For something as fragile as glass, it is amazingly strong and with proper care and maintenance, stained glass windows can last for centuries.

 

Besides yearly monitoring, there are several ways to maintain them:

 

• Stained glass does not often require cleaning but when it does, it’s considered an event. Residential stained glass and smaller installations can be dusted with a micofibre cloth or soft rag. Do not use ammonia-based cleaners on lead. Larger installations located in places of worship usually don’t get cleaned until they’re desperate, perhaps every 25years.

• Engage a professional stained glass studio that will conduct and provide a detailed inspection report.

• Identify one person to assume the responsibility of annually photographing and recording any observations about the windows. Pictures speak a thousand words and offer comparisons from one year to the next.

• Consider other issues such as: prevailing winds and weather exposure, surrounding trees, traffic, nearby construction, and tension between members of the community, to name a few.

• One of the primary reasons stained glass windows fail is because of water damage to its supporting infrastructure due to wet weather conditions. With proper care, wooden frames can last decades so it is important to properly maintain paint and caulking around all stained glass windows and frames.

• As well, protective glazing that is intended to protect the stained glass, particularly in larger venues, is sometimes improperly installed and un-vented which can lead to moisture retention problems.

 

Cranberry is always available to design a routine monitoring and maintenance plan that will go a long way towards minimizing, maybe even preventing, future restorative work.

 

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