What We Do

No, Mylar will not fade, shrink or stretch. Mylar is a polyester film developed years ago by the DuPont Corporation.

The colors are hand silk-screen printed onto the surface of clear Mylar. Some are clear, some opaque and others are streaked (called Cathedrals). The textures are applied to Mylar using a special printing process.

The special adhesives used to bond the Mylar colors and textures to the glass surface have been infused with a Ultra Violet (UV) blocking agent. It successfully prevents up to 98% of the harmful UV rays from penetrating to the colored surface of the Mylar. Also, over the top of the silk-screened colors, coats of clear have been applied to protect the surface. That clear surface also contains a UV blocking agent.

Your SGI art-glass windows come with a 10 year limited warranty. That warranty protects your beautiful colors and textures from fading, shrinking or peeling. Plus, we personally guarantee our workmanship.

The completion time frame varies depending on several factors. First, the number of orders ahead of yours on our schedule (currently, approximately 4 to 6 weeks). Second, the availability of materials needed for your design. However, we do stock many colors and textures. And third, the complexity of your project. That can include the shape of your glass as well as the size of your project (some people order multiple windows at the same time).

Yes, of course. We offer a complimentary home consultation for your individual needs. We can also take accurate measurements of your prospective projects at that time. However, we suggest you first visit our showroom to see many samples of completed SGI projects, examine the over 500 colors and textures and see the various leads we use. And while you’re visiting our website, please browse through the variety of photos in the Photo Gallery albums.

Our SGI studio has literally hundreds of designs available for you to choose from. You might also find something to your liking among the collection of photos here on the website. We have those designs stored in the computer system and can resize them to your specific dimensions. You can also bring in your own design ideas and we can create your art-glass from that artwork. We can even create original, custom designs especially for you. Creating an original design does entail an artist charge, however. Most of our artwork is done using a computer program specifically designed for stained glass creations. We can scan your design or photo into that glass-art program and create a to-scale version of your project for you to see prior to actual fabrication. Designs can also be attached to e-mail, so much of the fine-tuning can be done via the Internet, saving you multiple trips to the showroom. We can insert your color and texture selections into your computer design to show you how your window will look before you actually order it.

Price is calculated using several determinations. These are (1) the size of the piece, (2) the complexity of the design, (3) whether bevels are used and (4) the number of colors and textures you choose. (5) the current price of the background tempered glass.

Basically, the complexity of design relates to how many individual Mylar sections we have to cut to create your art-glass. The more pieces, the higher the price per square foot. We divide the various designs into three basic categories: Simple, Intermediate and Complex. Naturally, complex designs require many more hours to fabricate and consequently cost more. We can show you the various categories of complexity and offer sample quotes for each. We will also give you an exact quote before your SGI project is begun. And using our computer design program, we can even show you what your project will look like before you order it!

The SGI fabrication process can be done on any variety of smooth glass. One of the benefits of SGI Mylars and leads is that they actually strengthen the glass itself. Plain (annealed) glass will not break into dangerous shards if the surface has been covered with SGI colors or textures. Tempered glass covered with SGI becomes safety glass! Keep in mind that any glass used near entryways must, by law, be tempered. The SGI fabrication process can also be incorporated into double and triple pane, insulated window units.

Yes. Actually SGI can be applied to any smooth, non-porous surface. Many ceiling panel light fixtures are made from Plexiglas and SGI works well for decorating them. We often do SGI designs on mirrors, as well. Check the “Mirrors” photo album on this website to see examples.

You can get accurate sizes for these windows too. Take a piece of paper that is larger than the glass surface itself. Place it against the window (you may need to use rolled masking tape sections to keep it in place). Carefully run your fingernail along the line where the glass meets the frame. Remove the paper and cut along that line with scissors. Then place the paper pattern back on the window to make sure it fits perfectly. Do any trimming necessary, and test the pattern a third time. If it’s correct, mark which side will face the interior of your home or office and note top, bottom, left and right. Then bring the pattern to us. We’ll use it to cut your glass and create a perfect sized design.

Yes, but those charges can be quoted on an individual basis. Many times, arches, octagons, etc. will require a paper pattern that we’ll use to cut the pane needed for your art-glass. That will ensure a perfect fit for your new art-glass panel.

There are 5 standard types of lead available. The most common and least expensive is Standard lead. It will age and darken naturally over the years. We can also apply Patina to instantly age the Natural shiny silver lead and make it appear to be 100 years old. You can also choose one of our other leads: Brass, Antique, Platinum and even Black or White. There are also six widths of lead to choose from so that your glass creation will have just the right appearance. The widths range from 1/16″ to 1/2″ Lead width is generally determined by the complexity of the design.

The art-glass pane can be installed directly against your existing window. Or it may be possible to create a new double or triple-pane unit that can be swapped-out with your existing glass. We can discuss these options in more detail.

No, we can make your decorative creation on a separate piece of glass that fits within the frame of your existing window and is installed snuggly next to it. Or we can come right to your home or office and do our SGI fabrication on-site … directly onto your existing glass! That service is more expensive because of the number of trips that would be involved. If we can work on your glass at our studio the price is quite a bit less. However, the type of on-site application can only be done on single pane windows. We need to apply lead to both sides of the glass in order to achieve the proper “traditional” appearance. That can’t be done on existing double or triple-pane windows. We can also do our decorative process on glass purchased elsewhere and brought to us for SGI fabrication. The choice is yours.

If your glass is square or rectangle, measure the glass surface of the window only, not the frame. Measure top to bottom and side to side. If you suspect the window is uneven, measure it in several places rather than just the corners. We might also make a paper pattern to insure accurate fit. And, of course, we could visit your location to take the measurements for you.

Yes, we can install your glass and have several proven methods to do so.  We’ll explain the processes fully so you’ll know exactly how we do it.

Certainly. The buyer can install any piece of glass themselves. We will be happy to give you basic instructions on how to do it. However, having SGI install the glass has two benefits. First, the finished product will have a “built in” look and second, your SGI representative is responsible for your glass if it should break. If you break the glass after taking possession, you will be responsible for it.