Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on January 08, 2008, 08:16:00 pm
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Took on a new job today, a sort of an "after the builders have gone" clean. But you should see the mess they have left on the windows. Cement splattered all over the ones at the back. I can't easily imagine how they managed to get so much on them.
I am not experienced in doing builders cleans but I am sure that If I take a scraper to them the sand in the cement will scratch the glass. It feels very gritty.
Any advice would be appreciated.
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Walk away, René!
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I seem to remember somebody years ago saying you painted them with Jenolite but I wanted to test my memory. Has anyone else heard that one?
How about the mineral deposit removers sold by various suppliers?
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Wilkinsons(the shop)plastic credit card style scrapper 20p
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Vince,I remember many years ago,1974 to be exact,the same thing happened to me on
A new build estate that took me 4 days to do working flat out as I recall.The builders
Left `compo` in the mixers overnight and kids during the long summer evenings scooped it out and threw it all over some of the house windows.I got it off oaky with
Scraping but the chemicals in the `compo` impregnated the glass so it was permanent
Anyways.I think the builders replaced them.Don`t be surprised, but replacement might be `the way to go` here.If ya do go ahead get a disclaimer or something signed.
Even that might not help,but could if any scratches did occur.
Lewis Doubtfire Gleem clean ( The blade Runner )
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well, explain to them, you will do it, but say to them it is extremly hard to get cemment off and you "may" scratch the glass then its up to them
you need lots of water on them. i did one the other day and i got the pole out and left the water running down the window whilst i gentally scrapped it off. i didnt scratch it, but you have to be careful, go one way, dont go back and forth over it. i will admit i have scratched a couple of windows and its the worst feeling in the world. but they were ok about it
what would it take builders just to put something over the window... ???
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Hi
We have done loads of builders cleans and scrapped tonnes of lazy builders cement splatters off.
All we did was:-
Get one of these
(http://www.aandmcsstore.co.uk/acatalog/180022.JPG)
And some spare
(http://www.aandmcsstore.co.uk/acatalog/180022A.jpg)
some of this
(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:Bsg_9036SA49yM:http://www.insuremeblog.com/agent/BLOGIMAGES/elbow%2520grease.jpg)
And keep the window wet at all times with this diluted in water
(http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:xsdGRRYswwZUqM:http://www.agm.me.uk/blog/uploaded_images/fairyliquid-796603.jpg)
We have made the mistake once of underestimating the time it takes to scrape windows when full of this crud, make sure you price reflects this time consuming task.
Good Luck!!!
Andy
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lol, good, yep ill second that...although im posh and use
(http://www.hgpromotions.com/images/products/52b964.jpeg)
keep em wet!!!
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Phosphoric acid well diluted will break down the cement enough to help with scraping, It sounds dangerous but a lot of cleaners have a little phosphoric acid in them .its also the active ingrediant in coke. I have not used it myself but I watched a post construction cleaning video and the guy used it and it certainly seemed to help , and as the others said keep the glass wet
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simalar to pats answer ,we used to clean a cement factory weekly and if it had been wet and windy all the windows where covered in set hard cement we found adding citric acid to the water broke the cement down and a lot of the time didnt need scraping as the acid had done the job, ps we always wore gloves and eye protection when using this method.
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Thanks for all the replies. I have some ideas to go on but first I'm going to talk to the customer.