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pylofm

Sprinkler water - marking windows
« on: May 04, 2007, 03:38:07 pm »
I did a large house this morning and after I left the lady of the house, phoned me and said that some of the windows had water marks that have been caused by the thousand sprinklers they have around this house....

Now I saw lots of marks and as this is a nice job I did the glass twice  to be sure...now what is your take on these marks and how would you do deal with the customer....

Cheers
Dave.

NWH

  • Posts: 16952
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #1 on: May 04, 2007, 04:02:22 pm »
If it`s regular it might not be a problem,but if they don`t shift doing it regularly ask her nicely if she wouldn`t mind watering the ones near the windows by hand ie watering can that`s what i do.

Davew

Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #2 on: May 04, 2007, 04:16:35 pm »
I did one where they had washed with tap water today and I can't shift the marks with brush and pure water.

M & C Window Cleaning

  • Posts: 1581
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #3 on: May 04, 2007, 10:06:57 pm »
Amazes me how many people don't seem to notice what tap water does to windows. You clean their windows, then they water their plants or let their kids play with water bombs or water cannons and make a right mess. Then they don't like it when you increase the price to accomodate the extra work involved.

Pat Purcell

  • Posts: 568
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #4 on: May 04, 2007, 10:24:38 pm »
Use a hard water stain remover, most of them work pretty well as long as you scrub real hard with a harsh scrubby pad or wire wool,
If the house is as big as it sounds it may take you a days work to get them looking better, just manage the customers expectations before you start " it will make them better but not perfect"
Charge your daily rate + as its hard graft and have them add baffles to the sprinkler heads that stop the water from hitting the glass so that it doesn't continue to happen
Boston USA    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   Cork Ireland

East coast window cleaning Services

  • Posts: 1458
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2007, 09:07:46 am »
Use a hard water stain remover, most of them work pretty well as long as you scrub real hard with a harsh scrubby pad or wire wool

U'd scratch them to f*ck using wire wool and end up with a nice big claim to pay. I wash window as normal leave soap on glass and use 3 inch unger blades takes time but works a treat takes about 25 mins to do patio door.( when using the blades the art is to keep the glass wet) but make sure you charge them up for it
P&R Window Cleaning

Spursboy1972

  • Posts: 679
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2007, 09:13:47 am »
Get some MDR and a non abrasive white pad. This will work 99 times out of 100 and you can just rinse it off afterwards. MDR stands for Mineral Deposit Removal
Clear Vision~"The Difference is Clear"

Southampton- Hampshire

russ_clark

  • Posts: 923
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2007, 09:16:05 am »
Tony is 100%
He was typing as I was
MDR will shift it
Just charge them extra to do it ;D ;D ;D

Londoner

Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2007, 09:17:36 am »
No actually fine wire wool doesn't mark glass. You can buy limescale remover from any window cleaners supplier but don't bother.
Buy good old Cilit Bang from the super market for about £2.90 is tops. Make sure you get the one for limescale and grime.
Get two, one for the missus. Its great for jobs at home.

Now the summer is coming we will be getting the odd "barbeque window" where someone has had a barbie right next to the window and there is a fine layer of grease on the glass. Cilit Bang again for that.

jeff1

  • Posts: 5855
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2007, 11:41:34 am »
Use a hard water stain remover, most of them work pretty well as long as you scrub real hard with a harsh scrubby pad or wire wool

U'd scratch them to f*ck using wire wool and end up with a nice big claim to pay. I wash window as normal leave soap on glass and use 3 inch unger blades takes time but works a treat takes about 25 mins to do patio door.( when using the blades the art is to keep the glass wet) but make sure you charge them up for it
Pat is dead right, fine grade 0000 wire wool and you won't leave a scratch on the glass, try some you'll be amazed. ;)

East coast window cleaning Services

  • Posts: 1458
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2007, 12:30:32 pm »
Think i might well do only said it would scratch them as the previous post said go at them with wire wool and not mentioning a fine grade of it.
P&R Window Cleaning

Pat Purcell

  • Posts: 568
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2007, 03:42:22 pm »
Think i might well do only said it would scratch them as the previous post said go at them with wire wool and not mentioning a fine grade of it.
  Sorry, I guess I just assumed people would know
we have used up to 00 wire wool without any problems as long as you keep the glass wet and slippery
As with anything test a small inconspicous area first to make sure its not scratching the glass and if you can get a waiver signmed before you do any work
Boston USA    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>   Cork Ireland

pylofm

Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2007, 07:02:34 am »
Thanks for your replies and advice....cheers Dave.

john tomkins

  • Posts: 1639
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2007, 08:30:59 am »
No actually fine wire wool doesn't mark glass. You can buy limescale remover from any window cleaners supplier but don't bother.
Buy good old Cilit Bang from the super market for about £2.90 is tops. Make sure you get the one for limescale and grime.
Get two, one for the missus. Its great for jobs at home.

Now the summer is coming we will be getting the odd "barbeque window" where someone has had a barbie right next to the window and there is a fine layer of grease on the glass. Cilit Bang again for that.
Well on someone elses recommendation I got Cillit Bang for some water marks on a patio door.... 2 applications later and it wouldn't shift it :(
Got some MDR from WCW for £6.49 inc del and will try that on the same house later this week, fingers crossed :)

pylofm

Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2007, 04:33:10 pm »
Well I went to the house today and the housekeep was there and she said that she is going to try and remove it whilst the house owners are away on holiday...

 ;D Dave.

dudek

  • Posts: 272
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #15 on: May 07, 2007, 04:59:26 pm »
What about white vinegar and warm soapy water, works wonders!

Londoner

Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #16 on: May 08, 2007, 06:07:21 am »
Cilit Bang works very well on limescale. You get really bad marks from leaking overflow pipes etc and that shifts it with no problems.I have one flat where the overflow above it had been leaking for years and the window was thickly encrusted with lime.Spray and leave it to soak a few times and it all comes off. That particular job took some time because it was so bad.
I have even used it as a precleaner for really bad first cleans and manky frames. Its good for most things.
I have one customer whose windows have been marked by something that was sprayed onto the hanging baskets and tubs by his gardeners. Nothing so far has touched those marks. Some of these gardening chemicals actually etch the glass and thats the real danger.

Filllllll

  • Posts: 82
Re: Sprinkler water - marking windows
« Reply #17 on: May 08, 2007, 10:10:28 pm »
I,m with dudek- white vinegar- its the acid verses alkaline.