Friday, November 24, 2017

Stained Glass Restoration Companies Berkshires Homeowners Have Used

By Charles Wood


If you are in the market for an older home with character and style, finding one with stained glasses windows is a unexpected bonus. Homeowners, church maintenance committees, and others who own this type of artwork all know how critical it is to keep it in good repair in order to make it last. Those who are looking at windows in need of restoring can contact the stained glass restoration companies Berkshires experts recommend.

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.

Before you hire anyone, you should get some quotes for the job. In order to give an accurate assessment of how much time the project will take, what all is involved, and what the cost will be, the companies need to know how you want the windows restored. The more details you can give them, the better they will be able to price the job.

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 not the only method of repairing stained glass. There are methods known as in-place which do not require the restorers to remove a window from its frame. Sometimes they will wash the piece and caulk any broken or cracked areas. Under other circumstances, the restorers may decide to add support bars to the window or suggest a partial re-leading job. Some customers mistakenly believe that the entire piece is going to be re-leaded.

Most experts agree that completely re-leading a window is the best way to restore the original beauty and maximize the structural integrity. The lead channel and cement compound are what gives the piece its strength. Along with the lead, the cement must also be totally replaced. Partial replacement of the cement is not effective.

Sometimes homeowners try to cut corners and ask restorers if partial restoration is as effective as a complete re-leading job. It may save a little money in the short run, but experts advise owners to make this decision carefully. The concern is that all the components had equal wear and tear before the partial repair. New lead can put too much strain on the older sections causing extensive damage.

Most people are amazed by the beauty of stained glass. It is worth the expense to restore all of these windows to their former glory. Finding the best restorers is the only way to accomplish that.




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