Stained Glass Repair & New Protective Covering at Fair Bluff Baptist Church in Fair Bluff, NC

Stained Glass Repair and New Protective Covering at Fair Bluff Baptist Church in Fair Bluff, NC

In 2016, Laws Stained Glass Studios provided new protective covering for the (17) stained glass windows at Fair Bluff Baptist Church in Fair Bluff, NC. Laws first stopped by to replace a few pieces of broken glass. The church has windows that look to be made by High Point Glass & Decorative Company, an old studio now out of business. While repairing the windows, Laws road crew noted that the windows needed new protective covering. Apparently, the church had removed some of the old protective covering where it had discolored so bad.

Curiously, the solder joints on the exterior had rusted. Lead does not rust or oxidize, but tin does. Solder has about 50 to 60% tin in it. However, solder rarely rusts on a window even when it is exposed to the elements. But harsh chemicals like chlorine does cause solder to prematurely oxidize. Maybe some other chemical had come into contact with it?

The eight main sanctuary windows (size 40" wide x 105 high with a gothic top) were covered as well as the two windows (size 48" wide x 109" high with a gothic top) and a transom under the front porch. Six Sunday school room windows were covered as well. The scope of work consisted of the following:

-Paint the exterior perimeter of the wood that will be covered with the Lucite acrylic with one coat of exterior grade paint.

-Clean the exterior of the windows prior to covering with the new Lucite.

-Furnish and install 1/4" Lucite acrylic as the protective covering.

-The Lucite will be held in place using (2) rows of 1/2" x 1/2" white aluminum stops. The Lucite will be caulked using a clear silicone caulk.

Existing opalescent glass window with a broken piece of glass

Window with the glass replaced. Note how well it matches the other glass.

Exterior view before the new protective covering. Note how much the old protective covering on the transom is discolored.

Note how some of the solder joints had rusted.

View of a window frame that has the loose paint scraped off.

Painted wood frames and new 1/4" Lucite acrylic as the protective covering

Close-up showing the white aluminum stops and how the solder joints were buffed to take off the loose rust (removing too much solder will damage a leaded window).