Leaded lights may be made with lead from 6 to 16mm width (one quarter to five eighths inch) with a rounded or flat profile - the flat usually having a small bead at the edges. We can use regular 3 or 4mm float glass, which is very
flat and 'perfect', but often use a variety of horticultural glass, around 3mm, which has a less perfect surface, and provides a more traditional look. There are a variety of machine and handmade 'restoration' glasses available,
with small bubbles (seeds) and an irregular surface and thickness. This (expensive) glass may be used throughout the panels or intermixed with less costly glass, to provide an older appearance.
Shows assembly of glass pieces onto the pattern, partly leaded, cutting lead with knife. Note the 16mm wide border (its more commonly 12mm wide) and the horseshoe nails.
With 12mm wide flat profile English made lead, all with refinforcing steels hidden within the lead, edge-wise to the glass - for a Somerset farmhouse.
New leaded light sample being made for Somerset project. Uses a mixture of restoration quality glass and simple drawn glass to create a older appearance at reasonable cost. Note the 'weaving' of the leads in each direction
for greater strength. 8mm wide round profile lead.
All with 6mm wide round profile lead and in 3mm drawn glass for replacement casement windows in South London
It’s important that the arrangement of the lead is such that long runs in one piece are avoided since that may introduce a weakness, since strength is conferred by ensuring that the are a number of instances of cross leading - a bit like
the way courses of bricks are arranged in a wall. Narrow thin steel strips may be concealed within the lead, edgewise to the glass to add rigidity. External support bars are also commonly added, set into the frame and 'hiding'
behind lead lines. The panel is fixed to these bars with copper tie-wires.