Restorations·5 min read
Does my stained glass window need to be restored?
Stained glass windows in Toronto's older homes can be 80 to 120+ years old. Here are the signs that yours needs professional attention before the damage spreads.
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Notes from the Studio
Guides, education, and insight on stained glass for Toronto homeowners
Encapsulations02
What is stained glass encapsulation?
If you have original leaded glass windows, you've probably noticed two things: they're beautiful, and they're drafty. Encapsulation solves the second problem without touching the first.
5 min readRead
Education03
What's the difference between leaded glass and stained glass?
I call what I do stained glass. But technically, it isn't and understanding the real difference changes how you think about the windows in your home, what to ask for when commissioning one, and why copper foil is a completely different thing entirely.
6 min readRead
Commissions04
What does commissioning a stained glass window actually look like?
Commissioning a custom stained glass window is different from most home improvement projects. Here's what the process actually looks like from first contact to final installation.
6 min readRead
About05
Why did I leave consulting to make stained glass windows?
I spent years in management consulting before teaching myself leaded glass from YouTube videos and setting up Sunday Projects in Toronto. Here's what drew me to the craft and why I think human, local work is where things are heading.
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Commissions06
How much does stained glass actually cost?
Custom stained glass windows in Toronto typically range from $1,500 to $10,000 and beyond. Here's exactly how I price projects and what actually drives the cost up or down.
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Commissions07
How does a custom stained glass window get designed?
Every custom leaded glass window I make starts not with a sketch, but with a visit to your home. Here's what the design and consultation process actually looks like from first conversation to the moment the glass is cut.
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Education08
Why can't every stained glass design actually be built?
A lot of people come to me with AI-generated concepts or Pinterest designs that look incredible on screen but can't be built in lead. Here's what I wish more homeowners understood about stained glass structure and how I handle it when a client falls in love with something that won't work.
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Commissions09
Can I add stained glass to a front door that already has glass?
If your front door has a plain glass panel, I can swap it for a custom leaded window. The door and frame stay exactly as they are.
4 min readRead
Education10
How do I know if the leaded windows in my home are original?
There are a few things I look for. Original leaded glass has a distinct character that reproductions don't quite match. Once you know what you're looking at, it's hard to unsee.
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Education11
How do I clean my leaded glass windows?
Honestly, they don't need much. A soft cloth and warm water handles most of it. The problems come from using the wrong products things that are fine on modern glass but hard on lead and putty.
3 min readRead
Education12
What is lead came, and is it safe in my home?
Lead came is the metal strip that holds a leaded glass window together. In an intact, well-maintained window, it poses no real health risk. Here's how to think about it honestly.
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Commissions13
Can stained glass work in a modern or contemporary home?
Yes, but it's a completely different design conversation. In a modern home I'm not doing scrollwork and amber. I'm doing clean geometry, restrained colour, and letting the lead do the work.
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Restorations14
What happens if the glass in my stained glass window breaks?
One broken piece doesn't ruin the window. Don't try to glue it. Keep the pieces if you can, cover the opening temporarily, and get it looked at sooner rather than later.
3 min readRead
Education15
How long does a leaded glass window actually last?
The glass lasts indefinitely. What wears out is the lead and the putty, and both can be replaced. A well-maintained leaded window can genuinely outlast the house it's in.
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Restorations16
Why are my leaded windows bowing or bulging outward?
Bowing is a structural problem, not a cosmetic one. The lead has weakened to the point where it can't hold the panel flat anymore. It won't fix itself, and it gets worse the longer it's left.
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Commissions17
Can I get stained glass for a rental property or condo?
It comes down to whether you own the place. With a rental you own, you have full control. With a condo, it depends on what's yours and what belongs to the building.
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Restorations18
My leaded windows are drafty. Can that be fixed?
Drafty leaded glass is a real problem, especially in a Toronto winter, and it's completely fixable. The right approach depends on what's causing it.
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Commissions19
Do you work with heritage or historically designated homes in Toronto?
Most of my work is in Toronto's older neighbourhoods, in homes that are 80 to 130 years old. That history shapes how I approach every design and restoration.
4 min readRead
Commissions20
How do I choose a stained glass artist?
