To Repair, Restore Remove: Antique Stained Glass Restoration

By Martin Faith Aggrigate, Church Stained Glass Restoration Comments Off

When it comes to stained glass that is over 80 years old–decisions need to be made about long-term care and restoration. Whether this antique stained glass is in your Salt Lake City church or home–the questions are all the same. You must ask what the best course of action is to keep your stained glass safe and/or looking good. This usually comes down one of three options: repair, restore or remove.

When to Have Stain Glass Repaired

Stained glass should be repaired when it has minimal issues. This means light cleaning is needed, a few glass panels are chipped or cracked and/or it has small pieces of missing leading. Also, the glass should be under 80 years old to consider repair rather than restoration. This is because stained glass older than 80 years old may have structural issues requiring full restoration.

When to Have Stained Glass Restored

Stained glass needs to be fully restored around the age of 80. As it happens, stained glass was only designed to last 80-100 years before needing restoration due to the materials makers had at the time. When a stained glass is restored it is fully removed from your home or church. It is then taken to our studio for repairs. The restoration includes things like new caming, new support structures, new or restored glass panels and deep cleaning.

When to Have Stained Glass Removed

The very last option and one we rarely recommend is for stained glass to be removed. This course of action happens when the window as a whole is beyond repair. In this case, salvaging the window as a whole is not an option. You may be able to save a few pieces and have them made into hanging panels in this case. As sad as it is when stained glass is beyond repair, we here at Scottish can build you a spectacular new window to take its place that will last for 200+ years!
For more information on stained glass repair and restoration here in Salt Lake City or for a custom stained glass inquiry, contact us at Salt Lake City Stained Glass today!