Returning Windows to Their Original Beauty

Are your stained glass
windows bulging,
buckling or sagging?

Are they over
seventy years old?

Do they leak light,
water or air?

Are there cracked
pieces of glass?

Are there signs of
multiple previous repairs?

Stained glass windows generally begin to show signs of aging and deterioration between 70 and 100 years of age. The best way to avoid costly repairs of stained glass windows is to restore them before glass begins to break. Most stained glass usually needs to be re-leaded or repaired to prevent permanent damage from glass breakage. 

The lead, putty, solder, and other components that hold the glass in place become brittle over time. As they age, the natural expansion and contraction of the window will eventually cause cracking of the lead, decay of the putty, and an overall weakening of the window. This in turn will cause bulging, buckling, sagging, and eventually permanent breakage to the stained glass.  Click here to view the restoration process.

General periodic maintenance and an overall assessment should be performed every 20 years. This will identify any premature window movement, and/or installation problems. Regular cleaning, general repairs, properly executed re-cementing and reinforcing will enhance the structural integrity, and increase the longevity of the windows and minimize repair costs.

Windows Before Restoration (Above) Windows After Restoration (Right)

If your stained glass windows exhibit any of these problems, they most likely are in need of restoration. By completely re-leading the windows and performing periodic general maintenance, it will extend the life of the stained glass windows another 70 to 100 years.

Classic Glass, Ltd. has completed countless restoration projects of all sizes and has the experience necessary to handle even the most demanding job conditions. Please feel free to contact any church on our project list for a reference. Visit our Questions and Answers page or call for more information.

		This stained glass window was bulging and bowing as it hung in the Stutsman County Courthouse, in Jamestown, ND. The historical society that commissioned the refurbishment needed a studio capable of handling the restoration. Nearly a quarter of the glass pieces were cracked and needed to be matched and replaced, making this project especially challenging.
		The window was carefully documented through photos and rubbings.  At Classic Glass, Ltd. Stained Glass Studios all unbroken pieces were labeled, disassembled, and cleaned.  Each cracked glass piece was researched, and a decision was made as to whether the piece could be salvaged and repaired, which repair technique should be used, or if the broken glass should be replaced entirely. Glass to be replaced was researched and matched for color, texture and density. Replacement pieces are then cut.
		The caming (strips of metal used to join glass pieces) was researched, and a replacement with a similar profile and antimony was found. In this case, it was a zinc came. In cases where lead came is specified, the process would be the same. After reconstruction, the joints were soldered to complete the structural matrix that holds the window together.
		After the soldering was complete, the window was re-puttied with a linseed oil, calcium carbonate, and blacking mixture. This process seals, weatherproofs and strengthens the window.
		Using an absorbent powdered compound to soak up the excess putty, the window is carefully cleaned.
		Once the powder is removed, the window is polished.
		The final step involves reinforcement using steel flat-bar, which helps prevent future bulging and glass breakage.
		The finished window is now ready for re-installation and the original beauty of the window can be fully appreciated for generations to come.