Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: michael robinson on May 08, 2008, 02:23:06 pm
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I'VE READ IT SOMEWHERE ON THIS THREAD ABOUT FINIALS BEING EXTREMELY FRAGILE?. WHAT ARE FINIALS AND WHAT DO THEY LOOK LIKE, PICTURES WOULD BE HELPFUL?.
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they're the pointy bits that go along the ridge. Fragile cos a lot of the time they're only stuck on with double sided sticky tape.
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(http://www.ultraframe-conservatories.co.uk/image/purAndInst/_fin_coronet.jpg)
Those are finials. :)
(btw all caps means shouting, which is considered rude on a forum.)
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appologies for using caps didn't mean to shout, thanks now i will just let my customers know that finials are out as they are likely to break or come off. cheers quietly.
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appologies for using caps didn't mean to shout, thanks now i will just let my customers know that finials are out as they are likely to break or come off. cheers quietly.
It should be all right, just be very gently with them, and use a soft brush, should be okay.
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Yeah, they usually stay in place when brushing lightly, but knock one with the back of the brush and they can unclip.
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Found this on the Internet at: www.oakconservatories.co.uk/conservatory_advice/conservatory-crestings-finials.htm
CRESTING & FINIALS
Crestings and Finials are the decorative architectural devices seen on the roof of a conservatory. The finial is the pointed feature at the front of the apex and the cresting is the piece running along the ridge of the roof. These features usually sit on the roof capping.
Historically in architecture the cresting was used as a decorative feature to lead the eye skyward, although they had a more practical use in stopping birds perching on the roof and relieving themselves on it! Whilst this appears unimportant on the tiled roof of a house, it does seem a useful feature on a conservatory with a glass roof, although we cannot guarantee that it will necessarily work.
The finial also used to function as a lightning rod and this detail has simply passed into being used as an architectural flourish. As an ornamental item the finial can be lathe turned from a solid piece of wood to match the wood used in your conservatory, or an off-the-shelf item cast in aluminium or moulded plastic.
CRESTING & FINIAL DESIGNS
The Victorians were obsessed with architectural details, so on a Victorian Conservatory crestings and finials are usually incorporated into the design and the same is true with other traditionally designed conservatories. If you have a modern conservatory you can opt to dispense with the finial and cresting or have a minimalist cresting as a finishing touch.
Crestings, like finials are made either from cast aluminium or moulded plastic. The aluminium varieties are often finished with a polyester powder coating and this leaves a resilient surface finish that can often be guaranteed for up to 10 years ...
Have a look at these web pages:
for cresting and finials: www.apc-roofing.co.uk/cresting.php (http://www.apc-roofing.co.uk/cresting.php)
cresting: www.conservatorycast.co.uk/shop/Roof_Crests2000.htm (http://www.conservatorycast.co.uk/shop/Roof_Crests2000.htm)
finials: www.conservatorycast.co.uk/shop/Finials2002.htm (http://www.conservatorycast.co.uk/shop/Finials2002.htm)
IMHO they are a nightmare to clean. Sometimes they are clipped in place and can wobble quite significantly but remain in place. Sometimes they are just held in place with an adhesive tape.
(The rear-view mirror in my van is held in place on the windscreen with similar tape. One really hot day last summer it simply dropped off the screen!)
Clean them gently and probably best to avoid really hot days in case the adhesive, if used, might weaken - (as it did on my mirror.)
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forewarn the customer beforehand that you will do the best you can with them as they are fragile and just for asthetic purposes only. Then give them a good spray with TFR and they will come cleqan with a light brushing. I always use a soft flocked brush on them.