While every stained glass restoration project poses its own set of challenges, the process or steps involved in restoring a window can be quite methodical. Documentation is an important part of any restoration project. Photographs provide information on how the windows look in both reflected and transmitted light along with showing the condition of the glass paint. Rubbings show the contour and detail of the lead lines and are annotated with symbols showing existing conditions such as the location of broken glass, pieces with fragile paint and the location of the tie wires for the saddle bars. Prior to disassembly, all painted pieces are tested for the stability of the glass paint. Windows are then carefully disassembled and each piece of glass is cleaned in warm water. Wherever possible, broken glass is mended by edge gluing the pieces with either silicone or epoxy or by copper foiling the broken pieces. Broken glass that can not be mended is replaced with new glass that matches the original as close as possible in color, texture and painting technique.
