The Manufactured Housing Forums

How to take out sliding glass window to replace glass?

I have a 1988 HollyPark with sliding glass windows. My next door Neighbor was mowing his yard, and a stone went thru the screen and broke my window. It is the sliding side of the window. I have searched, googled etc and can't figure out how my sliding window comes out to replace the glass?

Appreciate any help or suggestions

Windows in most homes of that vintage were installed from the outside of the home as it rolled down the assembly line. The window units have a flange that laps over the exterior of the home that has a few dozen screws holding it in place.


I have repaired dozens of broken windows. In the early days we used to measure the glass, order it from the local glass shop, pick it up and install it ourselves. This proved to be the least expensive method except for the fact that about 40% of the glass either broke on the way to the job or didn't fit exactly.

If the glass was slightly too large it was a real problem. Shaving 1/32 of an inch off of a sheet of glass is a difficult trick in a glass shop, with all the right tools. Attempting it in the field was just silly. If the glass was a tiny fraction to small the finished window looked horrid with a glob of caulking down one side. So we gave up on that.

Next we tried taking the window out, bringing it to the glass shop, letting them replace the broken sheet and then reinstalling the window. This worked very well as it put the responsibility for fitting and cutting the glass into the glass shop.

Over the course of time to cost of labour to remove and replace the window as well as 2 round trips to the glass shop rose to the point where today it is less expensive some times to just replace the entire window unit. or simply get the glass shop to send a technician to make the repairs in the field.

If you feel more ambitious than I do about doing this your self.

Since the late 80's - early 90's manufactured homes have been built with double insulated vinyl windows. When a window breaks, most of the time it’s just as easy to replace the whole window. But do you really need to? What if it’s a big expensive picture window that needs fixed? You may be surprised to know that replacing the glass is actually easier than replacing the window. For a step by step, slide show, tutorial CLICK HERE

I Thank You for your advice and experience. I guess first thing is to see how tomorrow. Take it to a local place to replace the glass. Or ask for an estimate of a new window would be.

Thanks again