Frequently
Asked Questions About Stained Glass
Q: How do
I pick a design for my home?
A: Choosing a design is easy. A
glass artist visits you in your home to see your own personal style,
to discuss your likes and dislikes, and to see the location where
the glass will be installed. After this discussion, the artist presents
for your review a watercolor painting of what your glass panel will
look like. You decide on what you like, and make any changes you
desire. Lastly, your panel is carefully handcrafted with beautiful
new sparkling glass and is ready for installation!
Whatever the style of the house, there is appropriate
art glass to enhance your home. Drop by our studio office to see
examples and books in our library to help you choose.
Q: How do
I order stained glass for my home?
A: Call us to begin. We will discuss what
you want done, and typically set up a time to visit the location
and take measurements of the opening where the glass will go. Typically
a custom design takes about two to four months to complete, depending
on the size and complexity of the design.
Q: We
have existing glass in the house. Can you make windows to match?
A: Usually the answer is yes. We
have access to hundreds of types of glass including historical reproduction
glass. However, it is worth noting that every sheet of glass is
unique so it may not be possible to make a perfect match. But in
almost every case, we are able to make a window to go with the existing
windows.
Q: How much
will this cost?
A: Every project we make is unique. Please call
us to discuss your needs (323) 874-2611 or
e-mail us at info@sierrabonitaglass.com.
We're not being vague, but the cost can not be accurately estimated
until a design has been chosen. Most projects fall somewhere within
$150 to $250 per square foot.
Q:
How is stained glass made?
A: While books are written
on this subject, in a nutshell, here is how stained glass panels
are made: First the artist draws a rough sketch, and then refines
the sketch into a watercolor miniature of the finished piece to
a scale of 1 inch = 1 foot.
Then an enlargement called a "cartoon" is
made. The cartoon is a full-scale drawing of the panel. several
copies of the cartoon are made, for cutting and laying out the glass.
Then the artist cuts sheets of glass using a glass cutter into the
shapes of the panel. Once all the pieces are cut, then he begins
to add the lead cames.
Lead cames are "H"-shaped lengths of metal
that hold the glass together. The lead is cut to length and shaped
by hand to fit between the pieces of glass. When the panel has been
"leaded up" then the lead cames are soldered together.
Next, glazing cement is forced into the cames to hold
the glass snugly, make the panel waterproof, and add strength to
the panel. Cementing serves the same purpose as caulking a standard
window into the frame, but is much stronger.
Finally the glass is cleaned and the leads are polished
to give the panel a finished look. Now the panel is ready for installation!
Q: How long will it take
to finish my panels?
A: The specific
time it will take depends on the size and complexity of the project,
and the number of panels already in progress before we can begin
yours. Typically from design to installation runs 2-4 months.
Q: What is "genuine
antique" glass?
A: Genuine antique glass is the
finest available type of glass. However, it isn't 100 years old.
When glass is "antique" it refers to the process that
is used to make the glass sheets. In this case, the glass is hand
blown by a glassblower at the end of a long pole. Antique glass
is characterized by a beautiful, slightly irregular surface as well
as tiny bubbles, called seeds, in the glass. This gives antique
glass a unique and "alive" visual quality, making it highly
desirable to glass artists. This is the same type of glass found
in cathedrals and the windows of Tiffany, La Farge and Frank Lloyd
Wright.
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