Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Daniel12 on October 07, 2010, 09:12:17 pm
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any 1 had a problem with scratching glass i didnt think it was possible
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DON'T DO IT!!!!!!
Glass can be scratched easily and it can be expensive to replace. Avoid builders cleans until you have read some of the threads on here.
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if using scraper make sure window is wet
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Yep, just had it last week. I cleaned a customers 2 velux windows and got an email of her a few days later telling me they were scratched. I must have picked some grit up and transferred it onto the glass.
She was alright aboutit luckily and was just letting me know in case I damaged someone elses window. She is going to claim for it on her house insurance and I will pay the excess.
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seen this a few times on here about scratched velux windows, They will be prone to having bits of grit on off house roof, Makes you wonder if they are worth doing :-\
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Problem is chopsie, because of the angle that the windows are they will more or likely have dried in dirt and bird poo, from the sun!
I dont have many with velux windows but i always pre-soak them before scrubbing and by the time you get to them the dirt is loose and cleans of far better and there is less chance of scratched glass!
Any window i think has dried in dirt i always pre-soak and go back to it have not had a scratched windw yet doing it this way!
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these windows were just normal doble glazed not velux ive cleaned windows for 2 years and never had a problem but you could be right with the grit or something but it was such a deep scratch i just cant see it being my fault still gonna cost me 97 quid tho never mind i will have to put her price up
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Deep scratches with WFP??
When a customer notices a scratch, the first culprit has to be the window cleaner. On brand new glass or builders cleans this is the most likely cause, but if you've been cleaning the glass for some time without any problems, I don't see how WFP can be responsible. I cleaned windows for 40 years trad, and the favourite tool was a scrim - used properly it achieved perfect results AND IN 40 YEARS I NEVER MANAGED TO SCRATCH A WINDOW. Bearing in mind the scrim was chucked over my shoulder, dropped on the ground, used to wipe sills etc etc then if scratching glass was as easy as it appears by WFP, using my old method I should have scratched acres of the stuff!!
The more likely explanation is that the scratch was there all along, but only came to the customers attention when the sun was at a particular angle and because the glass is now perfectly clean (no detergent film etc filling the scratch) it is more noticeable than before.
My solution to this is to take the brush back to the customer, let them handle it and see how soft it is, then challenge them to scratch another pane with it, and if they can I promise to pay for both repairs.
No-ones ever managed to scratch glass when they tried ::)
Veluxes may well be another story, but regularly cleaned vertical window glass - I don't believe it.
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Deep scratches with WFP??
When a customer notices a scratch, the first culprit has to be the window cleaner. On brand new glass or builders cleans this is the most likely cause, but if you've been cleaning the glass for some time without any problems, I don't see how WFP can be responsible. I cleaned windows for 40 years trad, and the favourite tool was a scrim - used properly it achieved perfect results AND IN 40 YEARS I NEVER MANAGED TO SCRATCH A WINDOW. Bearing in mind the scrim was chucked over my shoulder, dropped on the ground, used to wipe sills etc etc then if scratching glass was as easy as it appears by WFP, using my old method I should have scratched acres of the stuff!!
The more likely explanation is that the scratch was there all along, but only came to the customers attention when the sun was at a particular angle and because the glass is now perfectly clean (no detergent film etc filling the scratch) it is more noticeable than before.
My solution to this is to take the brush back to the customer, let them handle it and see how soft it is, then challenge them to scratch another pane with it, and if they can I promise to pay for both repairs.
No-ones ever managed to scratch glass when they tried ::)
Veluxes may well be another story, but regularly cleaned vertical window glass - I don't believe it.
I agree. I was a window installer for a few yrs and I also believe that using a wet brush on glass will not scratch it. Metal polish is best for removing scratches.
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Rg1 - can you tell me more on the metal polish? Do you mean brasso or Silvo? how do you apply it etc.
Thanks
Adie
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Rg1 - can you tell me more on the metal polish? Do you mean brasso or Silvo? how do you apply it etc.
Thanks
Adie
You have two options - one involves basically filling the scratch in with a resin having the same refractive index as the glass, so it doesn't show, and the second is polishing the scratch out. This involves much hard work and elbow grease. DON'T use any abrasives such as Duraglit (Duraglit being far more abrasive than Brasso) - and definitely no abrasive papers of any kind, or you'll finish up with a scratch surrounded by a nice opaque patch. The professionals use Ceria (cerium oxide) or Jeweller's rouge (iron oxide). [NB both of these are very fine abrasives.] Ceria can be obtained from good craft shops, as it is used in gemstone tumblers. Use it as a paste (mix with water) on a soft cloth, and just keep on rubbing!
Brasso is a good alternative but use in short measures and check every now and then that you are not making things worse.
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Cheers for that mate. Will give it a go.
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http://www.stopscratchedglass.com/challenge/