Looking after your stained glass
Take advice from a specialist. If intervention is required then Rainbow Glass Studio applies the following principals of conservation
Reversibility
Minimum Intervention
Preventive conservation (Protection)
Best Practice throughout
Deterioration of stained glass panels is normally down to four main aspects – age, weather, inappropriate protection and vandalism. It is advisable to periodically check stained and leaded glass windows for deterioration or damage. The signs that you should mainly look for are:
- Bulging or buckling of lead
- Damaged areas of lead and glass or cracks in glass
- Panels that have become detached from the strengthening bars
- Leakages
- Areas of condensation between protective glazing and stained
or leaded glass windows - Loss of glass paint
You should retain any found sections of glass that have become detached from the window. These broken segments, however small, are invaluable during the conservation of the stained or leaded glass window.
Please do not hesitate to contact Rainbow Glass Studio LTD if you require any future advice regarding architectural stained glass windows.Conservation measures are always taken on a case by case basis. If intervention is necessary then the following principals of conservation include:
- Reversibility
- Minimum Intervention
- Preventative conservation (Maintenance and protection)
- Best practice
Problems with protection
Although, outer glazing can protect the windows from vandalism and weather ingress, poorly designed protection systems can have a negative impact on the future preservation of the stained & leaded glass.
The installation of a protective glazing system is a crucial part of the preventive conservation of architectural stained glass, which is vulnerable to both mechanical and environmental damages. The principal aims of a protective glazing system are to relieve the stained glass of its function as a weather shield, to protect it against mechanical and atmospheric damage, and to prevent condensation on the surface of the stained glass window.
Ventilation is essential in creating the correct environment for the future preservation of stained glass. Instead of protecting the window, an unventilated protection system can, in fact accelerate the deterioration of the stained glass window. It can also cause a number of other problems such as:
- Heat will build up within the cavity causing the lead work to soften and accelerate distortion.
- Any moisture and humidity within the cavity will build up and create mould growth.
- Watermarks, masonry debris, dirt, organic growth and insects can stain or gather in the surface areas between the stained glass and protective glazing. This cannot be accessed for cleaning.
- I can also allow moisture to appear on the internal painted glass surface. Over time moisture corrodes glass and also deteriorates the painted surface.
- Poorly design systems can have a detrimental effect on the window aesthetics.
Ferramenta
Do not get mistaken by the surface oxydation of ironwork. It may look like it should be replaced but wrought iron will still retain its strength and can be mechanically cleaned prior to the application of zinc phosphore primer and top coat paint.