[Matt Knowlden]

I've been cleaning windows for over 12 years now including many initial cleans. A builder that I've done plenty of work for asked me to look at another house.
The windows were fitted with no protective film and the cement / render splashes have severely stained all the glass throughout. It's the worse I've ever seen. Tried all methods including chemicals and blades, 000 steel wool etc and with little effect. In my opinion all the glass needs to be replaced. Any alternative suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks.

[Arnold Palmer]

http://www.surfacemedic.co.uk/

[chris turner]

Have you tried winsol crystal clear?
It's hard work, apply the solution with a cloth and buff the windows, followed by normal cleaning, but you can get great results with it.
Also unger rubout if used correctly can be great for this sort of thing.
Iv done alot of builders cleans over the years and always found a way of getting the glass clean.

[Matt Knowlden]

No I haven't tried either of these products and thank you for the advice. Obviously  it seems it could take a lot more time than a regular initial clean. This is a 5 bed house with plenty of large panes of glass. Would you have a rough idea how much longer it would take? Thanks.

[Matt.]

Like ur self I have came across this in mine time, and with wot u have tried it is a case of is anything else guna work.
I haven't found anything that will take those stains out but if u go on general cleaning section, kev Martin from Birmingham who sells chemicals and he knows his stuff am sure he will be able to help, he's on there most days

[Matt Knowlden]

Thanks mate.

[Spruce]

My opinion.

We are just ordinary window cleaners; we aren't specialists who have the knowledge, experience, tools and equipment to do a specialist job like that.

It would probably be cheaper to replace the glass than to bring in a specialist polishing team that will spend hours polishing the existing marks out. Curing cement is a chemical reaction and on certain types of glass it can etch a mark into the glass which can only be got out with polish techniques - in effect, removing the top surface of the glass.

Cement contains silica which is also a component of steel and stone cutting and grinding discs used in angle grinders. We have all seen the results of sparks from a angle grinder disc on windows we clean where the tradesmen haven't been careful.

.

[chris turner]

No I haven't tried either of these products and thank you for the advice. Obviously  it seems it could take a lot more time than a regular initial clean. This is a 5 bed house with plenty of large panes of glass. Would you have a rough idea how much longer it would take? Thanks.

To be honest if the windows are as bad as you say, on a 5 bed house with large panes you could be looking at a full days work. A day of hard graft at that.
If your guy is willing to pay you a full day plus the cost of the chemicals plus a bit extra for your hard graft then go for it. Anything less is pointless.
You can get the glass clean but as I said it will take alot of buffing with good chemicals before you even properly clean the windows.
Also if you go for something like winsol, test it on a small area first, it's strong stuff and not good on certain types of glass.

[Smurf]

First thing the builder will say its the window cleaners fault no matter what you do.
My advice is run for the hills before you get a claim made against you.

[nathankaye]

First thing the builder will say its the window cleaners fault no matter what you do.
My advice is run for the hills before you get a claim made against you.

+1

You gave it your best and didnt reap the rewards you were looking for. Hope you got paid appropriately for those attempts. Now, leggit!!  Its obvious to all that a much more specialist clean is required! Let the builder worry/sort that out and maybe he and his team will learn to be more careful rather than thinking, "why bother, will just get local windie in to sort/blame for"

Run forest, run!

[Smurf]

If your still going to have a go maybe try liquid hammer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_WujZjGQ6g
This is a better vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDjKN1isjU

[Spruce]

First thing the builder will say its the window cleaners fault no matter what you do.
My advice is run for the hills before you get a claim made against you.

I'm going to agree with Smurf on this one. Why chase specialist work when there is plenty of not specialist work waiting to be found.

The other thing is that it will never be perfect so you could end up with a dissatisfied customer, who, at best refuses to pay for the work done.

Builder's fault, builders to resolve the problem they caused.

[andyM]

I always distance myself from situations like that.
Otherwise the spotlight to resolve the problem is then on me.
Failure to restore the glass to a standard that the customer is happy with isn't guaranteed, and that could result in non payment or having to accept a reduced rate.
None of which would be acceptable to me.
So I would deem it too much of a risk and wouldn't get involved.

[Spruce]

If your still going to have a go maybe try liquid hammer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_WujZjGQ6g
This is a better vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDjKN1isjU

https://www.speedcrete.co.uk/liquid-hammer-cement-remover.html

£152.80 for 20 liters! Wow.

I expect (haven't dared to look) that there's VAT and delivery on that.

[Smurf]

If your still going to have a go maybe try liquid hammer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_WujZjGQ6g
This is a better vid https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rDjKN1isjU

https://www.speedcrete.co.uk/liquid-hammer-cement-remover.html

£152.80 for 20 liters! Wow.

I expect (haven't dared to look) that there's VAT and delivery on that.

That is one of the reasons why I've not tried it myself Spruce.

[Og]

Polish them out? Last resort.....

[paulben]

Let builder pay for new glass he stuffed the job up why sweat it in this weather

[dave f]

wont this sort of job set you back with your other work personaly I would not touch this job with a barge pole its to risky leave well alone I don't even touch glass with cement on. when I come across some when the d I y  hubby has been laying bricks or what ever I just tell them I haven't done the  window incase I scratch the window .

[lal]

wont this sort of job set you back with your other work personaly I would not touch this job with a barge pole its to risky leave well alone I don't even touch glass with cement on. when I come across some when the d I y  hubby has been laying bricks or what ever I just tell them I haven't done the  window incase I scratch the window .

+1

[paulben]

If I find cement on glass tell customer its there and say you don't take responsibility  for scratches then turn flow up flat out and go lightly over area