Buyer's Guide to Stained Glass
Stained glass windows add color and appeal, changing the quality of the interior light and lending another dimension to the room’s design.
Leaded and colored glass doors built into a buffet, sparkling glass sidelights flanking a front door, richly hued panels of glass filtering light as it streams through a window transom—stained glass was a favorite accent throughout homes built in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
It added color and appeal, changing the quality of the interior light, and lending another dimension to the room’s design. Stained glass was practical, too, performing many functions, from obscuring an unattractive outdoor feature to hiding the contents of an interior cabinet.
Many people shy away from buying antique stained glass due to concerns about whether it will fit an existing opening. However, if a window doesn’t fit exactly (and most don’t), you can always add or subtract glass to make it fit the frame. Curving or buckling glass also shouldn’t be a deal-breaker; the window may still be strong enough for many more years of enjoyment.
Maintenance Tips
- Don’t expose the lead to the elements, as it will eventually leak as the putty weakens. Exterior storm sashes are helpful to protect your windows. I prefer interior storms, but it’s a tradeoff. Interior storms can help insulate and stabilize, but they don’t protect exterior elements—however, they also don’t change the home’s exterior profile.
- Clean with a simple solution of mild kitchen soap followed by a glass cleaner like Windex. Be sure to dry with a lint-free towel; many favor newspapers.
- If the window is in a bathroom or area where moisture causes the solder lines to become chalky (known as “foxing”), very fine steel wool will remove the chalkiness and return the solder lines to their original patina.
- Stops on glass doors are imperative to prevent breakage from a strong wind or a rambunctious child. And for those living in earthquake country, skylights should be buffered by a protective surface.
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