[mike henderson]

Can anyone advise how to clean silicone or sealant type substance of of 4th story windows with wfp. The project is a new construction hotel.  The silicon/sealant  has been on the windows a couple months. I have used 000 steel wool with a very mild abrasive call bon-ami. But cant get enough control/pressure!  As  it is about 40 plus feet high- I cant get enough pressure/control with a blade either! Is there a solvent/ cleaner that could be used safely. The product is smeared across the glass .   As always the contractor  is down to the wire and needs me to clean the windows everyone elses's mess asap! any help appreciated!

[GB Window Cleaning]

i would have thought this an impossible task unless the use of a big ladder or high access lifts are used!?!?

[FCS]

I use fishing poles (carbon fibre), modular, so for a recent builders clean on a four storey new build I just attached an unger scraper to a spare top section of pole, rigged up a couple of jets to an ezsnap connector so there was a continual flow of water to avoid any chance of scratching the glass, and regarde - roberte et ton oncle.

[Dave.]

Have you tried Magica One Go 

[Dan crowther]

You'll struggle with this one. The installers should of removed it before it cured, they have wipes that can remove uncured silicone easily. If it is just a small amount you can use a product like 'no nonsense silicon remover' from places like screwfix which is only a few £s and could be applied with some sort of pad or brush attached to your pole and hopefully removed similarly. If not a small amount then you need to be able to scrape as much off as you can first which would mean being at the window to exert the pressure needed to the scraper.Then if there is no risk to the window surround etc you can use white spirit/ meths depending on the type of silicone. You can buy various chemical removers that you apply and leave on for few hours up to a couple of days, these soften and change the composition of the silicone and enable it to be removed with water (again depending on the type of silicone. If there is a lot to remove it would be a hell of a job and extremely difficult from the ground at that height. A cherry picker would be your best bet if there is much to remove. You could seek advice from a good window manufacturer/ installer. They use a solvent remover to take off residues after installing. Don't envy you that job!

[Londoner]

I would say don't get involved, its not your problem.

I have had situations like this where you start taking on responsibility and its so much easier to just walk away. The world is full of windows, you are never going to clean them all. 

[rosskesava]

I would say the same as Vince.

It sounds like it could be one of those jobs where you say 'I'll have a go' which then ends up being a mammoth task.

A few months back a customers letter box fell off while I was doing the front door. The lady asked if I could replace it and I said I'd give it a go.

I wished I'd never said those words.

I thought it'd be simple. Go down B & Q, spend a tenner, screw the new one on.

I spent 3 evening going around all the DIY stores with no luck. I bought one off ebay that didn't fit. I bought another one which was the right size but fell apart when fitted. I bought yet another one was sent the wrong colour......... Three weeks later and after spending about £45....... I paid 'dial a hubby' another £35 to do the job for me. I got most of the £45 back after a bit of hassle but I couldn't really ask the customer for the £35.

Sometimes it just best to bite the bullet and say can't do it.

[firefly123]

the only way is to use a cherry picker and a very Sharpe Stanley blade  soap, on the glass and elbow grease better still walk away from the job

[Roy Harding]

As a Well known philosopher from Bristol would say Run for the hills. 

Roy 

[vision tech]

thats why i dont take on builders cleans

[mike henderson]

Hi all- thanks for your quick replies. Builder is a bit miffed with me, he's very short on time! I have told him will have one more go at it from the ground ( will need to get a couple more lengths of pole and fashion a cloth with 000 & solvent  attached somehow) Have told him I am not magic-and I can not guarantee that they can be done without a boom  (hotel owner has decided he doesn't want a boom at all- no exceptions- I think they are afraid the heavy equipment will ruin their new asphalt ) AND it his window crew that have screwed up and are leaving the rest of us to fix their crap!  Says he's not sure he can trust my judgement  - told him I've been doing windows for 22 years and never had this problem!!! He  is currently  looking for 2nd opinions!!! Just reading back through my post and realizing you all are absolutely right!!!!!!  A sane man would be running for the hills instead of fixing someone else's problem!  Am now hoping he will find another mug to do it!  I'll pop back after a bit and let you know what happens!! thanks again

[Griffus]

Solvent would do this no problem.

Like someone has already stated though, this isn't your problem. Whoever carried out the build cleans should have sorted this at the time.

If they're happy to pay extra then a few options. Often at this height you'll get easy clean, i.e. you can clean the outside from in via a clever mechanism. Failing that, if they're up for it then cherry picker probably the most realistic option.

[FCS]

What I used..  four storeys, mastic spots and smears all gone.

It's not impossible, just charge accordingly...

[Griffus]

What I used..  four storeys, mastic spots and smears all gone.

It's not impossible, just charge accordingly...

Pure water won't shift stuck on mastic.

You could try using a long pole with a solvent soaked cloth and then a second go with a squeegee or scraper. Finally clean as per usual, but at 40' + you'll be doing well.

[FCS]

What I used..  four storeys, mastic spots and smears all gone.

It's not impossible, just charge accordingly...

Pure water won't shift stuck on mastic.

You could try using a long pole with a solvent soaked cloth and then a second go with a squeegee or scraper. Finally clean as per usual, but at 40' + you'll be doing well.

i beg to differ but it did shift it..
(not just pure water,  but water flowing over a 4" scraper to keep it lubed.)
i had to make a map from the inside of where all the gobs/smears were as I was pretty much cleaning blind at four storeys. came clean though..

[AuRavelling79]

As a Well known philosopher from Bristol would say Run for the hills. 

Roy 

The actual quote is "Run Forrest run!   

[a1 window cleaners]

my advice is to put some chemicle in ure water container and use it to break  the substance down then use brush after few miniutes to break further substace hot water will work better than cold water it does not need to be ionised then use ionised water to clean further  paul a1 window cleaners let me know how you get on should work 07888832658