With more than 125 years of expertise in building, creating, and restoring stained glass windows, our team is often called in as the expert for the most complicated and historically significant preservation projects. Because of this, our restoration process is finely tuned to meet the highest standards of quality and care.
Revitalizing, maintaining, and preserving your stained glass windows
Preserving Beauty
Our Restoration Process
Detailed On-Site Assessment
Our skilled craftsmen start with on-site layout diagrams, labeling and photographing each panel to document its pre-restoration condition. Job-site measurements and careful packing precede transportation to our studio.
Thorough Documentation and Rubbing
At our studio, each window panel is meticulously documented through photographs and rubbings, capturing lead came sizes, profiles, and the exact location of glass to be repaired or replaced. These documents serve as a precise reassembly guide.
Expert Reassembly with New Lead
Utilizing notes, photographs, and rubbings, our craftsmen reassemble each panel with new lead, matching the original size and profile. The result is a faithful restoration of the window’s aesthetic, structural, and historical integrity.
Conservation Philosophy and Techniques
Our conservation approach, rooted in established preservation theory, treats stained glass as an integral part of the building fabric. Through structural inspection, evaluation of artistic elements, and careful handling, we ensure the windows remain a priceless treasure.
The Willet Difference
Unrivaled Heritage
With over a century of experience, we’ve restored windows by renowned artists like Tiffany, Connick, and La Farge, including intricate multi-plated windows.
Conservation Expertise
Our conservation specialists employ techniques that retain the artistic elements, emphasize reversible methods, and use new structural components for long-lasting results.
Secure Handling and Transit
Your treasured art is fully protected during transit and in our studio—handled with the utmost care and expertise from the moment of arrival until it is safely restored to its original location.
Take the First Step
Questions?
Interested in learning more about our restoration process, or have a project you want to discuss?