AboutValerie 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
Question Hi Valerie, have found you on this site and have ?? regarding reinforcing windows that are going to be installed against existing windows. One window is plated (lightly only 5 pieces on the back). If plating on the back, should I rebar on the back as well. There is enough room in the width of the existing window's sill to accommodate this. What about condensation? Is it better to put the rebar on the front and have the panel flush (except the width of the plating pieces) with exisiting window? I am planning on putting at least 3 bars. Also considered weather I should put on straight rebar or bend to the design.
Also, do you rebar after you have completed the puttying of the window? Thank you for your advice. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Nancy Gruber
The window is 33.5"x59"
Answer Dear Nancy,
After reviewing your questions, I see you do not have a lot of experience, so let me first suggest you go on the Stained Glass Association of America (www.stainedglass.org) web site and purchase some of the technical manuals that have basic but fairly good information in them. These manuals will help in providing you a better understanding of my answer to your letter. Another good source of information is 'Preservation Brief 33, by the National Parks Service'.
A leaded glass window should NOT be installed against an existing window unless there is proper ventilation. If this is an exterior window and you are mounting the leaded glass with independent framing or with well designed stops on the interior, this interior panel needs to be vented to the inside. There should be a minimum of 3/4" between the two windows. In this type of setting you could attach fins to the plated side of the panel for reinforcing and I would recommend them to be bent to follow the pattern of the window. Remember, the stops or framing need to engage the reinforcing for it to be affective, otherwise the only thing the reinforcing is doing is adding weight to the window.
Heat and moisture that collect between improperly vented windows is detrimental to all components of the window. When designing new windows or retro-fitting old windows, both reinforcing and installation are considerations and integral parts of the design process. I have seen instances where the ego attached to the panel design has had ill affects on the framing, installation and longevity of the life of the window.
The reinforcing should be approximately 12" apart and of substantial thickness, positioned so as not to detract from the design of the window. Saddle bars can be bent as well as fins. Reinforcing is definitely done after the panel has been waterproofed. It is important that you use a waterproofing putty that does not have hardeners added. After the panel is waterproofed it must lay flat for 7 - 10 days, then receive a final cleaning by removing the waterproofing putty that has seeped out and brush with whiting.
I realize you may need to re-think and possibly re-do a few of the components and methods you have in mind for this window and it's installation, but, you will be much happier with yourself at the end of each day if you know you have done the next right thing.
