How to repair stained glass window

Stained glass restoration is a time-consuming, complex process that sometimes requires as much time or more than making a new product. Use low-quality material or rely on amateurs for this kind of work. The result will be tragic, the stained glass window will be hopelessly ruined, and you will need to spend significant money restoring it. All clients of our studio avoid such problems and remain satisfied with the pleasant price and high-quality work done by our specialists.

As the classic said: "nothing is eternal under the moon," in the same way any product made by human hands is not eternal either. Stained glass, like any other product made of glass, is in danger of being broken or damaged by negligence in use. Over time, it may also be necessary to replace elements of stained glass that have broken off or slipped out of the copper frame, etc.

Most often, when stained glass is seriously damaged, it is easier to make a new piece than to restore an existing one. Typically, stained glass windows are of high artistic value, and the question of replacing such products with more unique similar products or making a copy is out of the question.

If a partial restoration of stained glass is necessary, our specialist can do it on site. Stained glass windows are of different sizes and can be up to 2079 m2 (the size of the largest stained glass window in the world, located in the Mausoleum of the Resurrection), and, of course, if a large area needs restoration, the window must be removed. The restoration work should be done in the studio.

Usually, the need to replace a stained glass window occurs in such cases:

• damage or deterioration of the work;
• Change of interior design or modification of purpose of the room.

When stained glass windows need to be restored due to the loss of their original appearance, our staff will do everything in their power to return the product to its original appearance. The renewed product will refresh the room's interior and make it much more attractive.

In the second case, using the currently installed stained glass window becomes impossible because it will not harmonize with the new interior or ultimately lose its functionality.

High-quality stained glass restoration involves selecting all the necessary materials in terms of properties and shape, which presents some difficulties. Suppose you do not consider the essential materials and colors for stained glass. In that case, meeting the customer's requirements will be almost impossible because the work result will not meet the client's expectations.

To avoid such negative consequences for the client to achieve the desired high-quality result, our company's restorers preliminarily analyze the size and shape of stained glass and establish the materials, paints, and glass used.

Preliminary analysis is fundamental in restoration work because this is the only way to achieve a quality restoration result. For example, if the stained glass window was initially made with low-quality materials, the best solution is to replace the stained glass completely.

During the stained glass restoration work, it is necessary to consider many nuances, to adhere to a particular technology.

If you order the services of stained glass restoration in our company, you can be sure that the employees of our salon will thoroughly analyze the old stained glass beforehand. After the analysis, the specialists will provide you with exhaustive information about the price and the time necessary for the restoration work. Be sure to keep in mind that such factors: influence the complexity of restoration work

• quality of materials;
• the size of the cells made of glass that make up the stained glass window;
• the location of the damaged area.

Here is an example: the area requiring restoration is located near the edge of the product; here, you can perform soldering of a small number of segments. Almost half of the stained glass panel must be unsoldered if the stained glass window is damaged near its center.

Regardless of the complexity of the assigned task, the restorers of our stained glass studio will make you an optimal price offer which implies restoration services of the highest possible quality and acceptable cost.

If stained glass restoration requires replacing most of the glass segments, it is advisable to order a complete replacement of the stained glass panel, which will save time and money for the client.

The size of the stained glass window is one of the main parameters considered during the restoration. The higher these parameters, the more expensive the restoration services will be. Repair of a small stained glass window at the site provides minimal cost to the client, as opposed to doing the restoration work in a workshop, which will incur additional charges:

• disassembly;
• transportation to the workshop;
• loading and unloading;
• storage.

All this must be taken into account when calculating the cost of work. Accepting the order in production, the company is fully responsible for the safety and integrity of the client's property.

When performing restoration works, we use proven materials of domestic and imported products, and our masters can determine the type of material of which stained glass window is made exceptionally accurately.

Stained glass restoration is probably the most challenging work. In addition to having to repeat the techniques of another master, it is often difficult to find the right glass, many of which are no longer in production at the restoration time. We live in a "fast" time. It often happens that stained glass windows made a few years ago must be serviced and restored by another master. Historically our country has never had a chance to establish family-owned, hereditary artisans' workshops which would be able to take care of their customers for many years.

Meanwhile, despite its longevity, stained glass periodically requires preventive maintenance. Often this is due to the need to treat the seams of stained glass with wax compounds to prevent "souring" of the seams from moist air. The owner or his family can damage the glass from which the stained glass window is made. In such cases, it is usually necessary to remove the stained glass window, repair it and install it. The work is detailed and cannot be rushed. We take on such work realizing that customers often value stained glass windows financially and as a simple memory of some moments from their past.

We repair and restore various products made of glass or containing glass. As a rule, it concerns stained glass windows for furniture, when the customer wants to change the design of glass facades in a table, and the repair of church stained glass. In addition, we can restore and repair stained glass windows made by other masters. Depending on the execution technique, different stained glass windows can be fixed in one way or another. In Tiffany stained glass windows, most often, it is a matter of replacing the cracked glass and restoring the decorative coating of soldered joints. In classic stained glass windows, usually in the case of antique pieces, it is sometimes necessary not only to replace the damaged glass but also to rebuild the entire ornament, where the lead solder can sag under the weight of the glass above it (only in vertical designs). In a glass mosaic, it is often a question of replacing the glass and its subsequent installation with a selection of matching tinted grout. When it is necessary to restore glass figures and other interior items, we use special UV glues for glass and sometimes gas burners for melting the chips.