Start with the portfolio. You want someone whose quality and range tell you they can handle your project end to end, from design to installation.
2 min readRead
Education21
What makes a stained glass window last 100 years?
It comes down to craftsmanship at every stage. Each step builds on the one before it, and rushing any of them cuts years off the window's life.
2 min readRead
Commissions22
Should I install stained glass over my existing window or replace it?
Two ways to go. Most often I fit the stained glass in front of your existing window for the character. The other route replaces the window entirely.
2 min readRead
Education23
Can I put stained glass in a bathroom or kitchen?
Kitchens are generally fine. Bathrooms need more care, because lead deteriorates faster in high-moisture rooms without good airflow.
2 min readRead
Restorations24
Does my window need a repair or a full restoration?
It depends on the condition. A few cracks usually means a repair. Bowing, breaking lead, and cracks in multiple spots point to a full restoration.
2 min readRead
Education25
Do stained glass windows fade over time?
The glass itself doesn't fade. It's the lead that changes tone with years of sun, and there are century-old windows across Toronto still going strong.
2 min readRead
Education26
What are the stained glass design trends right now?
Stained glass is coming back, and right now the trends lean simple and safe. As more artists emerge, I think we'll see homeowners go bolder.
2 min readRead
Education27
How does window size affect the design?
Small windows almost support themselves. Larger ones have more open glass and longer lead runs, so I start from structure and build the design around it.
2 min readRead
Education28
Interior or exterior stained glass, what lasts longer?
Interior, by a wide margin. With no sun, rain, or temperature swings to deal with, an interior panel holds its integrity far better over time.
2 min readRead
Commissions29
Can I do a partial stained glass window?
Yes, as long as the frame has separate sections to support the panel. One continuous opening with no divisions is trickier to work with.
2 min readRead
Commissions30
Can you match the existing stained glass in my home?
Yes. I use your existing window as a reference and source glass that's as close as possible in colour, texture, and style so the two belong together.
2 min readRead
Commissions31
Do you offer a warranty on your work?
If a window loses integrity because of the craftsmanship or install, I'll make it right. Preexisting or environmental issues are outside what I cover.
2 min readRead
Commissions32
Should I install stained glass before or after renovations?
It depends on the work. If you're building new frames and trim, the glass usually goes in first. Either way, it's worth a conversation about timing.
2 min readRead
Encapsulations33
Do I need to restore my leaded window before encapsulating it?
Most of the time, I lean toward yes. Taking an old leaded panel out of its frame puts real stress on the lead and glass, and the window that goes into a new thermal unit should be strong enough to last inside it.
4 min readRead
Encapsulations34
Will encapsulation change how my stained glass looks?
It's the thing people worry about most: gaining comfort but losing the character of the window. From the inside, the colour, the lead lines, and the texture read the same. Here's what does and doesn't change.
3 min readRead
Encapsulations35
How much of a difference does encapsulation make in a Toronto winter?
Original leaded glass is single-pane and drafty by nature. Encapsulation makes it perform like a modern double-pane unit. Here's what that actually feels like once winter sets in.
4 min readRead
Encapsulations36
Does an encapsulated window ever fog up or fail like a double-pane?
It's a fair question, everyone has seen a fogged-up thermal window. Here's why that happens, how the unit is built to avoid it, and what happens to your original glass if a seal ever does go.
3 min readRead
Encapsulations37
How much does it cost to encapsulate a stained glass window?
Encapsulation in Toronto generally runs $100 to $200 per square foot, depending on the shape and complexity of the panel and the glass you choose. Here's what moves the number.
3 min readRead
Encapsulations38
Is it worth it to encapsulate my stained glass window?
If you're keeping the home and you love the original glass, it usually is. You keep the character, gain modern comfort, and protect the panel so it lasts. Here's the honest version.
2 min readRead
Commissions39
Where can I add stained glass besides the front door?
The front door is where most people start, but it's far from the only place a leaded glass panel belongs. Once you start looking, there are openings all over a home that come alive with a bit of colour and light.
5 min readRead
Education40
Can stained glass give me privacy without covering the window?
It's one of the most practical reasons people add leaded glass. The right glass blocks the sightline into a room while keeping the daylight, with no blinds, curtains, or frosting film required.
4 min readRead