River Falls, WI

October 2025

Repair and Protective Coverings

About the Church

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a Catholic parish serving the River Falls, Wisconsin, community. The church’s stained glass windows are an important part of its worship space, adding color, beauty, and artistic character to the interior.

Our Work

Willet Studios completed a comprehensive preservation project involving 24 stained glass windows at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The project included repairs to cracked glass, architectural support improvements, millwork restoration, and the installation of new protective coverings throughout the window collection.

Stained Glass Repairs & Structural Support

Three windows received repairs to address cracked glass. All cracked glass in these windows was carefully stabilized, helping prevent further movement or damage while preserving the existing glass.

To provide additional structural support, glazing bars were installed on 10 windows. The bars were positioned to follow the major lines of the existing framing, providing additional support while preserving the exterior appearance and architectural character of the church.

Window & Millwork Restoration

All 24 windows were re-cemented on their exterior surfaces, helping reinforce the window assemblies and improve their resistance to environmental exposure.

The surrounding millwork was also repainted, and a finish coat of rust-inhibiting paint was applied to help protect the metal components from corrosion.

Where needed, protective covering material was set into the existing ventilator frames so the ventilators could remain operational while still providing protection for the stained glass.

Klear-Flo™ Protective Coverings

All 24 stained glass windows received new protection using the Klear-Flo™ protective covering system.

The existing protective coverings were first removed to prepare the windows for the new system. A specialized perimeter frame with 1/4-inch acrylic was then installed to create an additional protective barrier between the stained glass and the elements.

The Klear-Flo™ system helps protect stained glass from potential impact and environmental exposure while allowing the original artwork to remain visible.

Through careful glass stabilization, architectural support improvements, exterior re-cementing, millwork restoration, and the installation of new Klear-Flo™ protective coverings, Willet Studios helped preserve and protect the 24 stained glass windows at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary for future generations.

Resource

Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: https://stmarysbigriver.com/