Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: stoneleech on September 12, 2008, 11:15:48 pm

Title: Leaded windows
Post by: stoneleech on September 12, 2008, 11:15:48 pm
I have a customer who has had brand new leaded windows installed. She asked me if there is anything she should definately not use on them. (cleaning products wise)? I said i didn't know but would ask around.

Any response appreciated.
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Small but perfectley formed on September 13, 2008, 02:45:04 pm
vim powder ha ha  ;D
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Tim82 on September 13, 2008, 02:46:05 pm
soap
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Rob.Hall on September 13, 2008, 05:06:39 pm
Is there any difference from leaded to leaded light?
Can you still wfp leaded light with no come backs?
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Londoner on September 14, 2008, 08:23:26 am
Real leaded windows are going to be 50 years old at least and could be twice that or more.
Each diamond is a separate piece of glass and because of the age the lead has become loose allowing the whole window to move, sometimes quite alarmingly. The windows will often leak as well.
About the only way you can clean these windows is with a WFP but gently.

I wouldn't touch them when I was trad.
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Londoner on September 14, 2008, 08:29:07 am
Sorry, I missed off the second part of what I was going to say.

Even modern leaded windows are much better cleaned with a WFP. Trying to clean them trad is hard work or you just spray and wipe which doesn't get into the corners.

The only trouble either way is when the lead starts to come unstuck.
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: gerard mcmanus on September 14, 2008, 08:33:16 am
I've never seen that with the seperate diamonds, but even the fake ones are a real pain to clean, very pointless and the result is that customers never touch them and window cleaners need to charge them more.

To keep on topic, if they are fake and not seperate diamonds, I just buff them with a scrim, a blade is useless or wfp should be ok.
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: seandyer2003 on September 14, 2008, 08:43:07 am
Real leaded windows are going to be 50 years old at least and could be twice that or more.
Each diamond is a separate piece of glass and because of the age the lead has become loose allowing the whole window to move, sometimes quite alarmingly. The windows will often leak as well.
About the only way you can clean these windows is with a WFP but gently.

I wouldn't touch them when I was trad.

I have got quite a few "real leaded" and did them trad, and they were very profitable too, just have to be gentle and use a microfibre to just dust them almost! But they are a bit weak, sometimes the whole window bends in!!
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Dave Turley on September 14, 2008, 12:48:01 pm
i've seen other w/c's doing diamond leaded windows on first floor with a pole and squeegee.
 
I dread to think how the finisheds job looked.

it must wreck his rubber as well
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: stoneleech on September 15, 2008, 04:34:16 pm
Real leaded windows are going to be 50 years old at least and could be twice that or more.
Each diamond is a separate piece of glass and because of the age the lead has become loose allowing the whole window to move, sometimes quite alarmingly. The windows will often leak as well.
About the only way you can clean these windows is with a WFP but gently.

I wouldn't touch them when I was trad.

yeah, soz, they are not real leaded windows. UPVC frames with shiny lead, she wants to know what will keep the shiny look on the "lead" and are there any products that she shouldn't use?
Title: Re: Leaded windows
Post by: Ian Lancaster on September 15, 2008, 05:39:00 pm
she wants to know what will keep the shiny look on the "lead"

She can't.

Unless she (or you) regularly polish every single strip of lead with metal polish ;D

The lead will slowly oxidise, causing it to become dull and dark coloured.

No amount of washing (or buffing with scrim) will prevent it.

She could try varnishing each individual lead strip with a good quality yacht varnish ::)

Have to take care not to get it on the glass, though