Stained Glass Restoration Project: Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church

Stained glass windows are made with lead caming and steel and are designed to be sturdy. However, like all windows, they’re not indestructible and are still subject to damage caused by the elements. Such, unfortunately, was the case for the Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, creating an immediate need for stained glass restoration. Our Fort Worth team had the exciting opportunity to be part of this project and help save the church’s beloved stained glass windows.

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Reasons to Restore Your Historical Commercial Stained Glass in the New Year

Stained glass is most commonly seen in churches, but it also became a popular choice for historical buildings in the early 1900s. This was because features like stained glass transom windows and signs were common in banks and restaurants. 

Most stained glass windows from this era are in dire need of restoration, which is necessary every 100 years. If left unaddressed, the window will become permanently damaged beyond repair. In addition to needing repairs to avoid permanent damage, there are several other compelling reasons you should restore your stained glass windows.

Restoring Commercial Stained Glass is Good For the Community

When we begin restoring a historical stained glass window, the entire community pays attention. Furthermore, they even get involved in the process. They often support fundraising efforts to preserve these treasures. If your Fort Worth commercial stained glass is over 100 years old, it is considered historical and could qualify for community grants too.

Restoring Commercial Stained Glass is Good For Business 

Stained glass is undeniably beautiful. It’s a one-of-a-kind feature that people always admire and appreciate. Getting it repaired should be considered a wise marketing and business decision too because it will only make your stained glass look even more gorgeous than before— restoring its brightness, colorfulness, and overall attractiveness. Not to mention that doing so will also help bring in new customers while positively impacting your Fort Worth commercial space brand.

Restoring Commercial Stained Glass Preserves A Piece of Fort Worth History

Commercial stained glass windows are an essential part of Fort Worth’s stunning history. Whether the window was made by a well-known studio or an unknown artist, it has valuable historical significance. By investing your time and money into preserving these pieces of art, you’re also preserving a vital part of the area’s history. Not to mention, doing so may make you eligible for certain historical grants.

Fort Worth’s Historical Stained Glass Restoration Specialist

If you’re interested in starting a historical stained glass restoration, please contact us. We would be thrilled to come out and have a look at your glass structure. Afterward, we will give you an estimate as well as a timeline that works with your business’s schedule.

Church Stained Glass Project: St. Edward’s

We’re excited to announce the successful completion of our church stained glass project in Pennsylvania. St. Edward’s Church sought out to find a studio to create a memorial stained glass piece in order to honor their late pastor. They wanted a large commemorative piece to replace the window in their observatory overlooking the main street so they could conceal this during their services. The church reached out to many studios across the nation and decided to chose ours for the project.

The Church Stained Glass Design Process for St. Edward’s

Due to the pandemic, we had to host all of the design process electronically. We drew up a variety of different tree of life designs for feedback. During the design finalization process, our painted glass artist overheard Father Rick mention that he’d like to eventually create another stained glass window showing Jesus on the Sea of Gallilee since that was his favorite Bible teaching. We decided to draft up the design and after presenting it, both the Father and church fell in love and chose this design instead. We wanted to add dimension and depth to the design and did so through shading and painting. We also depicted a variety of people with Jesus along with calm water as a symbol of the calm after a storm. Despite some installation challenges with the existing curtain wall, we were able to successfully create one continuous piece.

Work With Fort Worth’s Top Church Stained Glass Contractor

Fort Worth Stained Glass is honored to be the top church stained glass contractor serving the state of Texas and the rest of the nation. After the window was installed, members of the church were brought to tears from amazement. We’re humbled to have had the opportunity to create such a meaningful tribute. For more information, please contact us!

How Long Does Stained Glass Last?

Stained glass is one of those long-lasting materials that can be passed down through several generations. Stained glass produced in the twentieth century will typically survive 80-100 years before the lead begins to break and jeopardize the window’s survival. However, as a stained glass owner, there are certain things you may do to keep your window functioning for as long as possible.

Caring for Your Fort Worth Home’s Stained Glass Windows

Consider your stained glass window to be a work of art. These priceless furnishings appreciate in worth as time goes on. The key to the longevity of your stained glass is proper care. Here are some ideas from us for how you may properly take care of your lovely and valuable stained glass windows.

