PICASSO  LEADLIGHT

 The most important thing to keep uppermost in your mind, is to seek out a Leadlight Professional. By the mere nature of their specialised experience, a professional leadlighter would be more knowledgeable than an amateur who works from his backyard or shed at home. A professional leadlighter has a vested interest in doing the right thing by you, the client. As many  leadlight repairers can attest to the fact,  there are some very unsafe, badly-designed leadlights having been produced by amateurs or hobbyists, and requiring costly rescues in a very short space of time ! We, in the leadlight industry have your safety in mind.

VERY FEW professional leadlighters are GLAZIERS by trade....and very few glaziers  are  professional leadlighters  (there are exceptions).

You will rarely find a professional leadlighter operating from his back shed.

There should be evidence of past works, not only photographs, but actual showroom display pieces to show the standard of the work. This way you can be sure of the quality of the final product.

The leadlighter should have some years of successful working history in the leadlight industry. Also you may have had recommendations from friends who've been happy with their service. Drastic price cuts, whilst pleasing to the budget,  are NO recommendation of quality work. The backyard leadlighter that eagerly offers to beat anyone else's price would have to sacrifice quality of workmanship and materials to acchieve their cut rate price.

The membership or otherwise of a leadlighter in a leadlight organisation, does NOT enhance their qualifications for the job. Not all leadlighters in the profession subscribe to membership of an organisation that they feel may or may not represent their views or best interests.

Be sure about the actual product you are asking for and receiving, as some have believed they were getting the "real thing" only to find out differently afterwards. Sometimes it comes down to interpretation of words and phrases...educate yourself...What is stained glass, What are lead lights, What is the simulated  product ? etc. Click on EDUCATION PAGE this site.

IT MAY BE INCORRECT TO ASSUME THAT THE FAKE, REPLICA OR STICK-ON PRODUCT IS CHEAPER.....THAT IS NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. THIS IS A COMMON ASSUMPTION, THAT TIME AND AGAIN,  IS PROVED INCORRECT. AN ASSUMPTION  THAT A " FAKE " MUST BE CHEAPER  IS OFTEN NOT THE CASE AND MOST PEOPLE DO NOT  TEST THAT THEORY.

Ask  the questions and confirm the answers with regard to reinforcing.....i.e. support bars, reinforced lead, safety in the size of the window, etc.  Double-check your information...DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS  THIS IS IMPORTANT !

A next-door neighbour or relative that has done a quick little course should not have enough knowledge to make you a safe, well designed and constructed leadlight no matter how good their intentions. The chances of them having been taught by a professional leadlighter is small, as would be the newly acquired extent of their knowledge. Anyone can teach...they don't have to have qualifications to do so. One or two terms of leadlight instruction does not a leadlighter make !

Go to your chosen leadlight professional armed with approximate measurements for your initial estimate. AN ESTIMATE IS NOT A QUOTE. Only once a design is chosen and proper measurements are taken can a firm quote be given. However an estimate is initially enough for you to decide if the $$$'s are in your ball-park.  An estimate or quote should be given freely, under normal circumstances.

In the distant past, the leadlight industry had been dominated by men. There are currently a great many talented and very artistic female leadlighters  in the industry,  who have been operating successfully for many years.  Your choices are limitless.

Many a time, a potential client has craned their neck, looking past me into the workshop,   asking to
" speak to the man who does the leadlights ! " Incredulous disbelief when they are informed they are speaking to that person !

Try not to  be swayed by " 10  year guarantees "  offered by manufacturers of a simulated product. If offered a " lifetime guarantee " ask yourself...your lifetime ?.... the lifetime of their company ?....or the lifetime of the product ?  A traditionally built leadlight will last a lot longer than a 10 year guarantee.

REAL LEADLIGHTS HAVE STOOD THE TEST OF TIME, AS EVIDENT BY LEADLIGHTS IN CATHEDRALS DATING BACK CENTURIES !! 

       karen@artiglass.com.au  

       ARTISTRY STAINED GLASS   PERTH WESTERN AUSTRALIA PH 08 9378 9910 MOB 0434 861 841

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