3 Signs Your Dallas Home’s Stained Glass Needs Repair

How To Spot Damage In Your Dallas Home’s Stained Glass Windows

The 100-year mark for much of the stained glass in Dallas and across the country is here or approaching. It is right around this time that stained glass, barring any unforeseen problems due to accidental breakage or poor craftsmanship, will need restoration. If you own an older home in Dallas area and you have stained glass windows, the time for proper and timely care may be upon you; it is time to have your stained glass looked at by a professional.

Now, just because your stained glass is old, does not mean it needs restoration. It simply means you should pay close attention to what kind of state it is in. There are ways you can tell stained glass repair is needed just by looking at it. Below are some signs to look for in your aging stained glass windows to give you an idea of whether or not it needs repair or maybe just needs to be cleaned.

Look For Deterioration On Your Stained Glass

Most people don’t realize just how durable of a material stained glass is and how relatively immune to natural deterioration from normal aging it is as well. American glass is exceptionally stable because of the composition of the glass. However, this does not mean the glass cannot be damaged over time or be tarnished by natural elements. Some obvious signs the glass in your Dallas home’s stained glass needs repair are scratches, chips, and abrasions–which can take down the clarity of your glass. Chemical agents and smog also build up on your glass–making it look old and dingy over time. Other signs of deterioration besides your glass simply looking dull are tiny cracks and or bigger chips in it. Of course, broken panels are a sure sign of deterioration and really need to be dealt with sooner rather than later because that can lead to the break down of the entire structure. If your stained glass has broken glass or missing panels, it is definitely time to have it restored, because more damage is sure to ensue.

Look For Structural Deterioration On Your Stained Glass

The most common way leaded stained glass breaks down, demanding repair, is through the skeletal structure that holds the glass in place. This means the frame itself or the leaded caming holding the pieces of glass together is rotting, deteriorating or sagging. This is because when frames are approaching total failure they look bent or saggy. When caming starts to fail, you will see leading pieces missing and likely cracking in the glass near or connected to the frame. This type of damage absolutely needs to be taken care of immediately because the stained glass in this condition could easily fall out from simple a strong wind or vibration.

Look For Signs Your Stained Glass Is Dirt Or Needs Cleaning

Even though stained glass typically needs repair every 100 years sometimes even very old stained glass, is perfectly fine and just needs a thorough professional cleaning. This, happily, is relatively inexpensive and will take it back to its original shine. The reason for needing the cleaning is over time dirt, soot, and grime build up on both sides of the glass from pollution, smoke, and oxidation. You should have a professional stained glass company clean your glass because aggressive cleaning with the wrong chemicals will cause damage and affect the glass’s transparency or shine. Regular cleaning is also necessary to avoid build-up of chemicals or air pollutants. When these are left on too long they make the cleaning harder and more time-consuming increasing the risk of long-term damage.

See more about stained glass repair and cleaning in the video below:

https://vimeo.com/261168380

Contact us at Dallas Stained Glass to have your stained glass inspected by a true professional today!

Martin Faith

Martin Faith is a master craftsman, builder, and designer of stained glass windows. Martin learned the art of glassmaking while living in Scotland, where he was born and raised. He has been studying stained glass as an art form for over 30 years. When he moved to the U.S., Martin opened his own shop and started selling antique and custom stained glass windows. Martin's areas of expertise range from historic and religious stained glass to popular styles such as art nouveau, Mackintosh, floral, beveled, Greene & Green, and prairie. Over the years, his company has produced and sold over 50,000 stained glass windows to customers located in Dallas and throughout the country.