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If restorative procedures are needed, the Church or commissioner of the project now has some decisions to make about the conservancy philosophy adopted. A full scale historical restoration is more costly and involves great attention to archival documentation, and to the preservation of original materials. The job specifications should be clearly detailed in the contract.
In the simple, restored windows seen below there were many cracked and missing pieces of glass; the central sunburst was missing,
...and there were many mismatched replacements. The budget was to be kept to a minimum and together we decided there would be no gluing, but high quality matching of the original glass, minimal documentation, and all the windows in the sanctuary and south wing completeley re-leaded.
In most cases the actual restoration procedures are as follows. The windows are photographed and numbered using a diagram of the space. Then they are removed and crated. Measurements and template are made for the openings, which are filled temporarily and sealed with plywood or plexi.
SYMMETRICAL WINDOW PATTERNS REQUIRE GREAT ATTENTION TO GEOMETRIC PURITY: VERTICALS, HORIZONTALS AND SIZES SHOULD BE TRUE AND PLUMB
The job-site is cleaned and the windows taken to the studio. Two rubbings are made of each panel. These show a template of the lead lines. One is used to store the disassembled glass, and one as a guide for accurate reconstruction. The windows are disassembled in an environment which minimizes toxic exposure and the glass gently cleaned and stored. Rebars are sanded and painted. All broken glass not replaced is carefully glued with conservation grade Hxtal epoxy. The most accurate matches of color and texture are found for the glass to be replaced. Lead sizes are matched. Where needed, glass is painted and kiln fired, often in several stages. Windows are now carefully re-leaded, soldered, puttied with plasticized putty. Tie wires are added, panels cleaned and checked on a light easel, and crated for transport. Finally the windows are returned and reinstalled. (Windows with multiple layers, or archival documentation require extra and often elaborate methods.)