Can You Remove Grids From Double-Pane Windows?

Which Grid Type Do You Have?

Everything depends on where the grid sits relative to the two panes of glass. Run a finger along the bars from inside the room, then from outside. What you can and cannot feel tells you which of the three types you are dealing with.

Still working out what the part is called or which style your window uses? Our overview of grid types and names will help you identify whether your window grids are removable before you touch a fastener.

Removing a Manufacturer-Designed Removable Grille

Removal procedures are not universal. They vary by manufacturer, product series and fastener design, so the correct steps are the ones published for your specific window — not a generic sequence.

1. Identify the window manufacturer and product line if possible. Look for a label, stamp or laser etching on the sash or glass edge.
2. Confirm that the grille is specifically described as removable in that manufacturer’s literature. If it is not, stop here.
3. Inspect the perimeter for clips, plungers or manufacturer-specific fasteners.
4. Follow the manufacturer’s removal sequence for that fastener type.
5. Release the fasteners individually while supporting the grille with your other hand.
6. Do not pull from the center, bend the grille or pry against the glass.
7. Stop if the grille does not release with light pressure. Forcing it risks the grille, the glazing seal and the glass.

Andersen, for example, instructs users to disengage removable-grille fasteners or plungers one at a time, beginning at the bottom of the grille, and warns that the steps vary depending on the fastener or plunger used on that product. Treat that as one manufacturer’s method, not the method for every brand.

For the tools that are appropriate — and the ones that are not — see our guide to manufacturer-approved grid removal tools and methods. If the goal is simply to wash the glass behind the bars, the step-by-step in how to remove window grids for cleaning covers that specific job.

Grids Sealed Between the Glass Cannot Be Removed

Grilles-between-the-glass are permanently installed inside the sealed insulating glass unit during manufacturing. There is no fastener to release and no access panel. Marvin, for instance, describes these grilles as permanently installed between the glass panes.

They cannot be reached without separating or destroying the sealed unit. Do not drill the glass, cut the spacer, break the edge seal or try to pry the panes apart — any of those permanently ruins the unit and can shatter the glass.

If you want a clear look instead, the practical solution is usually a replacement insulated glass unit manufactured without grids. Depending on its condition and design, the existing sash or frame can sometimes be retained, so this does not automatically mean replacing the entire window. A glazier can confirm which applies to your window after measuring the unit.

If the glass is also foggy, or you can see moisture or debris between the panes, the seal itself has likely failed and the unit needs replacing regardless of the grid — see double-pane window repair for what that involves.

Simulated Divided Lite Bars Are Permanently Applied

Simulated divided lite bars are generally manufactured as permanently applied components. Attempting to pry them from the glass may damage the bars, coating, glazing system or glass and may affect the manufacturer’s warranty. Check the window manufacturer’s instructions before attempting any alteration.

Andersen states that its exterior grilles are permanently attached to the glass and are not the removable type. Some simulated divided-lite systems pair a permanent exterior bar with an interior component that may be removable — another reason to confirm the specific product before assuming either way.

Broken or Missing Grids

If a removable grille is broken, discolored or missing, a replacement may or may not be available. Replacement grille availability depends on the manufacturer, product line, grille pattern, dimensions, color and age of the window. The existing window label or product identification can help determine whether a matching replacement is still available. There is no guarantee that an exact match can still be sourced for an older window.

For a grid sealed between the panes, there is no separate replacement part. A damaged or discolored GBG means replacing the insulated glass unit.

Talk to Allnite Glass

Allnite Glass can inspect double-pane glass, identify whether a grid is removable and provide insulated glass replacement when a between-the-glass grid cannot be altered separately. If the sash, seal or frame was damaged during an attempted removal, the team also handles residential window repair across the area.

Call (931) 645-2464 or contact us online with a photo of the window and any manufacturer markings, and we will tell you which of the three situations you are in before anything is ordered.