Original leadlight is one of the most treasured features of a Melbourne period home. But even the best-made panel does not last forever. After 80 or 100 years, lead softens, cement dries out and crumbles, and windows that once sat flat begin to bow, rattle and leak. A proper restoration gives that leadlight a second life, keeping the original glass and design while making the panel sound and weatherproof again. Verity Leadlights has been restoring leadlight and stained glass for Melbourne and country Victoria since 1979, using the same traditional methods the windows were first made with.
Signs your leadlight needs restoring
Not every damaged leadlight needs a full restoration. A few broken pieces in sound lead can usually be repaired, often on site. Restoration is the better choice when the lead itself has reached the end of its life. Look out for:
- Bowing or bulging, where the panel no longer sits flat in the frame
- Glass that rattles or moves when you press it gently
- Water getting in at several joints during heavy rain
- Lead that is cracked, split or pulling away from the glass
- Cement that has crumbled away, leaving gaps around the pieces
- Several broken or cracked pieces spread across the panel
If you are unsure, we will look at the window and tell you honestly whether it needs a repair or a restoration.
Our restoration process, step by step
We restore leadlight the traditional way, because it lasts and can be repaired again in the future.
1. Assessment and free quote
We inspect the panel in its frame, check the condition of the lead, glass, cement and any support bars, and give you a free, no-obligation quote. We can also prepare quotes for insurance claims.
2. Recording the design
Before anything is taken apart, we take a rubbing of the panel. This full-size record captures every lead line, so the restored panel matches the original exactly.
3. Removal and temporary glazing
The leadlight is carefully removed and taken to our Kew workshop. While it is away, we temporarily glaze the frame to keep the weather out and your home secure.
4. Dismantling and cleaning the glass
The old lead is removed and each piece of glass is cleaned individually. Decades of grime, paint and old cement come off, and the difference is often striking: colours look brighter and textures clearer.
5. Replacing broken pieces
Broken or missing pieces are replaced as closely as possible. Over the years we have built up a large stock of old and antique glass, so there is a good chance we can match an original piece. Where a panel has hand-painted detail, we can reproduce it using traditional glass painting.
6. Re-leading, soldering and cementing
The panel is rebuilt with new lead came following the rubbing, and every joint is soldered on both sides. It is then cemented to seal and stiffen it, cleaned and polished.
7. Support and reinstallation
Large panels need support to stay flat, so we check whether support bars should be added or replaced. Then the restored leadlight goes back into its frame.
Restoring the glass Melbourne homes actually have
Melbourne’s housing spans several distinct leadlight eras, and a good restoration respects the style of each.
Victorian
Boom-era Victorian homes often have front doors with sidelights and highlights, coloured margin glass, etched or flashed panes, rondels and sometimes hand-painted detail. Matching the colour and age of the glass matters greatly here.
Federation and Edwardian
Federation and Edwardian leadlight brings Art Nouveau curves, Australian flora and opalescent and streaky glass. Restoring these panels means preserving the flow of the lead lines as well as the glass.
Interwar and Art Deco
Interwar windows tend towards textured clear glass, geometric patterns and, in Deco homes, sunbursts and stepped designs. They are often simpler in colour, so the right textured glass is essential.
Protecting your restored leadlight
Once a panel is restored, there are ways to help it last even longer. Triple glazing adds a clear pane in front of the leadlight, shielding it from rain, wind and knocks while improving insulation and reducing noise. Where safety glass is required under AS 1288, we can combine leadlight with suitable safety glass. And if your concern is mainly water getting in, our waterproofing service may be the answer.
Planning a whole-house restoration
Many homes have a full set of leadlight, from the front door through to bay windows and hallway doors. We can plan restoration in stages, window by window or room by room, to suit your budget and timetable.
Frequently asked questions
A repair replaces a few broken pieces in a panel whose lead is still sound, and can often be done on site. A restoration rebuilds the whole panel with new lead, which is needed when the lead has worn out and the panel is bowing, loose or leaking.
Usually, yes. Even panels with many broken pieces can often be restored, as long as enough of the design remains to record it accurately.
Yes. We take a rubbing before dismantling, reuse the original glass wherever possible and match replacement pieces from our stock of old glass, so the panel keeps its original design and character.
No. We temporarily glaze the frame to keep the weather out and the house secure until the restored panel is reinstalled.
Yes. We can provide quotes for insurance work as well as private restorations.
Yes. We can plan the work in stages, window by window or room by room, to suit your timetable and budget.
Related services
- Restorations
- On-site leadlight repairs in Melbourne
- Leadlight and stained glass window reproductions
- Triple glazing of leadlight and stained glass windows
- Waterproofing leadlights in Melbourne
- Art Deco leadlights in Melbourne
- Melbourne Edwardian and Victorian leadlights
Book a free restoration quote
To arrange a free quote for leadlight restoration anywhere in Melbourne or country Victoria, call Keith at Verity Leadlights on 03 9853 8611 or 0418 395 628. Our workshop is at 82 Derby Street, Kew VIC, and we have been restoring leadlight since 1979. We are highly rated by our customers, and we will always give you an honest view on whether your windows need restoring or simply repairing.
