Historical Releading
- Remove all stained glass leaded panels..
- Insert temporary weather shield coverings over window opening.
- Transport leaded glass panels back to studio for Historic Releading Restoration.
- Perform detailed photographic survey of stained glass in place with naturally transmitted light.
- Perform detailed photographic survey of stained glass without transmitted light.
- Make rubbings from each stained glass panel before disassembly to record overall individual glass sizes, lead line configuration, breakage, unsuitable prior repairs and any conditions that affect the panel's integrity or appearance.
- Disassemble stained glass from existing lead matrix.
- Clean individual glass pieces using lukewarm distilled water.
- Retain as much of the original glass as possible.
- Replace missing, non-matching, or badly damaged stained glass with new stained glass that best matches the original stained glass in all visual qualities.
- Repair minor cracked glass where possible by edge gluing, using Hxtal two-part epoxy adhesive. Repair larger cracks with lead came or copper foil where appropriate.
- Reassemble window with new restoration lead came to match original.
- Glaze with stained glass putty.
- Re-brace using flat galvanized steel reinforcement bars.
- Transport leaded glass panels back to the church for reinstallation.
Our goal during the historical releading restoration process is to return the windows to as near original condition as possible and correct the conditions that caused them to fail. Every effort is made to save the original glass as possible, repairs are made using a variety of techniques each suited to that particular situation.
The Restored Windows Should Last Longer Than Were Originally Built.
