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Winter is fast approaching. Churches nationwide have a lot of preparation to do this time of year as the holidays approach and families need help. Inside their facilities, climate changes also force churches to direct attention inward, to the state of their stained glass windows.

Mornings tend to get less sunlight this time of year. As the sun changes position in the sky, worship services tend to receive less natural light. Interior lighting can lead to the discovery of dull paint on the glass. In addition, missing lead can be seen much easier.

So then comes the question, what issues are causing the problems, and what can we do to fix them? Also, it is important to consider what measures can be taken to protect these precious treasures from these issues arising again in the future?

Stained glass windows have been known to stand the test of time in places of worship. In fact, the oldest standing church window can be found in a German cathedral and has been around since the 1100's. If your church starts providing proper care and preservation to its windows, those windows may also become a source of pride and stand the test of time.

Bulging is the most common problem for stained glass church windows. Old windows go through bulging when buildings settle or when lead fatigues. Lead is a weak material. Over time, lack of care on windows can cause cracks in the paint, making windows irreparable.

Expansion and contraction are responsible for bulging as well. Difference in temperature can be extreme inside improperly ventilated stained glass windows. Since stained glass is very efficient in absorbing the suns energy, solar gain occurs, and accelerates deterioration. In the most extreme cases, the bulging can become so severe that the stained glass panels may actually pop out of their frames. Other common problems are seeing daylight through the windows, and the elements, i.e. rain and snow, seeping in through gaps left by sagging or bulging panels.

Church stained glass windows can be repaired in a ton of different ways. While severity of damage often needs to be considered, removal of the entire window for rebuilding is sometimes necessary. In most instances, however, reinforcement or some type of on-site repair is all that is needed to restore the window. No matter what type of window repair your church needs, a step by step plan is always carefully crafted so that the problem is fixed quickly.

A professional church restoration firm should be consulted at the first sign of deterioration. The earlier a problem is discovered, the more repair and replacement options there are to consider. Stained glass windows are a beautiful tribute to the artisans that designed these stained glass windows, who created a beautiful tribute for the most beautiful structures in our country. Make sure you preserve them to the best of your ability.

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