Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: paul mc on November 17, 2008, 06:46:00 pm

Title: plastic on window frames
Post by: paul mc on November 17, 2008, 06:46:00 pm
hi guys started a builders clean today on a house. the plastic cover the window company put on the frames was not taken off asap so now i have the job of removing it. it seems to be caked on the frame an is extremely hard to remove. have tried petrol to try soften it but no joy.tried scrubing it but again no joy. does anyone know of any method of removing this plastic any help would be appreciated thanks
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 17, 2008, 06:48:53 pm
sorry to be unsympathetic but :) that stuff is a major ballache mate, hope you priced the job up right because their isnt many easy ways to do it, i was asking windowwashers about it and he had same problem, white spirit he used i think but dont know if that was for the muck on glass or plastic, but it will definitely be a case of scrubbing hard, like i say hope your price is right
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: Tosh on November 17, 2008, 06:52:55 pm
Sometimes this stuff comes off really easy, and other times it's a 'female dog' to remove.

I suspect that if it's been on there a long time; the Sun maybe 'welds' it to the frames?

Have you tried your scraper blade?
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: dmlservices on November 17, 2008, 06:59:29 pm
if it's been on a while , it will leave glue deposits which are hard to remove

try a upvc solvent ( i use bond it)

daz
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: NWH on November 17, 2008, 07:01:46 pm
I did a really big place once with every window covered in it on a builers clean some years ago i wouldn`t do em now but they came off in one peace,i was well surprised but pleased.
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: seandyer2003 on November 17, 2008, 07:03:27 pm
i think that tosh is right if they leave it there then it must weld itself.....nightmare
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: richywilts on November 17, 2008, 07:03:27 pm
could u not try a hairdryer or heat gun like when u take signwriting off a van or go faster stripes!!!
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: geefree on November 17, 2008, 07:13:16 pm
Right.....

I had a conservatory built last year.... and we left the plastic on all frames throughout the whole winter....

in spring .. i decided to take it off as all outside work was finished...

i used paint and varnish remover from B and Q.....

i tried it on a piece of spare upvc,,, it was fine...

so i put some on a cloth.... wiped it on an out of site frame..(gable side)

and the plastic melted off in 20 seconds...

so i then wiped it with a wet cloth... so it didnt continue to burn

left it until the morning... was fine...

so i did the rest in of the conservatory and it was all gone in 15 mins...

thats my own conservatory.....

So, its up to you if you want to do it on other peoples property...

but it works and its quick.
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: geefree on November 17, 2008, 07:15:12 pm


I had a conservatory built last year.... and we left the plastic on all frames throughout the whole winter....

in spring .. i decided to take it off as all outside work was finished...

i used paint and varnish remover from B and Q.....

i tried it on a piece of spare upvc,,, it was fine...

so i put some on a cloth.... wiped it on an out of site frame..(gable side)

and the plastic melted off in 20 seconds...

so i then wiped it with a wet cloth... so it didnt continue to burn

left it until the morning... was fine...

so i did the rest in of the conservatory and it was all gone in 15 mins...

thats my own conservatory.....

So, its up to you if you want to do it on other peoples property...

but it works and its quick.... it melts :)
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: ccmids on November 17, 2008, 07:22:53 pm
try active8 auto smart or assertone
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: paul mc on November 17, 2008, 07:39:50 pm
have tried using scrapper but no good it just takes off small amounts. i priced the job thinkin the plastic would just pull off in one go. told costumer it would take time an he was ok bout it. its a big house so i would like to do a good job so as to get the regular clean.  will call down b&q an get sum paint an remover an try it 2moro. the frames are black so dont want to dis-colour them. were u get active8/assertone. thanks for all advice lads
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: ccmids on November 17, 2008, 07:50:32 pm
activ8 is from company called autosmart and assertone is in nail polish remover but you can buy from car body rep or boat yards its what they use to clean fibreglass before they use resin its very strong stuff you have to quick with it.
Title: Re: plastic on window frames
Post by: pjulk on November 17, 2008, 07:54:20 pm
Run a new sharp blade around the edge and then lift a corner up it will pull straight off.
Just pull it slowly.