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Historic Denver's offices have moved.
We are now in the Tattered Cover Building
1628 16th Street, Suite 200
Denver, CO 80202
303-534-5288
Fax: 303-534-5296
Help preserve Denver's unique heritage.
Become a Member of Historic Denver.
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| Evaluating
Old Stained Glass Windows |
- Arrange
for a written and photographic record of your stained glass windows
- Describe
in detail physical location
- What
building and address
- Where
it is located in the building
- What
direction exposure the window is N.S.E.W.
- How
close the viewers can be to view the window
- Describe
the window itself
- What
size it is
- Kind
of glass
- Subject
matter
- Cames
used (lead, zinc, copper, or brass)
- Painted
or art glass
- Condition
of window - inventory all items and write description- observe
for signs of decay:
- Glass
- broken or cracked pieces
- locate
and identify each piece
- check
for daylight showing between pieces
- Cement
- intact or deteriorated (is area water tight?)
- Came
- brittle, joints broken - has it been repaired?
- if
so how noticeable
- good
job or bad job - does it affect the integrity of the
window
- Noticeable
sagging or bowing
- glance
at the window from the side for bowing, usually at
the bottom of the window or section
- Check
for loose support bars, wires, loose glass
they will rattle when tapped lightly
- Whether
or not the original state has been retained
- Older
sections damaged should be stabilized, not replaced
- Intervention
should be the last resort
- Condition
of frame around window
- Wooden
frames may need painting or caulking, look for dry rot
- Metal
frames may need painting or cleaning, check integrity
- Protective
glass for the windows is always a good precaution
- Check
condition of protective glazing, has it come loose, cracked
- If
unprotected, consider installing tempered glass or other
protection
- Take
good photographs - clear & right light
- Clear
(in focus) color slides or prints, some very close up
- Each
picture should be located, marked and dated
- It
might be a good idea to make 2 or 3 extra copies to store
in different locations
- Store
in dark place with low heat and low humidity (Kodak -
acid free- do not store in manila envelopes)
- Periodic
inspections should be done and if needed - repairs to be made
- A preliminary
visual inspection should be done annually
- 3 to
5 year intervals should have a thorough inspection
- Maintain
record of who did the inspection when they were done and how
these inspections (and repairs) were made
Articles about
stained-glass window repair:
For further
information contact Watkins Stained Glass Studio at 303-798-1515
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