PSA: I found out how much old stained glass windows can actually weigh

I was helping a friend restore a church window from the 1920s in St. Louis. We had to move a single 2-foot by 3-foot panel. I guessed maybe 40 pounds, but when we got it on the scale, it was over 85. The lead came and the thick, uneven glass add up fast. I found this stat in a restoration guidebook from the library. It really makes you think about support structures for big installations. Has anyone else had a piece turn out way heavier than expected?

3 comments

3 Comments

sarahhart2mo ago

Yeah, the lead came really sneaks up on you. We had a similar shock moving a transom window last year. It's not just the glass, it's that thick, soft channel holding it all together. You absolutely need to check the existing frame for rot before you even think about putting it back, especially in an old building. Those original wood sills might look fine but crumble under the new weight.

spencer6642mo ago

That's a good point from @sarahhart about the wood. Makes me wonder about the metal brackets and anchors too, if they're original. Old iron can get brittle and just snap.

haydenp951mo ago

Yeah, the old iron thing is so real. My buddy was fixing up a porch swing and the original bracket just snapped in his hand, looked totally fine from the front. It was like a rusty cookie. Had to replace all the hardware.