If you are in the market for a home and are lucky enough to find one with vintage decorative stained windows or are on the building committee of a church, hopefully you already know how important it is to preserve these pieces of art. These types of windows require conservation and maintenance to keep them from deteriorating. In order to return old glass to its original condition, you will need the services of a talented restorer working with the best stained glass restoration companies Berkshires offers.
Some people assume that an arts and crafts shop, that sells decorative window paints and supplies and offers classes on the subject, will have staff on hand to do the job. This usually turns out badly. A good restoration company will have references to give you and offer to show you around their workshops or direct you to the nearest job location.
If possible you should select a couple of good companies interested in bidding on your project. You must give them as much information as possible about the scope of the work and the methods you want the restorers to use. The more detailed the information, the more accurate their estimates and bids will be with regard to price, manpower and time needed for completion.
Re-leading the windows is one method used to restore stained glass. It is an involved process which requires workers to completely remove the window from the premises. Once the piece is in the shop, the old lead is entirely removed so the restorers can photograph the window, do rubbings, and take a variety of measurements. They also assess any old repairs and the current condition.
Re-leading is only one way this piece can be restored. Some craftsmen do what is referred to as in-place restorations. The window does not have to be removed from the frame for this type of job. After thoroughly washing the window, they caulk the cracked and broken areas. Sometimes support bars are added to windows and other times partial re-leading jobs are suggested.
Reputable restorers highly recommend re-leading the entire window in order to completely restore its original beauty and structural integrity. The lead channel is the backbone of the window and the cement compound, which must also be completely replaced, is the second most vital part of the window. Unless you remove the old cement completely, pouring new cement won't have much effect.
In order to save money some clients ask about partial re-leading, and there are companies willing to do these kinds of jobs for that money. Experts point out that all the components that went into the piece are the same age and have had the same wear. Replacing parts can put extra strain on the remaining leading which can lead to serious problems over time.
If you have stained glass, you have a piece of art, not just a window. You should make the investment of time and money to restore to its original beauty. To do that, you will need an experienced and talented craftsman.
Some people assume that an arts and crafts shop, that sells decorative window paints and supplies and offers classes on the subject, will have staff on hand to do the job. This usually turns out badly. A good restoration company will have references to give you and offer to show you around their workshops or direct you to the nearest job location.
If possible you should select a couple of good companies interested in bidding on your project. You must give them as much information as possible about the scope of the work and the methods you want the restorers to use. The more detailed the information, the more accurate their estimates and bids will be with regard to price, manpower and time needed for completion.
Re-leading the windows is one method used to restore stained glass. It is an involved process which requires workers to completely remove the window from the premises. Once the piece is in the shop, the old lead is entirely removed so the restorers can photograph the window, do rubbings, and take a variety of measurements. They also assess any old repairs and the current condition.
Re-leading is only one way this piece can be restored. Some craftsmen do what is referred to as in-place restorations. The window does not have to be removed from the frame for this type of job. After thoroughly washing the window, they caulk the cracked and broken areas. Sometimes support bars are added to windows and other times partial re-leading jobs are suggested.
Reputable restorers highly recommend re-leading the entire window in order to completely restore its original beauty and structural integrity. The lead channel is the backbone of the window and the cement compound, which must also be completely replaced, is the second most vital part of the window. Unless you remove the old cement completely, pouring new cement won't have much effect.
In order to save money some clients ask about partial re-leading, and there are companies willing to do these kinds of jobs for that money. Experts point out that all the components that went into the piece are the same age and have had the same wear. Replacing parts can put extra strain on the remaining leading which can lead to serious problems over time.
If you have stained glass, you have a piece of art, not just a window. You should make the investment of time and money to restore to its original beauty. To do that, you will need an experienced and talented craftsman.
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