The cost of stained glass window frames when not maintained

by Allan Scharlach

KITCHENER, Ont. – How much?!?! That’s what the congregation of Historic St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario, was asking during a Properties Report last September. The reason for the question came as the result of a quote for the repair of our windows.

Our windows had gone without any maintenance for the better part of 50 years in an educated guess amongst the “old timers” who tried to remember the last time the outside frames of 20 windows had received any TLC.

Please learn from our mistake. Keep a close watch on the outside as well as inside of your buildings. A little spent now will mean big future savings.

The frames were rotting away; interior stained glass windows were sliding into the rotten window sills; rust was forming on metal storm window supports and the list goes on. You get the picture.

To rectify the issues we contacted Rooftop Tile Management, Mississauga and Sunrise Glass, London to enlist their expertise. The former company has worked on the Parliament Buildings and Supreme Court building in Ottawa as well as numerous other churches across Canada. In order to get the job done well, it turns out it costs more than one pretty penny. Actually the quote was in excess of $300,000. Yes, that is the correct number of zeros. We are doing this over two years, 2021, 2022.

The quote was in excess of $300,000. Yes, that is the correct number of zeros. We are doing this over two years, 2021, 2022.

Please learn from our mistake. Keep a close watch on the outside as well as inside of your buildings (e.g. roofs, eavestroughs, window frames, brick pointing, railings, etc.). A little spent now will mean big future savings.

We take good care of the houses we have received as a blessing from God. We need to take the same care with His house. We have included before and after pictures.