How to Repair Leaded Glass in Leaded Glass Door Panel

In the many years of working with Leaded Glass Doors, I have constantly been asked, do you repair the leaded glass panels in doors? My first reaction is, no. Memories of trying to hire or sub-contract with a local repair specialist (leaded glass artist) proved more difficult than selling them a new door. If the door is years old, replace it, you will be happier in the end because while you might have spent more than your budget allows, you won't spend that much more, because repairing leaded glass doors is not an inexpensive affair and it is fraught with time constraints.

If the door did warrant repair, then yes, I would put them in touch with a contractor artist who could do the repairs. But, before I gave them the number I made sure to let them know what they are in for.

Who does the Leaded Glass Door repair?

While I was selling and installing doors and maybe doing minor repair to broken bevels, repairing a door that is already hung is a different story.

The folks who are experts in this craft are artisans. Many things are great about this, many things can frustrate folks who are not used to working with true artisans and *their* timelines. You see, these folks are perfectionists. They do not do anything half-way, and because they their work is a reflection of their artistic talent, they take their time.

What should I expect to pay to repair a Leaded Glass Door?

The only costs involved in replacing a glass bevel in a leaded glass door are the bevel and time. Expect 4-6 hours at the going local rate ($25-$75/hour). Before you jump out of your seat and curse, consider the steps that the artisan will go through in replacing the glass bevel.

Steps to Replace a leaded glass bevel in a door

1. Remove the door. The door must be laid down flat to allow for extraction of the bevel(s). This also means you will need a shop door or something to close-up the entryway and space for the work to be done.
2. Once the door is laid down, the artist will begin the extraction. The lead caming must be cut to expose the glass bevel in the door panel that needs to be replaced. This is very time consuming and cutting through lead take a steady and deliberate hand.
3. Once the bevel is exposed, the glass is removed and replaced with an exact replica of the original. It is set back into the caming channel. This takes a while because the glass may have to be ground to allow it to fit snuggly.
4. Once the glass is replaced, backing is packed in between the glass and the lead to ensure a tight fit and prevent any air channel in the center panel of the door.
5. Once the backing is set, the lead that was originally removed is replaced. It will be resoldered to make sure that the panel is absolutely secure in the caming channel.

Upon completion, the artist will inspect the work. It might take longer if they determine the look of the door is not in line with the original work. Leave them alone while they complete the work. If when they are finished you are OK with their work, thank your lucky stars. Repairing bevels is not for the faint of heart because you are dealing with an artist who's craft just happens to appear to be construction work. It is not, it is an art craft and you should always have that in the back of your head when you make the decision to repair a leaded glass door. If you wish to know more, just visit DoorSmart and search for Leaded Glass Doors.