How To Spot Damage In Your Kansas City Home’s Stained Glass Windows
How To Spot Damage In Your Kansas City Home’s Stained Glass Windows
Here in lovely Kansas City and across the country for that matter, the 100-year mark for many stained glass windows is upon us or fast approaching. This is because a myriad of stained glass windows were built shortly after the turn of the century. So it is about this time that stained glass, barring any problems due to accidental breakage or shoddy craftsmanship, will begin to need repair or restoration. If you own an older home in Kansas City area and you have stained glass windows, it may be time to consider having your antique stained glass restored by a professional or at least inspected and cleaned. At the very least, perhaps it is time to take a closer look at it and see if the telltale signs of needing restoration are present. Below are some signs to look for on the stained glass windows in your Kansas City home to tell if it may be in need or repair or just a thorough cleaning.
Look For Deterioration On Your Stained Glass
Many people don’t realize that stained glass is a very durable material and relatively immune to natural deterioration from aging. American glass is extremely stable because of the composition of the glass when it was created last century. However, this does not mean the glass can never be damaged and time will always tarnish it. Some very apparent signs the stained glass in your home needs repair are things like scratches, chips, and abrasions–which also take down its clarity. Chemical agents and smog also build up on your glass–making it look old and dingy, so if your glass looks cloudy, this is probably why. Other signs of more deterioration tiny cracks or chips. Of course, broken panels are a sure-fire sign your glass needs professional help and should be dealt with promptly because they can lead to much worse problems or failure of the glass. If your stained glass has broken glass or missing panels, it is absolutely time to have it restored, because more damage is imminent.
Look For Structural Deterioration Of Your Stained Glass
The most serious way leaded stained glass breaks down is through the skeletal structure that holds the glass in place. This is when the frame itself or the leaded caming holding the pieces of glass together is rotting, deteriorating or sagging. This means frames are approaching total failure and they look bent or saggy. You need to fix it right away lest it totally collapses. When caming starts to fail, you will see missing, bent or broken pieces and more than likely cracking on the glass near or connected to the frame. This type of damage absolutely should be addressed because the stained glass, in this condition, could easily fall out from just a strong wind or vibration.
Look For Signs Your Stained Glass Is Dirt Or Needs Cleaning
Even though stained glass typically needs to be repaired or restored around 100 years of age, sometimes very old stained glass, is perfectly fine In fact, it may just need a deep and thorough cleaning by a professional. Happily, this is a relatively inexpensive procedure and which will bring it right back to its original shine. The reason stained glass gets so dirty is environmental; soot and grime build up on both sides of the glass from things like pollution, smoke, and oxidation. The reason it is critical to have a professional stained glass company clean your glass is because aggressive cleaning or cleaning with the wrong chemicals will cause damage and it could even permanently affect your glass’s transparency or shine. Regular cleaning is also necessary to avoid build-up of chemicals or air pollutants which could lead to long-term damage as well.
See more about stained glass repair and cleaning in the video below:
https://vimeo.com/262213408
Contact us at Kansas City Stained Glass to have your stained glass inspected by a true professional today!
Martin Faith
Martin Faith is from Glasgow, Scotland, the stained glass capital of the world. Martin has been practicing the art of making stained glass windows for over thirty years and is a collector of antique works. His excellent craftmanship and extensive knowledge of the art form, including the required techniques for glassmaking, styles, and history of stained glass make him an expert in his field. Martin owns one of the largest stained glass window studios in the country. The company specializes in stained glass repair and restoration, religious stained glass, commercial stained glass, and custom residential stained and leaded glass. Together, Martin and his team have created hundreds of stained glass windows for homes and buildings in the Kansas City area.
