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    Portfolio: Recreating a Beloved Stained Glass Window for Sam Houston State University

Portfolio: Recreating a Beloved Stained Glass Window for Sam Houston State University

As stained glass restoration experts, we just love our jobs here at Fort Collins Stained Glass. We get to give our customers back their lovely stained glass windows that many of them think are lost to time. It is amazing to see the happiness that restored stained glass brings to churches, synagogues, historic homes, and universities. Below is one example of how our parent company, Scottish Stained Glass all but resurrected a formally stunning window lost in a fire.

Replicating Sam Houston State’s Historic Stained Glass Windows
Sam Houston State University, in Texas, was founded in 1879. Its original architecture included a striking stained glass window portraying the saints. This window was an icon to the school. However, in 1982 a fire that ravaged one of the main original buildings destroyed it. SHSU recently decided to recreate that window and emblazon it with their school motto “The measure of a Life is its Service. We are honored they entrusted our company to be a part of preserving the legacy of such an amazing organization and piece of stained glass art.
The First Challenge of Restoring Sam Houston State University’s Lost Stained Glass
The largest challenge of this particular job was creating a replication from almost nothing. It is critical in our minds to always deliver a historically accurate piece in order to respect the organization and the art. So, with only a picture from a 1962 yearbook as a reference, we began by recreating the design using modern technology. This meant scanning that picture into the computer, printing it out life-sized, and then traced each line. After that, we scanned the drawing again and put it into our design software. This allowed us to get [...]

By |May 4th, 2021|Aggrigate|Comments Off on Portfolio: Recreating a Beloved Stained Glass Window for Sam Houston State University|
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    The Benefits of Stained Glass Repair for Fort Collins Properties

The Benefits of Stained Glass Repair for Fort Collins Properties

Fort Collins is home to some of the most gorgeous stained glass windows in the state. With stained glass features housed in residential properties, commercial properties, and houses of worship, there are numerous showcases of this diverse medium. If you own a stained glass window or feature, it’s important to know the proper upkeep and maintenance in order to keep yours in the best condition possible. When it comes to stained glass repairs, it’s always best to be proactive if you notice any damage. Stained glass repair can provide a great way of properly maintaining your stained glass.
The Advantages of Stained Glass Repair for Your Fort Collins Property
Stained glass repair is available for windows and features that have mild to moderate damage. Especially if your stained glass is newer, chances are that you’ll just need repairs rather than a full restoration. While restoration is typically needed within the 75 year to 100 year period, making sure your repairs are done in a timely manner can help you extend the periods of time between each required restoration. If you see small damages, these repairs can typically be completed on-site without our team having to remove them and transport them back. Repairs are much more affordable than restoration– make sure you’re proactive enough to avoid a necessary, untimely restoration. This will help you save financially as well as with resources and time.
Work with Fort Collins’ Preferred Stained Glass Repair Experts
Fort Collins Stained Glass is honored to be the preferred stained glass repair experts serving the Northern Colorado area. Our stained glass artisans would love to help you with your repairs and are available for both virtual consultations and in-person appointments. We’re looking [...]

By |June 25th, 2020|Aggrigate, Stained Glass Repair And Restoration|Comments Off on The Benefits of Stained Glass Repair for Fort Collins Properties|
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    Stained Glass Restoration vs. Replacement for Fort Collins Businesses

Stained Glass Restoration vs. Replacement for Fort Collins Businesses

Some of the historical and commercial properties in Fort Collins have the most beautiful stained glass features. These original stained glass windows can offer so many amazing benefits ranging from better brand visibility to helping attract more guests. These features often become an iconic part of any commercial property, making it important to keep them well maintained. So what’s the difference between stained glass restoration and replacement? Which one is better for your business?
The Advantages of Stained Glass Restoration for Your Fort Collins Business
Stained glass restoration is taking your existing stained glass and restoring it in order to address the existing deterioration and damage. This process restores the antique value and can add over another century of life to your windows until it’s ready for the next restoration. Replacement is replacing your old windows with a new stained glass design. When comparing the two, restoration is actually a more affordable option that requires less of an upfront financial investment. Restoration offers the benefit of restoring antique value and keeping the same aesthetic for your business. Replacement is a higher initial investment that can also offer great benefits for your property but should only be chosen if you want t change the look of your existing stained glass.
Work with Fort Collins’ Number One Stained Glass Restoration Experts
Fort Collins Stained Glass is honored to be the number on stained glass restoration experts serving the Northern Colorado area. We’re providing virtual consultations and are always available during our normal business hours. Work with our stained glass artisans to choose the best option for your business and learn more about the cost-benefit analysis between restoration and replacement. We’re looking forward to working with you!

