Surrey Hills is a suburb of front verandahs, tree-lined streets and solid family homes, many of them built in the decades either side of the First World War. A great number of those houses still have their original leadlight: a front door with coloured sidelights, a bay window with decorative upper lights, a small panel in the hall or bathroom. Verity Leadlights has looked after leadlights in Surrey Hills since 1979, from our workshop at 82 Derby Street, Kew.

Leadlight window with a red flower, green leaves and a matching upper panel

A suburb that straddles two councils

Surrey Hills sits on the boundary between the City of Boroondara and the City of Whitehorse, with the western part of the suburb in Boroondara and the eastern part in Whitehorse. That matters if you are planning changes to a heritage-listed home, because the planning rules and heritage overlays depend on which council your property falls under. Before changing street-facing windows or doors, check with the right council.

The houses of Surrey Hills

Around Union Road and the station

The shopping strip on Union Road and the area around Surrey Hills station form the old heart of the suburb. Nearby streets have a mix of late Victorian and Edwardian houses, many in timber, some in brick. Their leadlight often features coloured margins, floral motifs and textured glass in front doors and sidelights.

Edwardian streets

Much of Surrey Hills was built in the Edwardian period. These homes often have bay windows with leadlight upper lights, entry doors with decorative panels, and glass in shades of green, amber and soft red. Art Nouveau curves and stylised flowers are common.

Interwar bungalows

Further from the station, interwar Californian bungalows are common. Their leadlight is usually simpler and geometric: clear textured glass in casement windows, with small squares or diamonds of colour. Front doors often have a leadlight panel and matching sidelights, sheltered by a deep verandah.

Looking after your leadlight between repairs

A little care helps leadlight last. Clean panels gently with mild soapy water and a soft cloth, and avoid harsh chemicals, abrasive pads and high-pressure hoses, which can damage the cement and lift the lead. Fit a door stop or closer to front doors so they are not slammed or caught by the wind, as this is one of the most common causes of breakage. After a big storm, check your panels for new cracks or movement. Small problems are much easier and more economical to fix when they are caught early, before water gets in and the lead starts to fail across the panel.

What usually goes wrong

Leadlight in Surrey Hills is typically between seventy and more than a hundred years old. The glass itself can last almost indefinitely, but the lead and cement that hold it together do not. Over time, the lead fatigues as it heats and cools, the cement dries out and crumbles, and the panel loses its stiffness. You may notice:

  • A slight outward bulge in a door panel or window
  • Glass that rattles when the door closes
  • Damp on the inside of a door after heavy rain
  • A cracked piece where a door has been slammed or caught by the wind

A crack in an otherwise sound panel is a repair. A panel that bulges, rattles and leaks in several places usually needs restoration.

Repairs in Surrey Hills

For single breakages, we can usually carry out an on-site repair with the leadlight left in its frame. We open the lead around the broken piece, fit a new piece of glass cut to match, close the lead and re-solder the joints. We have collected a large stock of old glass over the years, so there is a good chance we can match the colour and texture of your original.

Restorations

When the lead has worn out, we restore the panel in our Kew workshop. We record the design, remove the leadlight and temporarily glaze the opening. Then we dismantle the panel, clean and keep every original piece we can, and rebuild it with new lead, solder and cement. The restored panel looks like the original, but is sound again for many years to come.

New leadlights for Surrey Hills homes

Many Surrey Hills homes have been renovated and extended, and new leadlight is often part of the plan. We design and make new panels to match or complement original glass, from a stairwell window to a full front door set. Where safety glass is required under AS 1288, we can combine leadlight with suitable safety glass, and triple glazing can add insulation and reduce noise from busier roads. For hobbyists, our Kew shop also stocks glass, lead came, tools and supplies.

Frequently asked questions

Which council covers my Surrey Hills home?

Surrey Hills is split between the City of Boroondara and the City of Whitehorse. Check with your council before changing street-facing windows or doors on a heritage property.

My front door panel is bulging. Can it be fixed?

A bulging panel usually means the lead and cement have worn out. Restoration in our workshop, with new lead, is the most reliable fix.

Can you repair a single cracked piece on site?

Usually, yes, if the rest of the panel is sound. We keep old glass to help match the original.

Can you make new leadlights to match my Edwardian windows?

Yes. We can reproduce original panels or design new ones in the same style for extensions and renovations.

How long has Verity Leadlights worked in Surrey Hills?

Since 1979, from our workshop at 82 Derby Street, Kew.

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Talk to us about your Surrey Hills leadlights

For leadlights in Surrey Hills, phone Verity Leadlights on 03 9853 8611 or 0418 395 628. Our workshop is at 82 Derby Street, Kew VIC, a short drive away, and we have served the area since 1979. We are highly rated by our customers. Please ring before visiting, as we are often out on site.

Keith Mertens – Verity Leadlights, Kew. Working with leadlight and stained glass since 1979.

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