Insitu Repairs
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We specialise in the repair, restoration and conservation of stained glass and leaded light windows and doors.
If the window has a small amount of damage, then it may be possible to repair it insitu without the need to remove the stained glass window completely from the frame, thus saving money, time and possible damage to the frame or the stained glass. Watch our YouTube video to see how stained glass is repaired in situ: |
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Stained Glass Releading
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If a panel is badly damaged, the best way to restore the stained glass will be to remove it from the frame and bring it back to the studio for releading
The frame will be boarded up with a board cut to the same size as the stained glass and fitted into the frame rebate. Releading is where we take apart the stained glass panel, clean the glass pieces and remake using new leads. Any broken pieces are also replaced. The panel can then be fitted back into the existing frame using steel strengthening bars if required. Take a look at our YouTube video, which shows the releading and encapsulation of a badly damaged panel. |
Painted Glass Restoration
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Stained glass windows with damaged painted, stained and kiln fired glass present the most challenging of any repairs for the stained glass restorer. The coat of arms shown in the photograph is the oldest stained glass window in the Chapel at the historic Smithills Hall in Bolton. During recent restoration of the stained glass we had to paint replacement pieces for this and many other of the ancient windows. |
How is it done?
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Stained Glass painting involves several complex painting processes and techniques:
1) The first step is to match up the colour and texture of the original glass which is usually hand made or 'antique' glass. 2) Once the matching glass is obtained or sometimes specially made, the new piece is cut to shape and then it is ready to start the glass painting. The glass paints are very finely ground particals of glass mixed with metallic oxides, cadmium and fluxes to help the paints flow and fuse into the glass when fired. The powdered paint is mixed with water & gum arabic, vinegar or oil to a consistency of Indian ink. 3) The next step of glass painting is to paint on the outlines. These outlines are known as trace lines and painted using a long bristled rigger ox hair brush. The trace lines can then be fired onto the glass at 725 deg C. 4) Once cooled the glass can then be matted to create the shading. Using a similar paint to the trace line paint the stained glass painted piece is painted all over with a thin coating of the dark paint. Whilst it is still wet it is spread out evenly with a large Badger brush. This special brush will spread the paint without picking it up. It can then be left to dry as a flat matt or stippled into a stippled matt. 5) Once the matt is dry it can be worked on with dry brushes to slowly remove the highlights to create the 3D image. This is a pain staking process and cannot be rushed. Once the desired effect is created it is then fired in the kiln as before. 6) The final painting stage is to stain the glass yellow by painting on a solution of silver nitrate onto the areas to be stained on the back of the glass and fired in the kiln at 450 deg C. This final process is where stained glass gets its name because we are actually changing the colour of the glass by a chemical reaction. These traditional stained glass window painting techniques are practied by the artists at The Stained Leaded Glass Company and you can be sure that your valuable stained glass windows will receive the care and attention to detail they deserve. |
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