Collegiate Gothic building with 900 original lead came windows.

Lead came glazing is familiar to everybody when used in stained glass but less familiar is its use in conventional glazing, in which it performs very well. When this collegiate gothic structure was built in the early part of the last century, it was furnished with 900 steel framed, lead camed and clear glazed windows. These performed with virtually no maintenance for almost a century and then were scheduled for replacement with conventional windows as the cost of restoration was prohibitive. Then somebody ran the numbers on (1.) the cost of disposal of the windows, (2.) the cost of the replacements, (3.) the cost of the replacement of the replacements, after 30 years or so (4.) etc.….and never mind the intangible cost of permanently altering the appearance of a heritage building. It was also pointed out that 100 years of service was on the very low end of what these windows were capable of if they had received timely and sufficient maintenance. In short, it was decided that the numbers for restoration did work, when you allowed for the lifespan of the building and of the institution. Especially if you budget for normal maintenance. Eve Guinan Design and Restoration of Toronto, Ontario was engaged to restore all the windows, a substantial project.  

List of Glass Installers and Glaziers.

Parting of the lead came, note leaking and resulting oxides.

Finished work, note solder connections.