, adding glass in the cabinet doors will cost around $300 – $500 per door based on the difficulty level, door type, parts, and location.

On the other hand, the DIY procedure will only charge the cost of the parts takes not more than $150 in total if you contain the basic tools of woodworking. 

Read: Best hardware for flat panel cabinets [Current Trend]

Wrap Up

If you do the above steps correctly, it’s easy to add glass to the cabinet door with minimal mistakes. This will take not more than 1 hour (excluding prime and paint direction since it’s not compulsory).

Hope you get the nicest glass cabinet door gracing the look of your kitchen. Good Luck On This Project!