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Glass
Artists Newsletter - July 2007 |
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You
can read our current newsletter here
on-line each month, free of charge. We
hope you will take the opportunity to let
your stained glass artist friends know
about the newsletter and if you have
students, encourage them to read it.
If
you'd like a reminder when a new issue is
published simply send us your e-mail
address.
In
the meantime, we welcome your input and
support. Let us know if you have tips and
techniques or product information you'd
like to share. |
Last
month, Jeanne started work on a glass
mosaic project. The stairs in the studio
never have looked that great and she was
inspired to begin building front mosaic designs
on the fronts of the steps.
We also
finished a panel for Otto, who wanted a
Tuscan village, with blue accents to match
the room the window will be installed in.
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| This
month, we show how to install a custom
stained glass window in a window frame
without removing or replacing the existing
glass in the window. |
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How
To Install Stained Glass in an Existing
Window Frame
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We often have requests for articles on how to
install stained glass windows. It's hard to get enough pictures to do an
article because we are usually in such a hurry to get the job completed
that we don't take the time to take a lot of pictures.
But a month or two ago, we took our time on an
install so we could get enough pictures to show how the install went.
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We built three panels to fit into an existing
framework. We were sure they would fit because we traced a paper pattern
of the existing window openings and then made them a little smaller.
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When you go to install your panels,
the first thing you want to do is put the panel into the opening to make
sure it fits. When I put this panel in place, there was enough of a gap
to leave about 1/8" all around the panel, which was perfect.
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Once you determine how well the panels are going to
fit, you'll want to cut some cardboard strips and fold them so they are
the right height to hold your window panel up the proper spacing. You
can also use wood strips or coins or anything handy as a spacer to sit
the panel on. |
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Then you'll want to put a small bead of caulk
around the window opening that the panel will press into. We usually use
clear caulking, but on this job almond caulk matched the window frame
color perfectly. |
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Once the panel is in place, you can begin to fill
the gap between the window frame and the panel with caulking. This is
where skill and practice really pays off. You don't want to apply too
much caulk or you'll create a mess, but don't apply too little or light
will come through the gap and the installation will look unfinished.
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You can use painters type masking tape to
temporarily hold the panel in place as you apply caulk and clean it off
of unwanted areas. |
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Toilet paper is the
best thing to have with you on an install, better than paper towels
because you just want to wipe up caulk once with a piece and then throw
it away so you don't end up spreading unwanted caulk into places it
doesn't belong. |
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Next, make a spring out of extra cardboard. You
could also use spare packing material or light weight scrap lying around
as a spacer which will push against the panel to hold it in place as the
silicone cures. It usually takes about an hour for silicone caulk to
"skin" over and 24 hours for it to cure completely. |
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Tape clear across the window opening and place your
"spring" spacer under the middle of the tape. You May need to
add vertical pieces of tape to the edges of the horizontal tape to keep
it from "popping" off. |
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Then you can dry fit the next window panel to make
sure it fits. |
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Once you're sure of the fit, go ahead and apply
silicone into the opening and set the panel in place. |
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This view shows the 1/8" gap around the edges
which will be filled with silicone and you can see the little cardboard
spacer which is holding the panel up to the right height. Don't glue the
cardboard into the frame. Apply caulk up to the cardboard but not onto
it. When it is dry the homeowner can remove it and it will provide just
the right gap so that the back of the window can breath, thereby
avoiding condensation behind the glass. |
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Carefully fill in the gaps between the panels and
the window frame. |
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Add "springs" to hold each piece in
place. |
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Then clean and clean and clean. Keeping the panels
clean is the most important part of the install. A smear of caulking
where it shouldn't be can ruin the look of the window. Sometimes it's
better to leave a glob to dry where it is and then come back later and
cut it off after the silicone is cured. Sometimes you can smear caulk
back on your finger, clean it on toilet paper and continue squeegeeing
off the excess caulk with your finger. |
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Make sure the home owners know to leave everything
in place for 24 hours before removing all the tape and cardboard. |
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The advantage of this install is that it doesn't
require special tools and the original windows can be left intact, at a
cost savings to the home owner. |
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The stained glass you install will
add beauty and value to the home and in this case, much needed shading
from early morning sun that was streaming into the bedroom and blinding
the occupants.
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