For [...]

By |May 7th, 2020|Aggrigate, Stained Glass Repair And Restoration|Comments Off on Stained Glass Restoration vs. Replacement for Fort Collins Businesses|
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    Gorgeous Entryway Stained Glass Options for Your Fort Collins Home

Gorgeous Entryway Stained Glass Options for Your Fort Collins Home

When it comes to making the best impression for your guests, it is important to focus on creating a stunning entryway. Entryways are the first impression of your home besides your exterior, making them a great way to really wow your guests. With so many different options for enhancing your entryway, stained glass offers an incredible option for boosting both beauty and function within your home. Many entryways in Fort Collins homes have a lot of windows that need to be addressed. Custom stained glass is the perfect option for your entryway.
The Benefits of Custom Stained Glass for Your Fort Collins Home
Custom stained glass offers significant opportunities to enhance your entryway while doubling as a privacy solution. By blocking unwanted views into your property, you can create a better sense of comfort while also improving safety measures. Keeping your home private and out of view while enhancing curb appeal can really offer some exclusive benefits. Custom stained glass blocks unwanted views without impacting the natural sunlight transmission. This lends a bright, open feel for that grand entryway feel that so many people appreciate. Privacy stained glass comes in so many endless design options for heightening both curb appeal as well as your property value. Transform your entryway in order to achieve that gorgeous, custom-built home aesthetic.
Work with Fort Collins’ Leading Custom Stained Glass Studio
Fort Collins Stained Glass is honored to be the leading custom stained glass studio serving the Northern Colorado area. We’re offering virtual consultations and can help you with your upcoming stained glass project. We utilize phone calls and different online platforms to help you from the safety of your own home. Work with our stained glass artisans [...]

By |April 9th, 2020|Aggrigate, Stained Glass For Homes|Comments Off on Gorgeous Entryway Stained Glass Options for Your Fort Collins Home|
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Stained Glass Art Experts for Fort Collins

One type of glass that we excel at here at Fort Collins Stained Glass is Stained Glass Art. This type of stained glass feature is usually in commercial spaces and is primarily non-religious. It is used in everything from retail stores to bars and is a fantastic and unique adornment.
Fort Collins Source for Commercial Stained Glass
Over the past twenty-five years, in coordination with our sister company Scottish Stained Glass, we have completed over 80,000 stained and leaded glass installations. This makes us the go-expert for custom stained glass features in Fort Collins. Custom commercial stained glass features are something that works for countless commercial spaces and we can help you get the perfect design for your Fort Collins space. Whether you are looking for a contemporary leaded glass window for your Olde Town storefront or a colorful, iconic stained glass divider for your local eatery, we are the local stained glass artisans to call.
Commercial Art Stained Glass Restoration
Along with creating stained glass masterpieces to drive business in your Fort Collins commercial location, we also do restoration. Stained glass features were common in the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Meaning many commercial buildings here in Fort Collins have existing stained glass ceilings, walls, windows, and signs. Since stained glass typically requires restoration every 75 to 100 years–for many of our historical stained glass windows restoration is due. Here at Fort Collins Stained Glass, we do everything from on-site cleaning and drop-in repairs on commercial stained glass, to full restoration of the pieces you love.

Whether you own a building and are looking for a new stand out stained glass feature or simply to have your current stained glass [...]

By |March 12th, 2020|Aggrigate, Commercial Stained Glass|Comments Off on Stained Glass Art Experts for Fort Collins|
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    Is Restoring Stained Glass in Fort Collins Churches Worth the Investment?

