This blog will show you how to clean, repair and restore stained glass art. It is the culmination of my education in stained glass conservation and restoration, as well as my 15 years experience working with stained glass windows.

My name is Tyler, I’m a stained glass artist based in Los Angeles, California. I have a degree in Art Conservation from UCLA and my main focus has been on large-scale stained glass mural conservation.

My blog “Everything You Need To Know Before Repainting A Stained Glass Piece” is dedicated to helping people learn how to clean, repair and restore all types of stained glass art.

The common assumption that we only need to clean the glass–because stained glass is too valuable and fragile to repaint–is incorrect.

Stained glass art is expensive because it’s so labor-intensive and time-consuming to create. The value of a piece lies in the design and craftsmanship, not the materials. Given enough time, most stained glass can be entirely, or almost entirely, repainted.

This blog explains how to clean and repair stained glass art, including the different types of paint (categories: water based, oil based, permanent) that are best for your particular job. I’ve also included some helpful tips for taking care of your newly cleaned or repaired piece.*

*The information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. There are no warranties expressed or implied herewith. You use this information at your own risk.*

Stained glass art is one of the most popular and beautiful forms of home decor, but it can also be a bit intimidating. When you have a stained glass piece in your home, you are not just decorating with a picture or a painting — you are inviting light into your room. It’s important to keep your stained glass artwork clean and well maintained so that the colors remain vibrant and the delicate pieces remain intact.

Stained glass is fragile and requires careful handling; this is especially true when cleaning your stained glass work. There are many ways to clean your art, but it is important to remember that over time the dust, dirt and grime from cleaning will scratch the surface. This can ruin the color of your piece as well as cause permanent damage to the more delicate parts of the design. Depending on how much use your stained glass gets, you may want to schedule regular professional cleansings with an experienced artist.

If you choose to clean it yourself, make sure that you use a soft cloth and avoid abrasive materials (including paper towels). You should also never use any chemicals or detergents on your stained glass piece unless directed by an expert. If there is a particular part of the design that looks dirty, try using a microfiber cloth (such

In short, as you clean and repair a stained glass piece, make sure you have something to do when a piece breaks. It’s happened to me on more than one occasion.

I’ve been working on a piece for about three months now. It’s an enormous undertaking (over 200 pieces), so I’m only working on it very casually, maybe once every couple of weeks.

Yesterday, I was cleaning the metalwork when suddenly, during a moment of inattention, one of the pieces shattered. They usually don’t break like this — usually they shatter into many pieces — but this one just fell into three pieces.

I had read online that there are several options for fixing broken glass: you can take it to a professional who can fuse the glass back together with solder; you can use epoxy resin; you can buy an epoxy kit and try to do it yourself.

I tried all these things and none of them worked very well (the resin and the epoxy kit were useless). The solder didn’t work either: I had tried that first and then tried the other methods because the solder didn’t seem strong enough.

So I decided to try something else: I’m going to melt the bits together with an alcohol lamp (sort of like

I’m an expert in stained glass from years of working in the field. I’ve been fortunate to be able to work with many different types of companies, organizations and clients. I’ve been able to travel and see stained glass art all over the U.S. and Europe.

If you want to begin a stained glass project, or repair one you already have, there are important things you need to know. These tips will help you get started.

The first thing to do is find a good website on the subject. Stained glass isn’t rocket science, but it can be difficult to learn how to do it correctly. There are many good resources online for those who want to learn about the art form.

Alternatively, take some classes at your local art school or community college; these will be better than most websites since they will give you hands on experience and personal advice from an instructor.

If you’re going to go the website route, make sure that the information given is up-to-date. Some of them haven’t been updated in years and may have out of date information or even contain mistakes.

Once you’ve learned as much as possible about stained glass, find a good stained glass shop near you and ask them if they’ll let you watch while they work on a project. This is invaluable experience that will help familiarize you with the tools involved in the process and give you some idea of what’s involved in working with professionals.

Finally: always wear gloves when handling glass, especially old pieces like those found at flea