Protecting Your Stained Glass Asset

by John Phillips, Jr., President, Associated Crafts

For many church members, there is an emotional attachment to the stained glass windows in their places of worship. Members often pass on stories and memories related to the stained glass. Some might remember its gleaming light the day they got married or the inspiration they got from admiring its scene. However, few realize that for many churches, the stained glass is their largest material asset as well as part of their heritage.

Appraisals and Insurance

Like individuals, many churches rely on their insurance agent to guide them on their coverage. For some, this approach is found to be devastating. After a catastrophic event, some stained glass studios have assisted in the repair and heard complaints about the coverage that was in place.

Nothing is more disheartening than to see a church suffer a loss and then find out their coverage is inadequate. To prevent this from happening to your church, it is best to get a comprehensive appraisal by a qualified stained glass studio. Many studios or consultants charge a nominal fee for this service. Associated Crafts generally will provide this service free with assistance of the church.

Once the appraisal is complete, you should review your coverage with your insurance provider to verify the windows are covered.

Documentation

The next recommendation is to do a simple documentation of your stained glass. Take an overall photo of each window and then a close-up of each section to show the detail. It is also important to measure the window opening, rounding off to the nearest half foot. In many cases of catastrophic loss, windows or parts of windows are destroyed. This information can be useful in their restoration. It would be a good idea to store this information in multiple areas or a safe deposit box.

Maintenance

Some studios have restored projects left undone for years simply because the members did not know where to go for help. It is best select a quality studio to provide you with a condition report.

Most studios will provide this report free of charge. If possible, have several companies prepare the report for you so that you will have other opinions and perspectives on your windows.

For those who want to know if they should add protective covering, we at Associated Crafts always says yes! In most cases, the protected windows are in much better shape than the unprotected windows. The covering protects the windows from the elements as well as vandalism. Remember to let your insurance company know that your windows are protected and be sure to request a discount on your premiums.

Assess each window so that you can catch small problems before they become large ones. Please share this information with as many as possible. The more people aware and educated about this craft, the better their stained glass windows will be protected and preserved.

John Phillips, Jr. is president of Associated Crafts, one of the nation's premier full-service stained-glass studios. For more information, including a free copy of the informative manual, "Preserving Your Stained Glass Windows: A Resource Guide for Your Stained Glass Project", visit www.AssociatedCrafts.com,(a.k.a. www.Church-Stained-Glass-Windows.com). Associated Crafts is a full-service studio providing a full range of services including new windows, on-site repair, in-studio repair, installation of protective coverings, frame repair, and reselling of used windows.