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HOW DAMAGED IS YOUR STAINED GLASS?
As mentioned, your stained glass panel may be able to be repaired ‘on-site’. If removal is necessary but the damage is restricted to small areas, then your panel will need what we call an overhaul. However, if the damage is widespread then we may recommend a full rebuild.
Things to look out for.

Cracked or Missing Glass
If your panel has one or two large cracked glass panes there is a good chance that these can be replaced in situ, several cracked glass panes some of which are adjacent to one another would indicate the need for removal as these would need attention flat on the bench.

Condition of the lead
Traditional stained glass is made up of several glass panes held together by lengths of H Section lead known as came. The lengths of lead came are held together with lead solder. Over time the lead will deteriorate from exposure to weather or cleaning products for example and will show signs of breaking down. If the lead is pitted and has turned a whitish colour, or cracks have appeared around the soldered joints this is a good indication that your panel will certainly need to be removed and quite possibly rebuilt.

Movement of the panel
Most old stained glass, especially panels glazed into doors will eventually deteriorate to the point where the panel will start to ‘wobble’. Should your panel have horizontal support bars you may find that some of the copper ties will have separated from the panel. If this movement is left to continue the cement in the lead came will crumble and eventually the glass panes will rattle when the panel moves. In general, if your panel has a noticeable ‘wobble’ then it will need removing as recementing must be done on the bench. We will give you our opinion on what is required to restore your stained glass panel. You will receive a breakdown in your quotation and where necessary multiple options and prices. Accepted our quote? What next?

Removal of your stained glass
You may be removing your stained glass as you intend to fit it into a new front door or window frame. If this is the case, we are happy to liaise with your carpenter/joiner to ensure the glass is ready in time for your fitting date. We will contact you to arrange a convenient time for removal of your panels. Your stained glass will be replaced with secure temporary glazing, in either clear or obscured glass depending on the location of your frame and/or your preference.

Work required to your stained glass

Whether your panel is due an overhaul or a full rebuild, the relevant processes are detailed here to give you a better idea of the work involved.

OVERHAUL

  1. Removal of the border lead – the ‘frame’ of thick lead that surrounds your stained glass will no doubt deteriorate during the removal process. This will be cut away and replaced with new lead, giving the panel extra rigidity.
  2. Deteriorated lead/solder joints – the ‘thinner’ lead within the panel that holds the glass within it often deteriorates with age and cracks around the rigid solder joints. This breakdown causes the panel to move and ultimately fall apart. Isolated areas of lead deterioration will be replaced with new and solder joints re-applied, should the problem be widespread then a full re-build of your panel may be necessary.
  3. Cracked and missing glass – All cracked glass within your panel will be replaced with the closest available matching glass. Many old glass colours/textures are no longer made, but re-production equivalents and our stocks of original salvaged glass mean that often a match can be found. Should this not be the case, then a ‘balanced’ repair is carried out to retain the panels symmetry.
  4. Re-cement and Clean – Whether your stained glass panels are rigid or not after removal, they will be fully re-cemented. This is the process of ‘flooding’ the panel with a fine cement with a consistency like pouring cream and then carefully removing the residue once dried. The light abrasive texture of the cement also cleans the glass. (Due to age of some stained glass, residue that appears to be surface dirt is often ‘etched’ into the glass and therefore cannot be removed. A thin bead of water that has settled against the lead usually because of cleaning the panels, evaporates and leaves behind minerals/chemicals that over time will leech into the surface of the glass.)
  5. Pick and Polish – A great deal of care is taken to ‘pick’ any remaining dirt or spots of paint from your panel that were not removed by cementing. In general, the longer the panel has stood, the more time it will require. Our aim is to restore the glass to look as close to new as it’s age will allow. The final polish involves applying a graphite paste which adheres to the lead and is buffed with a brush.

 

FULL REBUILD

  1. Take a rubbing of the panel – Before dismantling it is crucial that a pattern of the panel is taken to be used as a reference for putting it back together, the best way to do this is a good old fashioned wax rubbing to pick up the lead lines.
  2. Dismantle Panel – Stripping a stained glass panel is the process of cutting away the border lead and carefully separating each pane of glass from the surrounding lead came and cement. The glass panes are then logged, numbered and soaked in hot soapy water to soften the cement residue that needs to be removed before rebuilding.
  3. Clean old cement residue from panes – Once soaked each pane is cleaned with wire wool, razor blade scrapers and white spirit to remove traces of old cement residue from the edges of the glass. Whilst these edges won’t be seen once the panes are wrapped in new lead came, space is required for the new cement once the panel is rebuilt. When clean and dry the panes are placed on the rubbing and a more accurate drawing is produced in order to ensure the build is as good a representation of the original as possible.
  4. Cracked and missing glass – All cracked glass within your panel will be replaced with the closest available matching glass. Many old glass colours/textures are no longer made, but re-production equivalents and our stocks of original salvaged glass mean that often a match can be found. Should this not be the case, then a ‘balanced’ repair is carried out to retain the panels symmetry.
  5. Re-cement and Clean – Whether your stained glass panels are rigid or not after removal, they will be fully re-cemented. This is the process of ‘flooding’ the panel with a fine cement with a consistency like pouring cream and then carefully removing the residue once dried. The light abrasive texture of the cement also cleans the glass. (Due to age of some stained glass, residue that appears to be surface dirt is often ‘etched’ into the glass and therefore cannot be removed. A thin bead of water that has settled against the lead usually because of cleaning the panels, evaporates and leaves behind minerals/chemicals that over time will leech into the surface of the glass.)
  6. Pick and Polish – A great deal of care is taken to ‘pick’ any remaining dirt or spots of paint from your panel that were not removed by cementing. In general, the longer the panel has stood, the more time it will require. Our aim is to restore the glass to look as close to new as it’s age will allow. The final polish involves applying a graphite paste which adheres to the lead and is buffed with a brush.
    A case study of a recent stained glass restoration can be found here.