Fogged double-pane glass means the seal on the insulated glass unit failed, and the unit, not the door, gets replaced. Cracked or shattered glass gets a new tempered unit too. We measure the opening, quote before ordering, keep the door safe while the glass is made to size, and install it when it arrives. Glass is always a measured quote.
What you get
- Insulated glass unit measured on site and quoted before anything is ordered
- Tempered safety glass, as required for doors, made to the exact size of your panel
- Broken glass cleared and the opening boarded or secured while the new unit is made
- New unit set, glazed and the panel re-hung on the visit it arrives
- Rollers and track checked while the panel is apart
Fogged glass: what happened
A patio door panel holds an insulated glass unit: two panes of tempered glass sealed around the edge with a sealed air space between them. When that seal fails, moist air gets in and condenses. You get fog, streaks or a milky haze between the panes that no cleaning reaches.
The frame is fine. The rollers are fine. Only the sealed unit has failed, so only the unit gets replaced. The panel comes out, the old unit comes out of the panel, and a new unit of the same size and thickness goes in.
Fogging shows up most on older doors and on doors that get full sun. We see plenty of it on the 1990s and 2000s vinyl doors in Scripps Ranch and Escondido. More on the symptom page: foggy or cloudy glass.
Cracked or broken glass
Door glass is tempered safety glass. When it breaks it crumbles into small pieces rather than shards, which is the point. A tempered pane cannot be cut or patched, so a crack means the unit gets replaced.
On a double-pane door, often only one pane goes. If the inner pane is intact, the door can usually stay in place and locked until the new unit arrives. If both panes went, we clear the glass from the frame and the track, then board or sheet the opening so the house is closed up.
Either way, call us the day it happens. We measure, quote and order on that first visit so the wait starts right away. See stuck closed or open if broken glass has jammed the panel.
Need glass replacement this week?
Call or text with your address, how many doors and what the door is doing. You get a firm price before we come out.
Measured quote: how glass pricing works
We never quote glass on the site or over the phone, and we never guess a price from a photo. Every insulated unit is made to order for the panel it goes in. The price depends on the exact size, the glass thickness, whether the unit has a low-e coating, tint or grids, and whether the panel needs new glazing bead.
So the first visit is a measurement. We pull the panel, measure the opening and the old unit, note the glass type and the bead, and give you a written price before we order anything. The service call fee is waived when we do the glass.
Rollers and track get checked while the panel is apart. If they need work, we tell you, and you can have it done on the install visit.
Lead time and what happens while you wait
Made-to-size insulated units come from a local glass shop. Standard clear units usually take one to two weeks [verify]; low-e, tinted or oversized units can take longer. We give you the shop lead time when we quote.
While you wait:
- A fogged unit is only a cosmetic problem. The door keeps working and locking as normal.
- A door with one broken pane usually stays in place, taped and locked, with the fixed panel unaffected.
- A door with both panes gone is boarded or sheeted on the first visit so the opening is closed up until the install.
On install day we set the new unit in the panel with new glazing bead where needed, re-hang the panel, set the roller height and test the lock.
Replace the glass or replace the door?
Replacing the unit is the right call when the frame is square, the panel is sound and the rollers and track are fixable. That describes most doors with fogged glass.
Think about a new door instead when:
- the panel frame is bent, rotted or coming apart at the corners, so a new unit will not seat,
- both panels have fogged and the hardware is obsolete, so you would be paying for two units plus rollers plus a lock on an old frame,
- you were already planning to change the door size or style.
We do not install new doors, so we have no reason to push one. If replacement is the better value, we say so. The full comparison is in our repair or replace guide.
Glass replacement across San Diego County
Seal failure does not care about the neighborhood, but the glass does. Coastal doors in Del Mar and La Jolla often carry heavier units and specialty glass, and Fleetwood and multi-slide doors use large panels that take two people and a longer lead time. Inland tract doors from Milgard and JELD-WEN are standard sizes and go quickest.
If your HOA has rules on exterior appearance, we match the existing unit, including tint and grids, unless you ask for something else.
Send a photo of the fog or the break with your city, and we will book the measurement visit.
Glass Replacement: common questions
Can fogged sliding door glass be fixed without replacing the door?
Yes. Fog between the panes means the insulated glass unit seal failed. The unit comes out of the panel and a new made-to-size tempered unit goes in. The door frame, panel, rollers and lock all stay. Cleaning does not reach the fog, because the moisture is sealed inside the unit.
How much does it cost to replace the glass in a sliding door?
We do not price glass on the site, because every insulated unit is made to order for its panel. The cost depends on the exact size, thickness, coatings and whether new glazing bead is needed. We measure on site and give you a written price before ordering. Our other repairs are flat per-door prices on the pricing page.
How long does it take to get replacement glass?
The unit is made to size by a local glass shop. Standard clear units usually take one to two weeks [verify]; low-e, tinted or oversized units take longer. We give you the shop lead time when we quote. The install visit itself takes about an hour for a standard panel [verify].
Is sliding door glass tempered?
Yes. Glass in doors must be tempered safety glass, which breaks into small blunt pieces instead of sharp shards. A replacement unit is made with tempered panes to match. Tempered glass cannot be cut after it is made, which is why a cracked pane is replaced rather than repaired and why exact measurement matters.
What do I do if my sliding door glass shatters?
Keep people and pets away from the pieces, and do not try to slide the panel, since glass in the track jams the rollers. Call us as soon as it happens. We clear the glass, secure the opening, measure the panel and order the new unit on that first visit, then install it when it arrives.
Will the new glass match my other panel?
We match the existing unit by size, thickness and glass type, including tint, low-e coating and grids between the panes, so the fixed and sliding panels look the same. If you want clearer or different glass, say so when we measure; a mismatched pair is noticeable.
More answers on the FAQ page. Not sure what your door has? Send us a photo and we will tell you.
Where we do this
We cover all of San Diego County, usually within the week. Some of the places we work:
Related guides
- Repair or Replace Your Sliding Glass Door? An Honest Decision Guide – When a $250 to $400 repair brings a 40-year-old aluminum slider back, when the frame, glass or track means replacement, and typical costs for both.
- What Does Sliding Door Roller Replacement Cost in San Diego? – What sliding door roller replacement costs in San Diego, why quotes run from $250 to $600 or more per door, what should be included, and how to compare.
Ready to get the door gliding again?
Call or text for a straight answer and a price before we come out. Mon to Sat 7am to 6pm.