Mezalick Design Studio, LLC Stained Glass ~ Mosaics ~ Promotions

Transcription

1 Stained Glass Condition Report January 29, 2015 St. Peter s Church 153 Barr Street Lexington, KY Site Visit: January 9, 2015 Completed by: Michael Mezalick The stained glass windows of St. Peters Church are generally in good condition. The lead came is in excellent condition and the painted glass shows no signs of failure. There are a few selected areas that have bowed outwards (Windows # 9, 10, 11, 12, & 13) and a few areas where the bowing has made the copper tie wires pull away from the lead caming (Windows #4 & 5). Other areas of note are the bottom sections of Window #8 and #9, where there are several broken pieces of glass. Other than these concerns there are some general conditions that should be considered. The entire area of caulking where the wall meets the stained glass, and the horizontal tee bars should be removed and re-caulked. This perimeter area shows signs of deterioration due to age. The interior surface of the stained glass windows should be cleaned. The opaque exterior protective glass is in good condition except for three sections which are broken (Window #2 & #10). Please refer to the individual window condition sheets for location of needed work.

2 Our Interior Recommendations The entire area of caulking where the wall meets the stained glass, and the horizontal tee bars should be removed and re-caulked. The interior surface of the stained glass should be cleaned. Once complete, the glass and lead will have been cleaned to a level similar to when the stained glass was originally installed. Repair or replace broken stained glass with matching glass as needed. It appears that the top section (D) of windows #1 thru #8, is not fully engaged into the stone frame. This panel should be inspected and consideration of resetting the panel should be determined on a panel by panel basis. Additional work could include the removal of several panels that show the most extreme signs of bowing and add brass support fins to the exterior. This would flatten the bow and ensure that it would not return. Our Exterior Recommendations We recommend that the exterior glass be removed and replaced with clear laminated safety glass that has venting screens at the bottom and the top. This would allow the temperature between the stained glass and the protective covering to be at a reasonable level. Unvented protective coverings has been shown to elevate that internal temperature to undesirable levels which causes extreme expansion and contraction of the stained glass panel. This exaggeration of the expansion and contraction cycles tears apart all building materials, including stained glass windows and their window frames. Our recommendation of clear laminated safety glass would allow the stained glass windows to be viewed from the exterior. It would, however, allow more concentrated light to enter into the interior of the church, creating hotspots and color on the floor and walls. This is a personal opinion and the choice of a clear or textured exterior glass should be considered. The removal of the exterior protective glass would also allow the exterior of the stained glass to be cleaned and re-puttied. The organic putty that is squeezed between the lead and the glass acts as the mortar to hold the stained glass panel together. Over time, this putty dries out and falls away, creating a weakened structure, which accelerates the bowing and deterioration of the stained glass panel.

3 Window #1 - Interior Proposal of Interior work per window Window #2 - Interior Window #3 - Interior

4 Window #4 - Interior Remove setting compound on horizontal tee bars Remove panel B, flatten bowing and attach new copper tie wires. Re-install Panel B Window #5 - Interior Remove setting compound on horizontal tee bars Remove panel B, flatten bowing and attach new copper tie wires. Re-install Panel B Window #6 - Interior Inspect section D (Top arch section) and re-set as needed.

5 Window #7 - Interior Inspect section D (Top arch section) and re-set as needed. Window #8 - Interior Repair or replace broken stained glass in section A1 and A2 as needed. Window #9 - Interior Repair or replace broken stained glass in section A1 and A2 as needed. Remove section B, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install.

6 Window #10 - Interior Remove section B, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install. Window #11 - Interior Remove section B, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install. Remove section C, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install. Window #12 - Interior Remove section B, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install. Remove section C, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install.

7 Window #13 - Interior Remove section B, flatten bowing area and add structural brass fins to the exterior surface of this panel and re-install. Window #14 - Interior Window #15 - Interior

8 Proposal of Exterior work per window Window #1 - Exterior Window #2 - Exterior Window #3 - Exterior Window #4 - Exterior

9 Window #5 - Exterior Window #6 - Exterior Window #7 - Exterior Window #8 - Exterior Window #9 - Exterior

10 Window #10- Exterior Window #11 - Exterior Window #12 - Exterior Window #13 - Exterior Window #14 - Exterior

11 Window #15 - Exterior