Prolong the Life of Your Fort Worth Home’s Stained Glass With Regular Cleanings

Regular maintenance is the key to a long life and brilliant appearance of stained glass. Grime will build up on your stained glass, especially because this form of glass usually has a lot of texture. You may keep dirt from accumulating by lightly dusting your home’s stained glass once a month. Professionals should take care of the deep cleaning since special cleaning solutions are needed to clean the glass without too much pressure being applied.

Prolong the Life of Your Fort Worth Home’s Stained Glass with Regular Professional Cleanings

A professional cleaning is crucial for your stained glass. This is especially true if you’re a person who neglects to keep your windows clean on a regular basis. A professional will have the correct equipment and cleaners to properly clean your stained glass windows. They’ll also look at your glass carefully to see whether any issues have arisen over time.

Prolong the Life of Your Fort Worth Home’s Stained Glass by Having Small Damage Repaired Right Away

When the weather is bad in Fort Worth, stained glass windows may suffer significant damage. Although it’s possible that minor weather-related breaks, chips, and scratches might occur, stained glass is extremely robust and can withstand a lot of punishment. These little problems are simple to repair and do not involve a large investment of money to fix when caught early. If you wait to have the window repaired, its structure may be harmed. This could mean broken glass fragments fall out, which may equal very expensive structural repairs.

For more information on stained glass maintenance and repair in Fort Worth, contact us today!

Restoring the Famous Stained Glass Windows in the Vernon A.M.E. Church in Tulsa

The belief that stained glass windows are fragile is a common misconception. In reality, stained glass windows are quite sturdy. Not only are they held together by durable materials like cement and lead caming, but there’s a tremendous amount of thought and consideration that goes into their design. There are stained glass windows that still exist today which were built hundreds of years ago.

Nevertheless, restoration is an inevitable part of every stained glass window’s life cycle. Which tedious, this process is remarkably effective for renewing windows which are old or deteriorating. At Fort Worth Stained Glass, we have spent years perfecting this process and are proud to say that it’s an area we excel in. We have helped many stained glass owners restore and preserve their beloved artwork over the years.

Just recently, we had the opportunity to work on a particularly unique stained glass restoration project for a church in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Vernon A.M.E. Church, famous for its role in protecting community residents during the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, asked us to repair their beloved stained glass. Below, we’ve discussed the project in detail. Read more…

Fort Worth Church Stained Glass:  To Remove or Replace?

Texas is known for its plethora of churches made in the late 19th and early 20th century.  In fact, there are tours all over this lovely state of ours in which you can go visit some of the best-preserved “painted churches” we have to offer.  One element of these churches that has been restored due to damage and wear and tear over time is the stained glass. If your Fort Worth church was built before 1930 or so, your church stained glass probably needs some sort of restoration, if it has not been done already.  The question most church patrons have when they begin the process of stained glass restoration is–which is better restoration or replacement? Well, there is no simple answer to this because stained glass is actually very personal to each church–but we can give you some guidance on the benefits related to keeping your stained glass instead of replacing it.

The Main Benefit Of Restoring Stained Glass

We like to say the main benefit of keeping stained glass and having it restored rather than remove really is value. However, value can mean a lot of things.  There are three key parts of value that make stained glass worth keeping more so than replacing. And the actual monetary value is only one of them. This is because, as you well know, money isn’t everything.  

Restoring Fort Worth Church Stained Glass, Rather Than Replacing Keeps Its Value 

1. Fort Worth Church Stained Glass Has Historic Value:  The fact of the matter is–many Texas churches were built in a very exciting time here in the US.  The world as we knew it was changing with the advent of telegraphs, telephones, cars, and planes. The stained glass made here in Texas was built in a day and age when certain things were going out and others coming in.  This means the glass on your Fort Worth church, if it is 80+ years old, probably has some pretty significant historical value. While this won’t necessarily translate to cash, it is something you simply cannot put a price on and therefore you Fort Worth church stained glass is a prime example of something to restore not replace.
2. Fort Worth Church Stained Glass Has Sentimental Value: Just like historical value, sentimental value is hard to quantify but very real.  In congregations here in Fort Worth and across Texas, there are likely church members who have experienced much of their church life below those stained glass windows.  This means the stained glass windows in your Fort Worth church have witnessed new life (baptisms), death (funerals) and new beginnings (marriages). For those members and others, restoring those windows, which have stood the test of time, is likely something they prefer, since they have played such a huge role in major life moments.
3. Fort Worth Church Stained Glass Has Monetary Value: Of course, there is always a matter of what your Fort Worth church’s stained glass is actually worth in dollars.  If they are very old (over 100 years) they are antiques and worth restoring rather than replacing for that very reason.  However, some stained glass windows in the Fort Worth area and around Texas were made by very famous artisans or studios. In which case, restoring them is a must.  To know more about the potential monetary value you will have to have them assessed by an expert. However, even if there is no significant monetary value, the other types of value are reason enough to begin your church stained glass restoration.

