Choosing a Studio for your Stained Glass work 

            Comparing Stained Glass Studios. There are numerous options to consider when commissioning stained glass.  Generally, they include design style, glass type, hand painted detail, and design intricacy. The studio you select should be well versed in all of these aspects. You need to make sure that you are dealing with a reputable and knowledgeable studio, preferably a fully accredited studio of The Stained Glass Association of America.

            Design Style.  Design styles range from very abstract, contemporary work to very traditional, hand painted work.  Not all studios are capable of producing every style.  Ask to see a portfolio of recent works matching the desired style for your project.  Most studios gladly provide a color design of the window they propose prior to a contractual commitment. 

            Glass Type.    Glass is available from many sources and varies greatly in price.  Generally, glass is available in two basic categories:  opalescent (milky white, very opaque glass) and translucent (very transparent).  In order from the least expensive to the most expensive:

·               Opalescent glass - Usually a two to three color mix in a milky white base glass.

·               Machine rolled cathedral glass - Mono-color glass with very uniform color distribution and thickness

·                 Mouth-blown glass – Mono-color or multi-color glass with light and dark areas due to slight variations in glass thickness.  The handmade     nature of this glass gives the glass character and adds depth and interest to the overall design.  This grouping includes fine glass from Poland and Germany as well as domestic sources.  

Within these three glass types, there are variations too numerous to review.  Inquire as to the type of glass to be used on your project.  Fine mouth blown glass can cost 4 to 5 times more than opalescent and machine rolled cathedral glass. A professional studio will know how to work with all of these and what style to use to give you the finest window possible.

             Hand Painted Detail.  Details such as faces and hands of window figures are hand painted.  Painting on glass is a labor-intensive effort.  When fired the paint becomes permanently fused to the glass piece.  Often a piece is painted and fired multiple times to add depth and detail.  Not all studios have in-house artist capable of painting on glass.  As with any art form, the style and talent of stained glass painters varies greatly.  glass heritage is capable of producing  and preserving painted work in fine detail ranging from painted medallions to fully painted figurative scenes.  

             Design intricacy.  Basically the smaller and more irregular the glass pieces, the more difficult the window is to glaze (assemble).  Each piece of glass is hand cut and individually glazed into the window with lead came.  A quote based on providing a window with a specific number of pieces can be misleading if not accompanied by artwork. Comparing prices by the number of pieces is never a good barometer.

Hand painted detail and piece intricacy are the two factors most affecting the cost of stained glass.  The fundamentals of constructing a stained glass window are independent of its artistic content.  Regardless of the cost of the window, the quality of the window is the same.  Every window is; hand assembled using lead came between the glass pieces, hand soldered on both sides, waterproofed, and reinforced with steel bars.   

            Frames and Protective Window Coverings. Does the studio offer aluminum frames and clear coverings to protect your stained glass investment?  glass heritage uses custom aluminum frames specifically designed for use with stained glass by the Caff Company.  They are capable of producing intricate frames requiring special bends. Their frames are engineered to comply with all building code requirements for wind load.  We use clear protective laminated glass.  Laminated glass is impact resistant and will not discolor with time. Avoid plastic covering products. They have a reputation of scratching and “yellowing” to the point that they obscure the stained glass. Proper venting of the protective glazing will assure that your windows will breath and slow the deterioration process. Tracings of each of your windows exterior design will assure a proper fit and desigh for your windows

             These are a few logistical issues to consider.

·       Is the studio equipped to handle installations of large projects requiring scaffold and/or lifts?  At glass heritage our installation crew are able to provide and work with scaffolds and lifts as needed on each job site.

·        Is the studio capable of producing the work in a timely manner to meet your construction schedule?  Is the studio capable of providing a turnkey project ?  glass heritage is a full-service studio offering custom frames, protective covering, done by experts in their field, installation, and repair & restoration as well as new work. from concept to final installation our studio (approximately 10 artisans) is capable of producing, large or small, projects in a timely manner. 

·       Does the studio offer a warrantee?  glass heritage offers a 15 year warrantee on all materials and workmanship. This includes the Caff Company frames. We also further guarantee that the price we offer is your price. We NEVER tell you need additional work , outside of our scope of work supplied to you, once we begin your project.

·       Can the studio provide a certificate of insurance indicating liability coverage for the church while on site?  glass heritage maintains liability insurance coverage for the purpose of protecting the church and our staff of artisans.

A Few Final Suggestions

·        Ask for and check the studio’s references on projects they have completed recently (within the past two or three years) for churches of the same size or larger than yours.

·        If possible, take a trip to tour the studio where the windows will be produced.

·        If cost is a factor and you plan to get prices from several different studios, make sure you understand exactly what each studio is providing for the cost quoted (especially concerning the intricacy and amount of hand painted work to be incorporated into the design).

·        Above all, make absolutely sure that you get what you want when purchasing stained glass… it will be there for a very long time.  Remember that you are purchasing a work of art, not an assembly line, machine-produced product.

glass heritage will gladly meet with your group 

We will gladly meet with your group to discuss options and present ideas for your stained glass project. Our artists welcome your input on theme, color and style for your new windows.  Translating your ideas to glass, we develop color artwork for your approval.  If you are looking for restoration work, we will also meet with you to discuss the conditions of your glass and its needs.

Stained glass is a vibrant art form that speaks to your church and to the community.  We welcome the opportunity to help convey your message in glass.