Stained Glass Restoration In Colorado Springs: Preserving Pieces Of History

Replacing And Repairing Stained Glass On Colorado Springs Churches

Colorado Springs arguably has some of the most beautiful stained glass windows in the country, all with their own unique look and history. These gorgeous pieces of history are cherished by the parishioners of the churches they grace. In fact, they are so loved, we do quite a few restorations in the Colorado Springs area here at Scottish Stained Glass. However, not every church is sure what to do with their aging stained glass windows and one question we get quite often is whether to replace or restore. This makes sense since often times the glass can look beyond repair: the frames may be sagging or the glass itself is dirty, chipped, cracked, or even missing pieces of glass altogether; conditions all too common in stained glass windows that are nearing 100 years old. When we get this kind of inquiry we always tell church patrons that whether to replace or repair stained glass is really a case by case decision, however, we can shed some light on factors to consider when making that decision as we have below.

Weigh The Cost Of Replacing Vs. Repairing Stained Glass Windows

Restoring damaged stained glass windows, especially very large ones, is usually quite expensive. However, once they are restored, the value of these stained glass window is actually 4x that of valuable any new window. While a new window may cost less initially, it will be decades before its value is close to that of a restored antique stained glass window. Since funding a project like this is always an issue, at Scottish Stained Glass Colorado Springs, we are happy to give you advice on fundraisers we have seen other churches do. It has been our experience that this type of project is one most congregation and even communities readily support.

Understand That Scottish Stained Glass Can Match Your Existing Glass

Another reason churches hesitate to replace their stained glass is that they think antique glass cannot be matched or recreated the same. While it is true that techniques used to create some older stained glass are often hard to replicate, we are happy to report that at Scottish, we hire the best stained glass repair artists in the state, who are able to precisely match nearly any stained glass panel. Also, for those very large windows, we have developed special methods for removing and restoring and reinstalling them precisely. Keep in mind these types of restorations are lengthy but well worth it once the amazing process brings these windows of such value (both sentimental and monetary) back to their original luster and beauty for the next 100 years.

Consider The History Of Your Church’s Stained Glass

Finally, church members must never forget the long and unique history their Colorado Springs church’s stained glass windows. Their value is as much monetary as it is sentimental–so keeping them and restoring them may be the best idea. If your stained glass is very old (dating back to the early-mid 20th century) it is likely that your church’s stained glass windows were designed by a stained glass master of the time, greatly increasing their value; works by this skilled artisan plays an important part in the history of your church and something you may want to preserve.

Scottish Stained Glass For Your Colorado Springs 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 Colorado Springs church stained glass.