For more information on stained glass restoration here in Fort Worth or to schedule an assessment, contact us at Fort Worth Stained Glass today!

Read This if You Think You Fort Worth Church Stained Glass Is Beyond Repair

Does your congregation have stained glass that you believe has reached the end of its life?

Well, it is important for you to know that when church stained glass gets around 80 years old, it usually it is time for restoration, thorough repairs but the damage is by no means irreparable.  The reasons for your church’s stained glass being in such a state of disrepair vary but it is usually a mix of environmental factors, age, neglect and the way it was built at the time. But if you think you think it is beyond repair the truth is–it is probably not.  Read on to find out why.

Church Stained Glass That Is Old And Looks Lifeless Can Be Cleaned

Church stained glass, leading and framing are actually things that can be cleaned and brought back to their former luster.  Sure, the lead may look heavily tarnished and the glass may not have bright coloring anymore but our deep cleaning will bring back those colors and get that lead looking shiny again.  Plus, at Fort Worth Stained Glass, we offer on or off-site cleanings, depending on which other repairs are needed. However, one thing always rings true– the luster of your church’s stained glass will blow you away when we are done.

Chapel Stained Glass That Is Bowing Or Sagging Can Be Restored

When church parishioners see bowing wooden or steel frames on church stained glass windows they immediately think–the damage is irreparable. And for good reason–when the support structure of stained glass windows start to bend, sag and bow, the state of your stained glass is pretty bad.  However, we regularly deal with stained glass in this state and know we can almost always fix it and when we are done–it an issue for another century or even two! Not only do we rebuild the frame and structure of your church’s stained glass windows but we also use modern lead additives to give it more strength too!

Church Stained Glass That is Chipped, Cracked Can Be Repaired

Church stained glass that is chipped, cracked or missing may appear to be beyond repair on the surface.  Once a glass panel falls out, people often incorrectly assume that the whole stained glass windows are done for. But this is actually not that big of a problem–, especially for our expert restoration team.  In fact, some chips and cracks we can fix right in the window. However, for more seriously damaged windows further repairs are required in our studio. There, we can fix almost anything and also match the most obscure colored or textured glass pieces.

If you love your Fort Worth church’s stained glass but fear its time has come, make sure to contact us before taking it out or destroying it.  There is often life left in these types of church stained glass windows still! At Fort Worth Stained Glass we are happy to consult with you on how to bring it out!  Contact us today for more info!

Read This if You Think Your Fort Worth Church Stained Glass is Beyond Repair

Have you noticed some considerable damage to your Fort Worth church stained glass? You may think your stained glass is beyond repair if you see missing glass pieces, cracked glass, disintegrating lead, warped shaping, etc. While in some cases replacement is more cost-effective than restoration, there are some severe cases that are worth restoring. Finding the experienced stained glass contractor that can complete the proper analysis can help your church make the right decision.

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Using Contemporary Stained Glass to Modernize Your Fort Worth Church

If your church committee is thinking about making some renovations to your church, one option that you should consider is adding contemporary stained glass windows. Contemporary stained glass windows provide Fort Worth churches with a way to create a modern, contemporary look while also continuing a timeless tradition.

Many churches are known for their stained glass windows. In fact, stained glass has helped shape the identity of numerous churches and held their place in history. By adding stained glass to your church, you can create a lasting legacy.

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Tips on How to Maintain Your Fort Worth Chapel’s Stained Glass

Stained glass plays such a crucial role both historically as well as in offering inspiration for clergy and congregation members. While stained glass restoration is required every 75 to 100 years, finding ways to maintain the condition of your priceless windows can definitely extend the time period between restorations while ensuring permanent damage never occurs. Chapels in Fort Worth are always looking for tips in maintenance– here are the most important pointers for keeping you stained glass in great condition.

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