Restoring, Preserving and Creating
the Treasured Heritage of Radiant Stained Glass
           

 
Restoration

Restoration/repair of your windows is the first priority at Stained Glass by Shenandoah We believe the windows should be brought back as much as possible to their original beauty and strength (in the case of steel braces, perhaps even greater strength). In fact, it is a Shenandoah policy not to offer protection/insulation services unless preceded by needed restoration/repair. Basically, restoration includes:

  1. Reducing bulges and installing new steel braces for strength
  2. Restoring cracked stained and/or painted/fired glass
  3. Recementing the exterior surface of the windows to restore structural strength and forestall the development of bulges

Bulges are the most serious structural defect in leaded glass windows. They are caused by the great weight of the leaded glass and by constant exposure to the elements. Wind, rain, snow and temperature extremes cause the deterioration of the cement that holds the glass in the lead. After bulges have developed, it is necessary to strengthen them or they will continue to crack and break. The cost of repairing a window when the bulges are starting, instead of after the window is falling apart, is about 20 times less! Bulges cannot get better by themselves... only worse, and the longer they remain unchecked, the greater the chance your whole window will be destroyed.

Glass Replacement is one of the most difficult tasks involved in stained glass repair, because matching is not a perfect science. It is a general rule to only replace a piece of stained glass if it has at least two cracks and if it can be closely matched. The Shenandoah Master Craftsman working with the matching process closely will advise you when replacement pieces are required.

Painted/Fired Glass now can be duplicated with an reasonable assurance of excellent matching, including replication of the fade on bordering pieces of painted/fired glass. Our Shenandoah Restoration Artists are able to replicate the style of other artists and of other eras.

Millwork – One item that an exact price cannot be quoted in advance of the Shenandoah Master Crew's arrival is the millwork (rotten or damaged woodwork related to the stained glass frame). If repair is needed, the Shenandoah Master Craftsman will notify the church's representative for an inspection of damages and to discuss options. Once its determined the extent of the repairs, the Master Craftsman will provide the church an exact estimate of millwork repair costs for approval. The church may choose to use a local carpenter if the carpenter is immediately available and can work within the time constraints of the Shenandoah crew.