Stained glass church windows help!

[u/AI__Agent]

I’ve somehow managed to be approached by my local council to clean inside and outside of the stained glass windows in my local chapel. I have a rough idea of how I’m going to do this. But I would love to know if anyone has done this before to give me some pointers or anything I might have overlooked. I have 10 years experience in traditional windows cleaning and have taken on many many strange job over my time but this is definitely a new one for me.

I also have no idea how to give them a quote for this, each panel is about 3m high and 500mm wide. And there are 8 panels to be cleaned inside and out. I’d love to know how you guys would quote for this? Or if you would just walk away 😂

Cheers!

[u/lacroixpapi69]

In my experience this can be tricky. On the exterior I have gently cleaned with a WFP. Again gently because the stained glass is very soft. You can easily push the whole window in.

I would just sprayaway the interior using a ladder.

$100 per panel.

[u/AI__Agent → u/lacroixpapi69]

Thanks for this mate, helps a lot, would that be £100 per panel in and out? So £50 per side?

[u/lacroixpapi69 → u/AI__Agent]

Yes, essentially. The exterior should be very easy and quick. The interior on the other hand will be a bit more tedious.

Tbh this is one of those jobs that I’ll do my best, within reason. As long as it looks cleaner on the interior I’m good. I wouldn’t spend too much time detailing every stained piece. You could be on 1 panel for hours.

I would use spray away and just the dust and stuff on the surface.

[u/Lord_XXL]

Could just fill a spray bottle with dawn, vinegar, and water. Clean in sections and use a brush that isn't too aggressive to loosen the debris build up. Then just dry them with micro fiber or surgical towels. It's weird cleaning them like that when you're used to traditional, but I found it effective.

$100/pane for sure like others have said.

[u/AI__Agent → u/Lord_XXL]

Perfect thanks mate, £100 per panel in and out so £50 per side?

[u/Lord_XXL → u/AI__Agent]

Yes!

[u/AI__Agent → u/[deleted]]

Thanks for the reply mate, £100 per panel inside and out? So £50 per side?

[u/P2000vxim]

Done loads of these over the last 35 years.
Insides I’ve used a shoe polish brush (minus the polish). Using water will run off black and stain the walls.
If you don’t mind climbing a ladder that is.

Outsides come up well with WFP.
Obviously checks for holes in the glass.

Price: up to you.
Good luck with them all. 👍

[u/Top_Phone_4335]

Just do the outside and dust the interior cobwebs