Caring for Leaded Lights

As one of the leading stained glass and leaded light manufacturers in the South, the Sherriff Stained Glass Specialists team knows a thing or two about caring for them in order to get the most out of your decorative windows.

Between stained and leaded glass, the latter is the simpler form of joined glass and therefore relatively easier to maintain. Like many things, to increase the longevity of leaded lights regular maintenance and care is needed. If this is your first time caring for leaded lights or they are quite old and you want to be sure of what techniques and products to use you can seek professional advice. You can call Sherriff Stained Glass Specialists on 01202 882 208 for tips on how to look after traditional leaded lights.

Regular Inspections

With leaded lights it is important to acknowledge that a little movement is to be expected between the lead. However, raised sections, prominent bows or buckles of an entire window are a cause for concern. This can cause the original glass to crack or break and damage the integrity of the window.

To prevent this, you can check for:

• Bowing or distortion of the lead. The lead should be smooth and flat and straight at the edges. Any sort of raise of the lead can mean the start of the decay or decline of the leaded light.
• Corrosion of the lead or deterioration of the timber frame. Movement of material surrounding the window can cause the frame to start to crack or twist.
• The putty or cement holding the window quarries. Age and weather can cause them to weaken and crumble.

Cleaning

Cleaning lead windows takes great care and patience. You should use de-ionised water and cotton wool on your historic glass. Never scrub the window with cloths as the glass is extremely vulnerable to damages such as scratches. Don’t use any window cleaning products on your leaded lights as these products have been designed for modern windows and will damage aged glass.

Sherriff Stained Glass Specialists has over 25 years’ experience in the field of stained glass and leaded lights. For more information and advice on the state of your leaded windows and how to care for them, contact info@lead-windows.co.uk.