Whether you enjoy the antique design or the history behind your leadlight doors and windows, you want to be able to continue enjoying them for years to come. What happens when one of them is broken or cracked? Maybe your leadlight panes are coming loose due to age. You can preserve these treasures with careful repairs. Here are some ways you can breathe life into your windows and doors with leadlight door restoration.
Repairing or Replacing
The first step to leadlight door restoration is deciding whether you want to keep the old and perform the needed repairs or start new by replacing broken or cracked pieces. Many prefer to keep the original feel of a piece and, therefore, choose repairs. You want to make sure that all chipped and cracked pieces are restored in a professional manner. This will ensure that your leadlight door restoration will last for years to come.
If you choose a new look you have additional options. You can completely replace the leadlight doors with new ones or have the existing doors restored with new glass. No matter your decision, you will want to make sure that you choose a professional that can work with your desired result.
Relying on a Professional
Now that you have decided whether to keep the old or begin anew you will need to choose a professional to carry out your desires. Leadlight door restoration needs to be done by someone with skill working with both old and new designs. This will result in the seamless replacement of broken or chipped pieces. Your perfect professional will have experience in leadlight door restoration, glass repair and must have the needed knowledge of the era from which your leadlight glass has come. This knowledge is especially important in leadlight door restoration.
Many of the panes of glass in leadlight doors are very old. Your professional will need to know about the colour usages and framing from the time period of the piece. This will help in matching broken or chipped glass for a flawless finished design. Make sure you choose a professional with experience in your particular needs for the best possible outcome.
Maintaining the Finished Result
Your final step for leadlight door restoration will be to maintain the finished result. This will include routine cleaning of your leadlight door, checking for loose solder and avoiding damage. Maintaining your leadlight door in pristine condition is a fairly easy task when following these guidelines. You will also need to invest in periodic restorations. In time the soldering will wear and the panes may discolour. This is a natural occurrence with stained glass and cannot be avoided. Thankfully, this is something that takes many years to occur and adds to the elegance of the piece.
Now that you know your options with regards to leadlight door restoration and how easy it is to maintain the finished product, you are ready to breathe new life into your doors for years of enjoyment to come.