My Sad Windows!

RockBadger

Hi all. My wife and I are having an extension built at the mo. I got quite a scare lately tho when i started to clean the windows. They are scratched to bits. The only conclusion I can come up with is the plasterer. The windows are covered with a grey scum which is next to impossible to get off. As the plasterer went along he would get a brush and water and wipe his mess off the windows. He did tell me that I would have to go over the windows a few times til they were right but its a complete nightmare. I would soak them first and leave for a while then come back and scrub,scrub,SCRUB! It took almost a full day to do one window and as I stood inside and watched the sun shine through I almost passed out. I had always seen the bigger scratches (esp. on the outside glass) but as the grey stuff came off all was revealed. I doubt Im making the situation any better with all the scrubbing as whatever particles are in this mess are getting dragged all over the window. But in fairness looking at all the other windows I havent touched, I can see they are scratched so Im leaving them as proof for my builder to see.
I cant understand why the damn things werent covered in plastic to begin with-everything in the world nowadays seems to come over wrapped in the stuff. Wouldnt you think windows especially deserve to be?? And to be fair the plasterer obviously thought he was doing the right thing or does anyone know what is the standard procedure? Either way Im not wasting any more time as a lot of the untouched glass is looking seriously unacceptable the more I look at them with the sun coming through. Is this a common occurrence or am I just one of the really unlucky ones. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

whupdedo

It's quite a common problem with the glass that's being used now, a lot of it is toughened and while it seems unbelievable is actually easier to scratch than the old glass.theirs not an awful lot you can do if the glass is scratched, only replace it.the builder should do this for you, iv seen plasterers get caught with this problem before but they usually learn after the first time.alternatively you could try a product called cellulose thinners, its fairly good at removing the stubborn grime and dirt.

ART6

whupdedo wrote: »

It's quite a common problem with the glass that's being used now, a lot of it is toughened and while it seems unbelievable is actually easier to scratch than the old glass.theirs not an awful lot you can do if the glass is scratched, only replace it.the builder should do this for you, iv seen plasterers get caught with this problem before but they usually learn after the first time.alternatively you could try a product called cellulose thinners, its fairly good at removing the stubborn grime and dirt.

Cellulose thinners is also very good at dissolving plastic -- it is the solvent in UPVC cement. It is also an excellent paint stripper and highly flammable. To be treated with caution on windows I would suggest? Having said that it has a lot of advantages as a general purpose solvent and it is dirt cheap (around €10 a gallon from a motor factor) and I use it a lot for all sorts of purposes, and I wouldn't be without a gallon or two in my workshop as well as cellulose paint spraying for which it is essential. However, it is an industrial product and not as benign as Ajax or Fairy Liquid!

whupdedo

Exactly, use sparingly on the glass, not on the pvc, for the pvc you could use w d 40 it does a great job of cleaning off the mortar and skim

Roscommon John

Hi Rock badger, try some liquid Kettle descaler in a spray bottle with warm water.( you can also use a little Harpic lime scale remover in the mix for a stronger soloution) wear gloves. I find it great to remove lime deposits from windows. Essentially thats what is on the glass, it's a lime residue left from the plastering. Some plasterers just give the windows and doors a quick wash with water and a brush, the lime seems to stay on the glass and is a fecker to remove when dried. Hope this helps.

RockBadger

Thanks for the advice all. The limescale remover is working pretty good. A lot more finer scratches starting to reveal themselves too!

MugMugs

RockBadger wrote: »

Thanks for the advice all. The limescale remover is working pretty good. A lot more finer scratches starting to reveal themselves too!

I'd be dropping tools and having your builder back straight away.

If no joy there, then I'd be inviting his insurance company out to review the damage.

moy83

The plasterer should have been cleaning the windows more often as he was going along . When the mortar is left too long before washing a few grains of sand will be pulled around the glass causing the scratches .
Im a plasterer myself and wouldnt dream of telling the homeowner to give the glass a clean after me .
I find that the vinegar window cleaner in aldi is a dinger at cleaning that cement residue off the glass