Is it better to repair church stained glass or restore it?

Replacing And Repairing Stained Glass On Salt Lake City Churches

In and around Salt Lake City, one can find many beautiful stained glass windows on myriads of churches. This gorgeous pieces of history are all cherished by the parishioners of the churches they adorn. They are so loved that here, at Scottish Stained Glass, we get calls all the time from area congregations about restoration. One question we get quite often is whether the old stained glass is something they should have repaired or whether replacement is a better option. This is because often times glass looks beyond repair: the frames may be sagging or the glass itself is dirty, chipped, cracked, or even missing pieces of glass altogether. Stained glass in this condition is all too common as many windows are nearing 100 years old. Whether to replace or repair stained glass is really a case by case decision but we have outlined a few things for churchgoers to think about below to help give you some guidance.

Weigh The Cost Of Replacing Vs. Repairing Stained Glass Windows

Restoring damaged stained glass windows, especially big windows, can be quite expensive. However, once they are restored, the value of these stained glass window is 4x more valuable than a new window. While a new window may cost less at first, it will be decades before its value is equal to a restored antique stained glass window. When it comes to funding for such large restoration projects we, at Scottish Stained Glass Salt Lake City, may be able to guide you as we have seen many congregations hold various fundraisers for their beloved stained glass. In our experience, this type of project is one most congregation and even communities readily support.

Understand That Scottish Stained Glass Can Match Your Existing Glass

One common reason churches hesitate to replace their stained glass is that they think antique glass cannot be matched. While it is true that techniques used to create some older stained glass are often obscure and hard to replicate, at Scottish, we have some of the most skilled stained glass repair artists in the state, able to precisely match nearly any stained glass panel. We also have developed special methods for removing and restoring the biggest of church stained glass windows. Keep in mind these types of restorations can take quite a while but our amazing process brings these windows of great sentimental and monetary value back to their original luster and beauty for the next 100 years or so.

Consider The History Of Your Church Stained Glass

Lastly, don’t forget the long and incredibly unique history your Salt Lake City church stained glass holds. Many stained glass windows hold both monetary and sentimental value–so keeping them may be the best idea. If your stained glass is very old (dating back to the early-mid 20th century) your church’s stained glass windows could have been designed by a stained glass master of the time, greatly increasing their value. Also, works by this skilled artisan play an important part of the history of your church and something you don’t want to take away.

Watch the video below to learn more about church stained glass window restoration:

https://vimeo.com/261161910

Scottish Stained Glass For Your Salt Lake City Church Stained Glass Restoration

If your church stained glass shows signs of wear it is a good idea to have Scottish Stained Glass come in and consult with you. In the case of very old stained glass, it is best not to wait because the damage will only grow worse and more costly to repair over time. Contact us today for a free, onsite consultation of your Salt Lake City church stained glass.