[dai]

We have all seen old white painted windows chalking, but today for the first time ever, I have noticed this happening on white plastic windows.
It wasn't just one house either. Several houses had the same problem. I have cleaned these houses since they were built about 12 years ago.
The problem is only on the south facing windows that get the sun all day.
The other sides were fine.
I usually do the tops WFP and the bottoms trad. I used the WFP on a patio door and the water looked like milk running down.
I did the finger test on the other frames and my glove tips were white. Has anyone else encountered this problem with PVC windows? Dai

[steveaqua]

that is so strange happened to me first time today as well, it was a first clean and mil ky water was running of the plastic frames, after a good flushing they dried okay, anyone know what this is?

[dai]

Not on all the houses in two different streets.
I think that the sunlight is degrading the plastic. I know the builder was a bit of a cheapskate. Is there a difference between UPVC and PVC?
Does one have UV protection or something? And do they make window frames without UV protection? Dai

[P @ F]

Dont Worry guys , i never had this prob till i went wfp , as trad i used to do all frames and sills , when i went wfp i kind of neglected the sills , i still did the frames but alas not the sills .
I got a few mentions , not complaints , but was told about the sills not being as good as they used to be off a ladder , since then i have given the sills a good rub each time and for the first clean since trad i got milk , it has now gone again and all is well

 Rich   P @ F  

[drew86]

Had this problem with one of my customers and although the frames appear to be upvc they are in fact some kind of zinc coating, so the customer tells me.
No amount of rinsing stops it on these paticular windows and trad is the only option, also clean the outside of an old factory with simalar problem but as they want it done wfp they are prepared to live with it, I just dont touch the frames but still get the odd spot.
Drew

[Ian_Giles]

I've noticed this myself for a very long time now.
I'm not sure whether it is something that will happen to all UPVC in the end, or whether it is something in the way they are manufactured.
Sunlight is powerful stuff, as I understand it, at least on earlier UPVC windows, the coating on the top that gives them their glaze is very thin, therefore when sunlight does its job and breaks down this surface, then you get oxidization.

However, after spending a lot of time really scrubbing and rinsing on a first clean, on subsequent cleans I've not had a problem.


Ian

[macmac]

I get this regular, and have done for ages. just because they're upvc don't mean they are a wfp dream i'm affraid, most plastics will perish and oxidise eventually, depends how old they are.

[craig jwc]

Have to agree with the 2 posts above this.

I have found giving them a really good scrub and rinse does the trick.

Haven't had a problem since on the jobs.

Craig

[Neil Williams]

This is not just a wfp thing, it is a frame thing.
Did notice years ago when we were trad that some frames would leave a white residue on the cloths.

[Londoner]

They may look like UPVC but they are powder coated aluminium. Some are so hard to spot that the only way to tell is to tap them with the handle of your scraper.
Even houses with UPVC windows will have coated aluminium doors. Some UPVC windows are hybrid and contain both because the plastic is not ridgid enough.

Get into the habit of tapping the frames. you will soon hear the difference, but the milky stuff is paint breaking down. You are right to say it happens on the south side first.

[EasyClean]

The powder coated aluminium frames only get worse with time until you're down to the bare metal.
I've experienced this quite often and when I come across these type (mainly on patio doors) I only clean the top of the frame, not the sides- if I really, really need to.
I scrub the glass, then a quick spray (brush off the glass momentarily whilst I rinse the top of the glass) then brush back on to finish the glass.
Propole boy must be turning in his grave after reading this now as I rinse 'brush on' except for this rule.

[Ian_Giles]

They may look like UPVC but they are powder coated aluminium. Some are so hard to spot that the only way to tell is to tap them with the handle of your scraper.
Even houses with UPVC windows will have coated aluminium doors. Some UPVC windows are hybrid and contain both because the plastic is not ridgid enough.

Get into the habit of tapping the frames. you will soon hear the difference, but the milky stuff is paint breaking down. You are right to say it happens on the south side first.

I understand what you are saying Vince, but it DOES happen to some pure UPVC windows too.
The surface of the UPVC also breaks down and oxidizes with some makes.
I have no idea if it is something that will happen to all UPVC window frames in the end, or whether it all depends on the grade of UPVC used in manufacture.

Ian

[P®oPole™]

Propole boy must be turning in his grave after reading this now as I rinse 'brush on' except for this rule.

Well done mate, use your brain and wfp properly old man. Dont damage that already incredibly old aged back of yours

ProPole

[AuRavelling79]

Propole boy must be turning in his grave after reading this now as I rinse 'brush on' except for this rule.

Well done mate, use your brain and wfp properly old man. Dont damage that already incredably old aged back of yours

Hiya Propole! What are you hanging around on here on a Saturday evening with us sad old gits for? I thought you'd be getting ready to go out on the town with your new lady!

[dai]

As Ian said, this is happening to PVC. They are not coated auminium.
Dai