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Before and After Sidelight Repair for the Lancaster Apartments
March 20th, 2010
This window is half missing!
Lower pieces are missing
The two sidelights repaired and installed
These two sidelights were the worst of the 12 windows – besides the one that was completely missing! It amazes me that those windows were holding on. The pieces were falling out one by one.
Lancaster Apartment’s Stained Glass Restoration, Installation
March 20th, 2010
Installing the trim
Taping on the protective plastic
Taking off the plastic after staining and coating the trim
Final touch up cleaning!
Final shot of one of the entrances. The new window on the right.
The windows are complete! It took two days to install all 12 windows in the 4 entrances. We cut and installed new trim to replace the old, broken trim. We tried 6 different stains before settling on Red Mahogany. My carpenter suggested taping the edges of the windows from the inside before we put them in the frames which was a fantastic idea. When the trim was put in, the tape covered the glass and went underneath the trim so that staining it was a breeze! Since we sprayed the polyurethane protective coating, we also cut and taped up painter’s plastic. These things that take a little extra time, really save in the end in final cleanup and a professional look.
Lancaster Apartment’s Stained Glass Restoration, Part 3
March 9th, 2010
Window comparison
Here is a comparison of the new window (on the right) I made next to one of the restored original windows. For the clear glass, I used mouthblown restoration glass. This glass is more expensive than hardware store glass, but well worth the extra cost. It’s got the distortion that regular glass will get over time. I was very happy with the colored glass I found to match the old glass.
Lancaster Apartment’s Stained Glass Restoration, Part 2
March 8th, 2010
Painted "C" before firing
Cut pieces for new window with space for the "C"
Finished leaded window
For the new window I needed to make, I had to replicate a painted piece with a “C”. First I traced a C from one of the existing windows, then I cut out a template from the paper. I outlined the template with a black sharpie, then filled it in with traditional glass paint. I used oil and mixed tracing black with grey to get the shade of grey I wanted. It worked really well to paint the C and then stipple it with the brush that’s in the photo. It blended the paint strokes perfectly, then I just wiped away the paint that smudged outside the C with a rubber tipped tool. I fired the piece to 1225 degrees in my kiln and it turned out just great!