Installation Information

The most common type of installation is placing a stained glass panel inside an existing sill. On the interior and spaced slightly away from a standard thermal window sealed unit. The following images show this type of installation:


Installation against double channel sealed unit.

Installation against single channel sealed unit.

Front diagram of installation
For installation in locations with condensation problems or against single pane windows, additional vents for air movement are needed
Installation with air gaps

Caveat Lector: Guarantees and Licenses and Building Codes, Oh My!

Some notes on Sealed Units

People ask me why I do not seal stained glass panels inside a double glazed sealed unit. In fact, some architects will insist this is the only way to do it.

In most cases I strongly recommend not putting a stained glass panel inside an insulating window sealed unit. Here is why:

  • By definition a sealed unit retains heat inside itself. This is the idea: it is an insulating window.
  • Coloured glass and the metal divisions between the glass absorb sunlight and turn it into heat.

The temperature of stained glass sealed inside a thermal unit can easily reach hundreds of degrees when the sun is shining on it. This sort of heat stress will eventually destroy the stained glass.

Additionally putting smooth clear glass on both sides of a stained glass panel removes any interest from the glass textures and much of the colour depth from the stained glass. It is just plain ugly.

If your architect or builder insists my stained glass panels need to be placed inside a sealed thermal unit, please contact me.