[dai]

One of my clients has had his brickwork treated with some kind of water proofing stuff. I dont know what it is but they have got it all over the windows and I can't get it off. If I srape away with a new blade it will come, but I would be there for a week. Have any of you had to deal with this problem? If so how do you get the stuff off. DAi

[Sarah Sarill]

Dai,

If its a protective coating which has been put on to stop the bricks taking on water and eventually crumbling then its a nightmare to get off.

We even tried meths on Upvc once and had to give it up as a bad job.

Would be interested to hear if there is a chemical that would get this off other materials, however I'd leave well alone. 

Sarah

[H h20]

I also had this a few years back,it is silicone based so a nightmare to shift i was unable to remove it,i recon it is down to the plonker who put it on to remove it,Gaz.

[matt]

its very hard to remove, i spent a day doing 4 windows with the stuff on, they paid me the days money, but it still was a chore

[Old_Master]

If it is silicone based it just may may come off with a steam clean at 130 degrees.
 
Other coatings can be removed using a Dichloromethane based paint stripper. It is essential you wear full PPE including rubber gauntlets,goggles and a chemical resistant water proof suit.
Simply apply the chemical stripper with a brush await its elmulsifying of the coating, remove the excess with a spatula and them throughly steam clean to remove all the remaining residue.
Glyn

Dont get the chemical stripper on any paintwork- you need to cover any paint work with a poly sheet and gaffer tape it in place. Charge about £40.00 per metre.

[Paul Coleman]

One of my clients has had his brickwork treated with some kind of water proofing stuff. I dont know what it is but they have got it all over the windows and I can't get it off. If I srape away with a new blade it will come, but I would be there for a week. Have any of you had to deal with this problem? If so how do you get the stuff off. DAi

One of my customers had what was probably this stuff applied to her rendering.  It ruined the glass.  Sometimes I would think I had scraped it off only for it to show up again once it was dry.  They were nearly all Georgian panes too.  The builder really should have masked up the glass first or at least taken more care.  In the end I just said "Sorry. No can do".  She had UPVC double glazing fitted soon after.  She said she was going to anyway but brought it forward a year as she couldn't stand the mess on the glass.
Glyn's suggestion looks interesting but I wonder if such heat applied suddenly would crack the glass.

[Easyclean Windows]

No problem it will come straight off with a special liquid,gloves and a non scratch pad.
I have used this for the same problem youve had and it does work quick http://www.windowcleancentre.co.uk/productdetails.aspx?ProductID=186&SectionID=26

[Moderator David@stives]

scraper blade for the worst then oooo steel wool and MDR
works a treat

[thewindowcleaner1]

I see it, smile and tell the customer I'll clean the windows but I can't get that stuff off, see the idiot that used it...

Had one customer once that had small bits embedded in the glass (came from a grinder  builders used cut metal near to the windoow) pointed the problem out to the customer..
customer tells builder, takes builder to court (or threatens to)
old double glazed pains replaced..

[Ian_Giles]

MDR won't shift this bloody stuff, it isn't a mineral deposit, and a scraper is no good either.
At the cost of chemical removal, the customer might as well replace the glazing, £40 per metre will cover the cost of most double glazing panes of glass comfortably.

Because this stuff is transparent, when you are applying it you do not notice it splashing all over the glass, a good decorator will of course, but if it's done by a labourer (with the idea that it doesn't need any skill to apply) then you are left with a real mess

As Roger (Squeeky Clean) will tell you, best to leave well alone!!

Angle grinding near a window ruins the glass too!!
Those little sparks hit the glass and fuse into the surface, after time you end out with rust spots, and absolutely nothing can be done, to rectify the glazing has to be replaced

Regards,

Ian

[squeaky-clean 1]

Easyclean

hi sorry to change subject a little but i have been haveing problems with windows in my own village

three houses backing on to fields with years of crop spraying could be causeing the problem i have

i have used wfp 5 times on them and still get water marks not just a few but loads after it rains they look terible if i didnt know them i would drop them but i have had to go back to hand cleaning them .


could crystal clear 550 help with this

Kev

[Moderator David@stives]

scraper blade for the worst then oooo steel wool and MDR
works a treat

woops should of said oilflo
it is a bit slow but it does work in the end after scraping

Dave

[Rob_B]

I had this on a small farm, didn't realise until I started cleaning them, the only chemical I had in the van was something called sticky stuff remover (Jacksons building centre).
I used this with scourers worked very quick but I immediately rinsed and cleaned the windows again afterwards so it didn't start peeling the varnish off.
Must be pretty strong stuff as I had to change my latex gloves every couple of windows as they started to melt.
Ended up charging 4 times the original quote.

[Easyclean Windows]

Crystal clear will almost get any hard water marks,run off from concrete,oxodising paint off any glass.I had a customer last year 30 lead glass windows all of themn had oxodisation from the frames.I used crystal clear and removed it within seconds.You do have to rinse off afterwards but come up perfectly.i have used oiloflow great for adhesive marks ie:stickers and also good for selaent removal on new windows.Ive tried mdr didnt move anything crystal clear works within seconds.It is an acid based cleaner but used correctly excellent.

[dai]

Thanks guys, I'll leave well alone then. The customer is really quite layed back about it.If the company that was applying it left my windows in that state I'd get them to put it right. DAI

[Sarah Sarill]

Thanks guys, I'll leave well alone then. The customer is really quite layed back about it.If the company that was applying it left my windows in that state I'd get them to put it right. DAI

Wise Dai - I'd do the same.

Sarah