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A stained glass window is a beautiful and practical way to add color to any room in your home. Due to the hours of labor that go into making a single stained glass window, new ones can be quite expensive. However, if you keep on the look out for them, old stained glass windows can be found in antique shops and flea markets, as well as still in their original homes. If you happen upon an old stained glass window, it is likely to need some restorative care, if not actual repair. Stained glass window repair should be undertaken by a professional, but it’s helpful for you to know, too, what needs to be done should you become the owner of a colorful, but slightly damaged treasure.
A stained glass window is a fragile thing, not merely because it is made of glass, but also because of its composite structure. Pieces of colored glass are held together by lead caming, which has a tendency to weaken or deteriorate causing the individual glass pieces to rattle or fall out entirely. Even if your stained glass window is painted so that it has no caming, it is still rather fragile as the paint can flake off. Clean your stained glass window regularly to maintain its appearance. There is a difference of opinion among experts as to how to properly clean a stained glass window, with water or without, but all agree that nothing other than water should be used. Soaps or detergents will damage paint or the soft lead caming, and some experts think that even water is damaging to caming. If you want to clean with water, clean the interior of the panes with water and wipe the outside edges near the caming without water. If you want to clean your stained glass window without water, gently brush it with a small, soft-bristled brush. If a stained glass window has been in your home for a long period of time, it likely has absorbed years of dirt and pollution that cannot be removed. Don’t despair; this is considered attractive, as if the window has picked up a fine patina. You must be constantly vigilant to keep your stained glass window in top condition; inspect it regularly. When inspecting your window, focus on each part – glass, caming, paint, cement/putty and framing – in turn. Check the glass itself for cracks which is a sign of other internal problems or vandalism. Be careful not to confuse cracks indicating damage with the natural cracks and fissures internal to the class. Pitting and discoloration of the glass suggests erosion of the glass itself. Either way, the damaged panes will need to be replaced. Caming deteriorates over time and every stained glass window needs to be recamed eventually. Signs that your caming needs repair include bulging of a pane of glass, cracks on the surface of the lead (particularly near solder joints), or a white powdery buildup on the surface of the lead. Putty or cement is used to seal stained glass windows, and over time both will harden or crack. If your window appears to be letting in water, this is the most likely culprit. If your window is painted, watch for chipping paint. Loose, sagging or bulging panes may indicate that the window was put together poorly, but it’s also possible that the window has settled with age and nothing can be done. Once you have identified the general problem with your stained glass window, you should call in an expert to confirm the issues and actually make the repairs. One symptom can signal multiple problems for your window and you want to make sure to address them all. Also, given the fragile nature of a new, undamaged stained glass window, you don’t want to risk any further damage. A stained glass window is a delicate work of art, but with proper care and maintenance, it is something that can be a part of your home for many, many years. |
