Stained Glass restoration: Do it Yourself or Hire A Stained Glass Expert?
Stained glass in churches is beautiful and represents the longstanding church history in the US. Here in Austin, we have many gorgeous old churches with stunning stained glass to match. These works of art need to be taken care of to last for future generations. However, stained glass restoration can be costly, and some congregations may be tempted to do it themselves. The good news is–there are some things you can do yourself when it comes to stained glass maintenance. More extensive repairs and restorations should be left to a professional, though.
DIY Church Stained Glass Maintenance
A seasoned stained glass professional should do most church stained glass repairs. However, there are a handful of things you congregants of groundskeepers can do to maintain your glass and keep it looking good for your church members.
Light Cleaning Of Your Stained Glass: Like any window, stained glass becomes dirty or dusty over time. Stained glass does not need to be removed to be lightly cleaned, which is part of proper care. To clean, you simply use distilled water and a soft cloth to rub away the gr e. However, if the stained glass is painted, be sure to verify that the windows have been fired, or you could damage the finish.
Maintain wood frames around the Stained Glass: The wood frames on your Austin church’s stained glass windows are incredibly imported t. This element stabilizes the whole piece. Therefore, moisture sealant and paint should be used to keep the wood in good shape. Apply these sealants according to their directions but take great care not to get them on the glass. They could affect the look of the glass and potentially remove painted stained glass finishes.
Replace missing or loose putty when needed: When needed, your church maintenance person can quickly replace the putty on stained glass and then paint over it to keep your church stained glass looking good. This is only an aesthetic repair for when you notice cracking or flaking putty on the outer edges of the window; however, it can be challenging to tell putty from leading or gl s. This is why we believe it is better to call a company like ours to do any additive stained glass repairs.
Contact us with questions about your Austin church stained glass maintenance–we are always happy to answer questions or come out for a free onsite consultation,
