What does commissioning a stained glass window actually look like?

Commissioning a custom stained glass window is different from most home improvement projects. There's no catalogue to browse, no standard sizes, and no two windows are alike. Here's what the process actually looks like, from first contact to final installation.

The Initial Conversation

The first step is a conversation about your space, your vision, and your budget. You don't need to arrive with a finished design most clients come with a general direction, a few reference photos, and a sense of the feeling they want to create. That's enough to start.

If you have existing leaded windows in the home, the goal is usually for a new piece to complement them. If this is a completely new installation, we'll talk about the architecture of the space, the light it receives throughout the day, and the overall aesthetic of the home.

Scoping and Quoting

Once there's a clear sense of the project, a detailed quote is provided covering dimensions, complexity, materials, timeline, and installation. Custom stained glass is priced by the scope of the work, not by the hour you'll know the full cost before anything begins.

The Site Visit

For most projects, a visit to the space is necessary to take precise measurements and assess the window opening. Slight variations in a rough opening affect the fit, and seeing the light in the space in person informs design decisions that photographs can't capture.

Design Approval

A full-scale design is drawn to the exact dimensions of your opening. You'll review the lead line pattern, the glass colours and textures, and the overall composition before a single piece of glass is cut. Changes at this stage are straightforward. Changes after the build begins are not.

The Build

Once the design is approved and a deposit is received, material sourcing begins. Glass is hand-selected, ordered, and assessed against the design. Each piece is then hand-scored and cut, assembled using traditional lead came technique, soldered at every joint, and sealed with putty for weatherproofing and structural integrity.

Most custom windows take six to ten weeks from design approval to completion. Larger or more complex pieces may take longer. Timeline is confirmed at the scoping stage.

Installation

Your completed window is installed on-site. For most residential projects in Toronto, installation takes a few hours. The window is fitted, sealed, and finished with trim for a clean, polished result.

Final Payment

The remaining balance is due upon completion, once you've seen the finished installation in place and are satisfied with the result.

The process is designed to be collaborative and transparent at every stage. You know exactly what you're getting before it's built, and nothing starts until the design is right. Sunday Projects takes on a select number of commissions each year for homeowners across Toronto if you have a project in mind, the best time to reach out is now.