Stained Glass Windows
Leadbitter Glass delivers Overlay Stained Glass Windows to homes throughout the UK. Ordering stained glass windows from Leadbitter Glass is easy. Just send us an image of what you want us to create or find a design you like in our Leaded Galleries. Calculate your approximate glass sizes, then contact us to request a quote.
Benefits Of Modern Stained Glass Windows
Stained glass windows were originally manufactured using small pieces of glass fixed together with a ‘H’ lead strip. Almost like a jigsaw method. The lead strips were then soldered so the glass would stay together. This old-style form of stained glass was never very durable. Although this procedure is sometimes still used today, our modern Overlay Stained Glass Windows are a much more versatile product.
Overlay Stained Glass is created by applying genuine lead strips to both sides of one piece of toughened safety glass. Overlay Stained Glass Colours are then applied to one side of the glass, under the leaded strips. The toughened glass panel is then ‘back leaded’ so the design looks the same from both sides. Our stained glass windows can be supplied as single-glazed toughened glass or we can even supply the panel as a double-glazed unit. The older ‘jigsaw’ method cannot be supplied as double-glazed units because there are small gaps in between each coloured piece. This old technique can never be made as a sealed unit.
Stained Glass Windows Using Minster Glass
The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired stained glass windows below were created using toughened Minster Glass. With this specific job, we created it using our Aged Lead (Option 2) along with transparent colours for the design. Each panel was one solid sheet of toughened safety glass. Minster glass is one of the most popular glass types for use with Leaded-Glass designs. Stippolyte Glass is another popular texture that clients have ordered with us over the last 30 years.
Image above created using Minster Glass
‘New But Old’ Stained Glass Windows
As mentioned above, one big advantage that our Leaded Glass has over the traditional method is that toughened glass can be used. Plain colours, marbled colours and textures can be used along with soldered lead or our popular Antique Lead. These durable and attractive materials produce stunning effects that last. When made properly, it can be unrecognisable from the older technique.
Image above created using Minster Glass
As you can see by the picture of this 1930s glass design, the coloured areas of the glass are bumpy and textured. All the colours and the non-coloured areas are textured the same. This specific textured glass is called Minster glass and it is a very popular request with our customers.
Other textured glass patterns can also be used to create stained glass windows. Stippolyte glass and Flemish glass can be used to create these leaded panels. All other textures can be used as the ‘backing glass’ to the double-glazed unit. Toughened glass has security benefits but it is also a great glass to use when creating expensive designs.
The Many Advantages Of Overlay Stained Glass Windows
Our modern technique has many advantages over the older method of creating stained glass windows. Energy saving is a big concern today and with the leaded pattern being manufactured as a stained glass window overlay onto a solid sheet of toughened glass, the possibility of the cold weather coming into the home through the joints of the design is eradicated. Our technique can also be applied directly to energy-saving Pilkington K Glass. This special glass is now a building regulations requirement for every new window and door installation. We supply Pilkington K glass on the rear face of every sealed unit we supply.
Durability and security are other advantages of our product. Creating the decorative design using toughened safety glass provides long-lasting and secure stained glass windows. People have paid lots of money for the older method of stained glass windows but it doesn’t always stand the test of time. Small coloured sections of a traditional ‘jigsaw’ style panel can break quite easily and they often do. Every week we receive enquiries from the public, enquiring if we can replace small cracked pieces of a stained glass window. We do not repair glass and our technique cannot crack.
The materials
There are hundreds of overlay colours to choose from for use in modern-day stained glass and most colours can be combined with a frosted overlay to create an even larger range of colours and textures.
The Lead strip also comes in many colours and effects. The old favourite through the 80’s and 90’s being Option 1 Natural lead. Today almost every job we create is manufactured using Option 2 Antique Lead which is a darker lead. We now offer antique lead as standard for all quotes so this is included in the price. Soldered joints on the lead strips help achieve that ‘traditional’ feel to the glass. this finish can be requested at an extra price.
Image above created using Stippolyte Glass
View our basic range of Overlay Stained Glass colours to view the most popular colours requested. There are hundreds of other colours and effects available so you can request any colour you find on any design throughout this website.
View Our Stained Glass Past Works
We’ve created tens of thousands of Overlay Stained Glass Window commissions since 1994 and you can view some recent orders in our Past Works Gallery. New projects are added regularly and this section is a great way to see what other people are ordering. We tend to add jobs that are a little bit different so there are many bespoke designs featured here.
Browse Our Leaded Glass Galleries
Our website contains hundreds of patterns for Stained Glass Windows and our Main Gallery is the first place to visit to get inspiration. We have categorised our patterns into themed galleries and glass for different types of doors. The Main Gallery will help you find the perfect stained glass pattern for you or at least inspire you to dream up your pattern.
