[Dick]

Was asked to quote on a new customer today, went and had a look gave a price including a conservatory but she said the conservatory could only be cleaned with plain water i.e. from the tap without any additives/soap etc. as that's what the firm that erected it told her.
I said I cleaned my own windows which has got Special K glass in and it didn't as far as I know make any difference.
Does this glass have a special exterior coating or is it manufactured actually in the glass.
I only cleaned the house windows today which were ok to do (trad way) and left the conservatory until I find out.
Special K glass is supposed to let heat in and retain it within the room.
 

[niceandclean]

By the sound of it she has Pilkington self cleaning glass, just use a soft brush with your pure water, you will be fine. K glass is just a form of Low-E glass, which is now the industry standard, but the coatings are between the panes in the sealed unit.

[matt]

yep

sound like self cleaning glass

watch scrubbing bird p00 off aswell, it doesnt like it

[danny taylor]

it can be cleaned by poles or rad no diffrence really. Just a selling point for pilkington

[NWH]

yep

sound like self cleaning glass

watch scrubbing bird p00 off aswell, it doesnt like it

That`s right,it will scratch if you scrub to hard.I did it with the end of an applicator cover once.

[Jimmy1]

I heard that theres actually no such thing as self cleaning glass and its just a marketing ploy by Pilkington anyone heard anything like this???

[Squeegee Clean blackpool]

Its more a easy clean surface ive applyed this to existing windows it is pretty good but not totally self cleaning as it needs rain.
Its a non stick surface.

[windowwashers]

I heard that theres actually no such thing as self cleaning glass and its just a marketing ploy by Pilkington anyone heard anything like this???

I have heard the same and when asking the question to them about bird poo I did not get a reply, it cannot clean bird poo off a window it can be a royal pain in the bum trad cleaning it, is it self cleaning IMO I think not, attracts more dirt I would say yes

[frames to panes]

I've found self cleaning glass doesn't sheet properly when washed with pure water. It looks as if the water is mixed with sand - just doesn't look right. Comes up fine when it dries back though.

[simp]

I your custy has got standard 'K' glass, it is always fitted to the interior of the house, so pure water won't do a thing to it.

[Ian_Giles]

Well if you are WFP, what is the difference between tap water and the water you use? (and yes, of course I know the actual difference!)
Pure water is little different to rainwater.
I've heard that on self cleaning glass you are not supposed to use soapy water or even a squeegee and applicator
The stuff does work though, it's a chemical reaction caused by the coating on the glass and sunlight.
doesn't stop the windows getting dirty of course, but soiling gets broken down, supposedly allowing the glass to be cleaned with a hose and ordinary tap water, or rain if it a conservatory roof...so say that is...


Ian

[Nathanael Jones]

Well if you are WFP, what is the difference between tap water and the water you use? (and yes, of course I know the actual difference!)
Pure water is little different to rainwater.
I've heard that on self cleaning glass you are not supposed to use soapy water or even a squeegee and applicator
The stuff does work though, it's a chemical reaction caused by the coating on the glass and sunlight.
doesn't stop the windows getting dirty of course, but soiling gets broken down, supposedly allowing the glass to be cleaned with a hose and ordinary tap water, or rain if it a conservatory roof...so say that is...


Ian

The theory works well,... and I'm told the product is quite effective in hotter drier climates,.... but here it's just a waste of money. A few of my custies got it (And paid a LOT for it),... 6 weeks later they called me to clean their "self cleaning" windows!!!
In theory, the special surface is easy to damage,.. but since it doesn't work anyway, I personally don't treat it any different from normal glass!!

[Dick]

I've e-mailed Pilkington and asked them for their reply as to how to clean it. I'll post their response.

[Helen]

I've e-mailed Pilkington and asked them for their reply as to how to clean it. I'll post their response.

make sure you have their cleaning spec in writing and get it agreed by the customer in writing that you can go ahead.
The customer should have been supplied with these details anyway and you could always ask to look at that and then go through it with the customer

[CHARLEY B]

The K coating is on the indoors side of the glass not between the panes or on the outside
of the glass Ex window fitter