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Question
I recently put some panes in a friend's window, just to reduce the light coming in. However, the windows cracked on a cold night. I suspect they got very hot (west-facing windows), then very cold (frost warnings), and couldn't take the temperature change. I don't mind putting in new panes (not charging her, just doing it as a favor), but is there a way to prevent this from happening again? She's not concerned with how these look from the outside - would a mirrored coating on the outside help? Should I use a different kind of glass?
Dear Judy,
A single pane of glass that is glazed into an opening should not crack because of weather elements. The type of glass should not be an issue.
Two things that I can think of right off would cause this.
1. The glass was too tight in the opening and when the natural occurrence of expansion and contraction occurred due to weather changes stress was put on the glass and it cracked.
2. You sandwiched the glass and expansion / contraction occurred.
Valerie
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Answers by Expert:
Valerie McCartney
Expertise
Visit our web site at www.churchwindows.net. I can answer questions about restoration and repair of stained glass windows and their surrounds. I can, also, answer technical questions regarding matching old glass, glass painting (kiln-fired), waterproofing panels (cementing), re-inforcing, removal, and installation. I can not answer questions on glass casting, Dalle de Verre, or glass blowing.
Experience
Past/Present partial client list
Aboite Baptist Church, Ft. Wayne, IN; Immaculate Conception Church, Three Rivers, MI; St. Monica Church, Kalamazoo, MI; St. Charles Catholic Church, Coldwater, MI; St. Clair Catholic Church, Centreville, MI; St. Mary's Church, West Phalia, MI; Pleasant View Church of Christ, Angola, IN; St. Paul United Church of Christ, LaPorte, IN; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Olivet College, Olivet, MI; First Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Kalamazoo, MI; Trinity Lutheran Church, Culver, IN; St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Breman, IN; Grace Lutheran Church, Germfaske, MI; St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Rogers City, MI; United Methodist Church, Bellevue, MI; Augusta Fellowship United Methodist Church, Augusta, MI; United Methodist Church, Galena, IL; Metropolitan United Methodist Church, Detroit, MI; University United Methodist Church, Lansing, MI; Believer's Bible Fellowship Church, Churubusco, IN; St. Elias Eastern Orthodox Church, Battle Creek, MI; First Presbyterian Church, Allegan, MI; First Reformed Church, Grand Haven, MI; Bellmor House, Grosse Pointe, MI; Milwood Middle School, Kalamazoo, MI;
Experience in the area
I have owned and operated Full Spectrum Stained Glass, Inc. since 1988. (www.churchwindows.net)
Organizations
The Stained Glass Association of America, The American Glass Guild, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Better Business Bureau of Western Michigan
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