| RESTORATION |
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We
specialise in repairs and restoration of windows in domestic and
commercial properties and Tiffany lamps. We work both locally and further afield and
have undertaken work as far as London and the Home Counties.
This
work varies with each project, it might
simply be a few broken panes that need replacing, a bowed window
that needs flattening, or a complete re-build. In certain
circumstances glass can be replaced in situ. Restoration
can be a relatively inexpensive job (compared with the value of the
window), or as expensive as a new window - if the project needs taking
apart and putting together from piles of glass! We always strive to find
glass that matches any broken pieces, though this is not always
possible - some glasses are just not made anymore and spare pieces matching
the original glasses are not to be found. Whatever
restoration work we undertake, you can be assured that your window
will be looking as good as when it was new, and will last for many years to come after we
have lovingly restored it.
CLICK
ON AN IMAGE TO ENLARGE IT
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Four panels, each approximate 3ft
by 3ft making up this window (shown on the Home Page), came to us in
late 2008 for complete disassembly and restoration.
Over a year later we were
called in to replace (in situ) one large piece of sand blasted glass
that had been broken. Thankfully we still had the original pieces of
the same glass that had been replaced in 2008. This enabled us
to easily make another copy. |
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These semi-detached Victorian
Villas were both lacking parts of their original stained glass, and
what remained was in need of repair.
Luckily each was missing
what the other had. Therefore we managed to recreate the
missing frames and painted panels and replace the surrounding
missing and broken Muranese glass. Sadly the scale of the
Muranese has been reduced and though it looked very good from the
inside, from the outside you can still see a difference. |
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This is the deconsecrated St.
Luke's at Netherne-on-the-Hill. Originally a Victorian Mental
Hospital, Netherne is now a small village, in the centre of which is
St. Luke's. When it was given to the developers it was
converted into a swimming pool and leisure complex. Over the
last few years the windows have been damaged through vandalism and
we got the job of repairing them, in situ.
Here are just two of the
windows we had to restore. In situ repairs are not the best,
but if needs must then they can be achieved. You can see from
these pics what we found and what we managed to do with it. Finding
glasses to match was the biggest challenge and in the end we went
for good colour rather than an absolute texture match. |
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This is the old Primark
building in Churchill Square Brighton.
We repaired the stained
glass dome ready for the new owners, New Look. The work involved
making a completely new central rose and replacing broken and
missing pieces of glass elsewhere. The dome had been totally
obscured by the second floor, which New Look removed so that it
became the central feature of the entire three floors |
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was the remains of a rather unsightly modern replacement for the original
leaded light that used to grace this front door that we were invited
to do something with.
Then to the right, the
replacement panel we made to match not only the side window, but the
other front door panels in the houses with the same design in that
street. The client had this door panel customised by the
addition of green and yellow panels down the side. |
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One day we
received these sad looking remains of two Arts & Crafts windows. |
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And
recreated them to go back with the original panels above. Sadly most
of the original glass was beyond reuse as it was broken.
Therefore we sourced glass as close to the colour and texture as
possible. Can you see the difference? The only original
pieces we used in the end were the two purple 'jewels'. |
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This
is typical of the damage that time and poor installation can give to
stained glass windows in front doors. When this window was
installed it should have had a strengthening bar across it, but
sadly if it had, it was removed.
Now
the window is bowed outwards by approximately 2 inches, the lead has
split and glass has fallen out. To repair this window it has
to be removed, and the central picture dismantled, the (thankfully)
few broken pieces of glass replaced, the whole picture re-leaded and
reinstalled into the door.
A
fairly long-winded job, but once
the window is removed from the frame we start dissembling. You
can probably see the bow in the window.
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We
use a small hack saw to cut through the lead cames and
carefully take out the central piece for restoration.
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The
central picture is now totally free from the lead cames and
has been laid out in pattern.
At
this point you can also see a previous repair job. The small
piece of steel towards the bottom right of the picture is imbedded in
the lead came. At some time the external part of the window
has been re-leaded and the steel added instead of the external
strengthening bar (which allowed the window to bow). |
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We
then start building the picture up, replacing any broken pieces of
glass if required, or adding extra lead between the breaks if
preferred. Some clients prefer replacement glass, others to
keep the original and add extra lead.
In this window
the triangular piece on the left of the house's roof was in fact
broken when the window was made and a piece of lead put across
it. As the glass is no longer made we left it in place. |
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And
not forgetting the finishing touches, the door and window of the
house are added using small pieces of lead. The original window
had stayed the distance but the door had fallen off some time
ago. Now the
entire window is cemented to waterproof it and it is then ready to
be reinstalled. |
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TESTIMONIALS
Just wanted
to say a big thank you for the work you’ve done on our old stain
glass window – it’s perfect! Really appreciate the effort and
attention to detail. Thanks again – will recommend you to all we
know!!
Pete Jones, Brighton
Thank you very much for the
invoice and for the great job you have made of our window, we
are both really thrilled with it.
Annmarie & Nathan Heater,
Eastbourne
WOW! The
door looks fantastic, I am so pleased with the work you have done on
the glass. Thank-you.
Lisa Wyatt,
Basingstoke
We’re
very pleased with the work and will recommend you to our friends, we
will use you again when we have the other doors repaired.
Liam
Butler, Hove
We are very
happy with the work on Connaught Road and the overall experience of
working with Simply Stained Glass. Thanks again.
Robin Somerville, Hove
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