Is Restoring Stained Glass in Fort Collins Churches Worth the Investment?

Churches, schools, and homeowners all come to us here at Fort Collins Stained Glass wondering if their stained glass is “worth” being restored.  While this is always a good question to ask–most people do not understand that its value goes far beyond money. There are different levels of value from monetary to historical to sentimental–and all are good reasons to have stained glass restored. Technically speaking most stained glass windows over 80 years require restoration.  Furthermore, whatever the window may be worth now–fully restored it will be worth more.
How Does Restoring Stained Glass Increase Its Value?
The idea behind restoring a stained glass window is that stained glass is definitely worth more after it has been restored.  This is different than many antiques which should be left alone most of the time. This is because the state of most antiques is often more desirable than a renewed one.  Stained glass is different because of the risk of losing them completely if not restored. Due to the deterioration of structural elements, namely the leading and framing, there is a much higher risk of stained glass being lost if not restored.  Windows built 80 years ago were only built to last about 80-100 years. So, the longer the restoration the neglected–the more likely it is the window structure will collapse and the windows will lose all value. The issue then with stained glass is–not if they should be restored but by who. Ultimately, to retain and even increase the value of your stained glass window you need a highly skilled and knowledgeable restoration company.

Why Hire A Skilled Restoration Expert For Your Stained Glass?
Like any antique–time takes a toll on stained glass.  To restore these [...]

By |February 10th, 2020|Aggrigate, Stained Glass Repair And Restoration|Comments Off on Is Restoring Stained Glass in Fort Collins Churches Worth the Investment?|
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    Altar’d State Retail Location Showcases Our Stained Glass in New Store

Altar’d State Retail Location Showcases Our Stained Glass in New Store

Recently, we at Fort Collins Stained Glass were privileged enough to work with a national retail store, Altar’d State, on an amazing stained glass project. It is our second time working with them and the results came out fantastic. Working closely with this faith-based clothing retailer, we were able to complete the project on time and with beautiful results for their new store. Since Altr’d State opens new stores across the country each year, meeting deadlines is critical to their continued success. By working with us here at Fort Collins Stained Glass, a company equipped with dedicated project managers, they knew the process was already in place to get the job done right and on time. To learn a little bit more about this stunning retail stained glass installation and how it successfully came together.
The Scope of The Altr’d State Retail Stained Glass Project
 Altr’d State needed 16 curved panels to create a 12-foot diameter circular ceiling feature built and installed in their Norwalk, CT store. The challenge was staying true to the aesthetic of our last Altr’d State stained glass installation while working in the unique shape of the curved glass features. However, it certainly was not a challenge we could not conquer. 
The Execution of The Altr’d State Retail Stained Glass Project 
Paying close attention to our previous designs for the company and the curved shape of the existing structure, we decided to build custom wooden forms for each panel. This meant creating a positive and negative form so that we could work on both sides of the 18-panel installation. The most important part of the job was designing each piece to avoid cracking during manufacturing or installation. The tight deadline [...]

By |January 16th, 2020|Aggrigate, Retail Stained Glass|Comments Off on Altar’d State Retail Location Showcases Our Stained Glass in New Store|
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    Case Study: Using Stained Glass for Privacy and Style in Staircase

