I wanted to broach the subject about post construction destruction.
I recently did a heavy cleaning on some very expensive double pane windows. The house and the windows are CAT 5 Hurricane rated, it was a custom built home. The homeowner asked me several questions prior to the work that prompted me to inquire with the window manufacturer. I had never heard of the window brand before, the windows and labor to install them exceeded the cost of an average home itself. I spoke with a company rep about cleaning the windows and they gave me their cleaning instruction policy and procedure in writing.
The cleaning policy was to use only water and de-natured alcohol. I asked them about their policy on fabrication debris and also removing scale and construction materials from the glass. They of course did not acknowledge fabrication debris and did not have written policy or procedure for handling a post-construction clean-up of the windows. The spokesman said that there are general procedures for protecting the windows during the construction process. I acknowledged this with the rep and asked what does a window cleaner do when the construction superintendent does not follow or police this activity?
They could not or did not want to acknowledge that water and de-natured alcohol will NOT really do anything in this situation. Needless to say the conversation could not progress further because they do not have any real world solutions for this problem. The window brands policy was to NOT use soaps of any kind, chemicals of any kind nor razor blades on the glass. “Soaps and chemicals could damage the seals.” Nothing in writing on how to deal with paint, adhesives, cement, etc…
So my question is: how many of us in the field are aware that the majority of post construction cleaning techniques we use are NOT approved by window manufacturers and why do the window companies appear ignorant on the subject on how to deal with this?
Yes, this has been a problem for many years in the glass industry. No real solutions for real world problems. I can tell you, there is fabricated debris in some windows. I check if I’m using a razor with a credit card or piece of tough plastic to see if I can hear or feel anything, should be smooth. Even if I don’t detect anything, if I’m using a razor on the window, waiver gets sign or I don’t do the job. Not anything you can really do, unless they want to leave post construction debris on the glass. No way you can clean glass without soap, thier nuts. Don’t think there is any progress in this debate for years, between window cleaners and glass manufacturers. What do you do?
This has been a political debate between the big glass manufactures and the window cleaning world for many years. I have personally seen window cleaning companies get sued and go out of business. Protect your company and do not do the job without a waiver signed. You can visit this website for information he has been in the on the front lines for many years. http://www.thefieldsco.com/index.php?page=glass-quality
Just did a CCU where every window had plastic covering the glass. All I had to do was peel the plastic, steel wool the edges, and squeegee the glass. Every window manufacturer should do this. Would save the manufacturer from scratching during the shipping process. Would be good for everyone! The contractor was even willing to pay more for the “hassle” of peeling the plastic.
This is only on the high end windows like Anderson Eagle and Pella etc. Wait till you get one where they leave the film on the glass for 6 months and the sun bakes it on. Not so easy to remove the film and sometimes the lines are permanent.
