How to Repair a Stained Glass Window or Hanging
It’s glowing attractiveness has kept stained glass windows popular. So much, in fact, that you can now see it being installed in private homes. Front door windows, side glass panels, transoms, and attic windows are the most common locations for stained glass works. As you can tell by looking at a colorful stained glass window, this material is available in a wide variety of hues and textures.
This type of window isn’t quite as energy-efficient as the manufactured clear glass windows are. But since the ones that are installed in a home are typically small in size, there’s not a significant amount of heat lost through them.
A stained glass window in your home can last longer than the house itself, as long as it receives the proper amount of care and maintenance. Since it’s composed of many small pieces of colored glass that are glued or soldered together, this type of window can sometimes need to be “reassembled”, so to speak. If the glue or soldering lets go, one or more pieces can fall out of the window. Or, if a piece of the glass becomes chipped, broken, cracked, or otherwise damaged, it will need to be replaced.
Stained glass window hangings are also a popular decoration in homes today. They can be made in any theme, such as religious symbols, animals, flowers, et cetera. These hangings are placed in a window so the sunlight can illuminate its colorful glass.
Some of the newer stained glass windows found in homes today are held together with a durable glue. If you have this type of window in your home, and you need to replace a piece of the glass, you can simply glue it back in. Be sure that you use a clear glue that’s designed to be used on glass.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s directions on the glue container in order to achieve the best results. Basically, though, you’ll need to first remove any glue residue that’s on the piece of glass. Peel the glue off if you can, but don’t scrape it with any sharp object. Scraping can easily scratch the glass and ruin its appearance. You’ll also need to remove any glue that’s on the frame.
The next step to repair your stained glass window is to squeeze out a thin bead of glue around the edges of the piece. Be careful not to apply too much glue so it doesn’t ooze. Then, reinsert the piece of glass back into its place in the window or hanging. Carefully wipe off any excess glue with an old rag.
If your stained glass window or hanging is soldered together, and a piece of it needs to be replaced, the process will be a little more complex. You’ll need a container of flux, a roll of solder, and a soldering iron or gun. You’ll need to solder the piece back in on both sides.
Be sure the new solder looks like the original as much as possible in thickness. Most solder in stained glass windows and hangings is rather thick to hold the glass pieces securely.
Check the rest of the window or hanging while you’re at it to see if any other places need solder.
If you need to put a new piece of glass into your stained glass window or hanging, you’ll first need to remove the damaged piece by removing the glue or solder around it. You’ll need to buy a replacement piece of stained glass that matches the damaged piece in color. Then, make an outline of the piece onto the new glass. Use a glass cutter to carefully cut it out. Carefully feel the edges of the replacement stained glass. If they’re rough or sharp, use a piece of sandpaper to smooth then down.
Finally, glue or solder the new piece into place on your stained glass window or hanging.
