Wheeling, WV

September 2025

Repair, Cleaning & Protective Coverings (Onsite)

About the Church

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church is a parish in Wheeling, West Virginia, serving the Elm Grove and surrounding Wheeling communities as part of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston. The parish was established in 1895 and continues to serve its community through worship, education, and outreach. (saintvincentparish.org)

Our Work

Willet Studios completed a preservation project involving 22 stained glass windows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. The project combined structural repairs, protective coverings, cleaning, and improvements to the windows’ ventilation systems.

Klear-Flo™ Protective Coverings

All 22 windows received new protective coverings using the Klear-Flo™ protective covering system. The system utilized 1/4-inch glass and a specialized perimeter frame to provide an additional layer of protection for the stained glass.

The protective coverings help shield the windows from environmental exposure and potential impact while preserving the beauty of the original stained glass.

Structural Repairs

Bulging sections were carefully straightened on nine windows, helping to restore the panels to a more stable position.

New structural steel support braces were also installed where needed to provide additional support and help protect the windows from future movement.

Ventilation Improvements

The project also addressed the existing window ventilators. Protective coverings were installed over 16 window ventilators while allowing them to remain operational, maintaining their intended function.

Two additional ventilators were sealed shut where continued operation was not required.

Cleaning & Re-Cementing

All 22 windows were re-cemented on their exterior surfaces as part of the preservation process. This helped reinforce and weatherproof the window assemblies.

The interior surfaces of the stained glass windows were also carefully cleaned, removing accumulated dirt and grime and allowing the colors and details of the glass to be seen more clearly.

Through a combination of structural repairs, re-cementing, cleaning, ventilation improvements, and new Klear-Flo™ protective coverings, Willet Studios helped provide long-term protection and stability for the 22 stained glass windows at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Resource

St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church: saintvincentparish.org