Case Study: Using Stained Glass for Privacy and Style in Staircase

Most two-story homes have windows located by their staircase to let in natural sunlight and brighten up both floors of the home. One of our clients loved the large staircase windows in their home for this very reason but experienced significant privacy issues since their neighbor’s home were located right outside these windows. When they started looking around for privacy solutions, the first choices that came up were window treatments. Window treatments weren’t the right solution for them since they didn’t want to sacrifice their natural sunlight. Instead, they reached out to us for a privacy stained glass solution.
The Benefits of Privacy Stained Glass for Residential Staircases
The large floor to ceiling windows located in front of their stairway caused major privacy issues for these homeowners. They always had to worry about what they were wearing when going downstairs to grab something and didn’t like the level of discomfort this privacy concern brought. Since they didn’t want to compromise the beautiful sunlight that lit up their home and stunning spiral staircase, privacy stained glass was the perfect option for them. They created an elegant custom leaded glass design that effectively blocked unwanted views while actually enhancing their curb appeal and property value. Now they can enjoy their home without worrying about what nosy onlookers and neighbors see.
Work with Fort Collins’ Preferred Privacy Stained Glass Studio
Fort Collins Stained Glass is honored to be the preferred privacy stained glass studio serving the Colorado area. We’ve created numerous privacy stained glass windows to help homeowners improve comfort and beauty within their homes. Privacy stained glass offers both beauty and function, providing a unique solution that windows treatments can’t. Work with our stained glass artisans [...]

By |January 7th, 2020|Aggrigate, Privacy Stained Glass|Comments Off on Case Study: Using Stained Glass for Privacy and Style in Staircase|
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Beautiful Examples of Stained Glass to Visit In Europe

With the holidays upon us–some people are planning to jet set for the holidays and a trip to Europe to soak in some culture is a popular trip. If you are one of those people–congrats to you! There are of course a lot of things to do in Europe and one thing we suggest, being the company of a European immigrant, is to check out the stained glass. We absolutely adore the stained glass culture abroad and it is something that greatly influences our work. Of course, we are a tab partial to Scottish works of stained glass art–because that is where our owner Martin Short learned the craft. But we also know there is amazing stained glass across the world and all over Europe. So, on your European travels this holiday season, should you be near any of the locations below, be sure to check out some of what we consider the most notable stained glass these areas have to offer.

Germany 

The Augsburg Cathedral: A Romanesque church built in the late 11th Century these windows are one of the most ancient examples in situ are. Containing portraits of Moses, Daniel and other biblical figures prophets are elegantly depicted surrounded by marvelous marble borders. 

France

Christ of Wissembourg: Another example of ancient stained glass this work of art was also constructed in the late 11th Century. While not as magestic as much cathedral stained glass–the rich history makes it something worth seeing. An excellent example of why stained glass is often called the “poor man’s bible”, this gorgeous portrait of Christ likely came from a Benedictine abbey in the north of Alsace and was likely used to tell the story of Christ’s love. It now sits in [...]

By |December 11th, 2019|Aggrigate, Custom Stained Glass|Comments Off on Beautiful Examples of Stained Glass to Visit In Europe|
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What Gives Stained Glass Its Color?

The stained glass manufacturing process can be facinating– from delicate glass painting to creating pieces with varying textures, there’s a lot of production that goes into every stained glass window. Customers looking into creating their own custom stained glass have a lot of options to choose from in regards to color, style, texture, and design. Have you ever considered what gives stained glass its color? The colored glass manufacturing process is very interesting and may actually surprise you. Here’s how you make colored glass:
The Stained Glass Color Production Process
Glass is created through a mixture of sand and scraps of broken waste glass, called cullet. Any glass that’s recycled for glass creation is referred to as cullet. When cullet and sand are sifted then placed into a furnace, a variety of additives are combined for glass creation. The furnace is heated to over 2900 degrees Fahrenheit in order for the cullet and sand to reach their melting points. The ancient Romans and Egyptians discovered that adding certain ingredients to this molten hot mixture could create colored glass. Gerber, an 8th-century chemist, discovered that metal oxides were the key to creating colorful glass. With today’s advancements in technology, we now utilize metal oxides, sulfides, and other compounds to create different colored glass options. Here are some of the more common additives required for developing colored glass:

Cobalt oxide: blue/violet
Gold chloride: red
Cadmium sulfide: yellow
Sulfur: amber/yellow
Antimony oxide: white
Chromic oxide: emerald green
Uranium oxide: green/fluorescent yellow

Work with Fort Collin’s Number One Source for Colorful Stained Glass
Fort Collins Stained Glass is honored to be the number one source for colorful stained glass in the Colorado area. [...]

By |December 9th, 2019|Aggrigate, Custom Stained Glass|Comments Off on What Gives Stained Glass Its Color?|
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