Stained glass window for church

Stained Glass 
Studios, Inc.

  Church Stained Glass Windows, Repairs, Protective covering, 

Stained Glass Windows and Stained Glass Restoration at First Baptist Church in Lyman, SC

     In 1984, Laws Stained Glass Studios installed (17) hand-stained glass windows at First Baptist Church in Lyman, SC.  The ten main windows (size 58" wide x 166" high) each contained a 24" x 36" shield-shaped medallion with a symbol with no memorial plate.  The other six windows included three transoms all of which did not have artwork and two windows (size 32" wide x 46" high) with no artwork.  The glass used for the windows is imported hand-blown glass that is stained.  These windows were installed into the existing wood frames.  On the outside, Laws had installed 3/16" Lexan polycarbonate as the protective covering.  Over the years, the Lexan had discolored and yellowed. 
     In 2016, Laws Stained Glass Studios returned to First Baptist Church in Lyman.  In addition to the Lexan yellowing, the main windows had some bulging.  Laws had originally put steel braces every 9 inches horizontally, but it was not enough.  The windows are so wide and tall, that the weight in the center becomes too much for the lead and horizontal braces to bear.  More structural support is needed.  So Laws removed the windows, straightened the bulges, and installed interlocking vertical braces to the windows.  Laws also replaced some broken glass.
     On the outside, Laws removed the Lexan and cleaned the outside of the leaded window.  The exterior wood frame was primed and painted with one coat of exterior paint.  Laws replaced some rotten wood sills.  The entire wood frame perimeter was flashed with white aluminum flashing.  Lastly, 1/4" Lucite acrylic was installed using (1) row of 1/2" x 1/2" white aluminum stop to hold it in place.  The Lucite was back bedded and caulked with clear silicone caulk. 

Sign at the church

View of the church from the front

 

Close-up of the discolored Lexan.  Note that you can hardly see through it.

View of the windows from the outside before the new protective covering

View of the windows on the other side before the new protective covering

 

Hand-stained glass window with a shield-shaped symbol, installed in 1984

Hand-stained glass window with a shield-shaped symbol, installed in 1984

Hand-stained glass window with a shield-shaped symbol, installed in 1984.

Hand-stained glass window with a shield-shaped symbol, installed in 1984.

 
 

Hand-stained glass window with no artwork

Another hand-stained glass window with no artwork

 

Note the bulging and sagging at the bottom of the window.  The window is too wide and without enough structural support to maintain the weight of the large window.

Note the bulging and sagging at the bottom of the window.  The window is too wide and without enough structural support to maintain the weight of the large window.

 

This photo shows the bulges straightened and four new interlocking vertical braces to give the window extra support.

Close-up view of the new interlocking vertical brace.

 

View of straightened windows.

 

When the leaded windows were removed, there was some badly rotten wood underneath the yellowed Lexan.

Laws replaced the rotten wood.

 

The wood was covered with white aluminum flashing.

Another view of the white aluminum flashing at the bottom.

 

At the top of the window, the aluminum flashing is segmented and overlapped like shingles to accommodate the round top.

 

On the outside, new 1/4" Lucite acrylic is installed as the protective covering.  It is held in place with (1) row of 1/2" x 1/2" white aluminum stop.

Contact Information

First Baptist Church

80 Groce Rd.

Lyman, SC 29365

(864) 439-8721

www.firstlyman.org

80 Groce Rd, Lyman, SC 29365