Okay fellas, try not to laugh at my video…but I have this commercial account that has some REALLY bad etching going on, I tried CC550 AND safe restore and the silicates still remain. The video is 3 minutes long, but you can see how its not even really doing anything. I have tried the ettore doo-doo paste, bio-clean, and the 2 mentioned above…also clr. The property managers are alittle peaved that it wouldnt come out, but I personally dont think I can fix it. Do you guys?
Nobody? crickets…crickets…
Hey there Tory I checked with Craig Aldrich for you as soon as I saw this and he said he spoke to you.
I value his opinion on the matter very highly… One of the top guys in the country for sure on the subject.
His response below:
[B]Hey Chris…i believe he called me yesterday in regards to this gig. We’ve talked several times about stains etc. Anyhow…if CC-550 didn’t budge it i highly doubt any other chemical will?[/B]
[B]I told him some gigs are just too far gone and beyond chemical aid. Polishing would be an option if…the client wanted to spring $$ for the restoration.[/B]
[B]Even then…it may look better,not perfect but…seems really labor intense. I mentioned going after it with a polisher,angle grinder (with a white pad or wool) but…he mentioned that the lady (the shot caller) was inquiring who polishes out or does graffiti removal. I know of no one locally as he called a few people here.[/B]
[B]It’s definitely a combination of a silicate deposit (heavily etched) coupled with oxidation and basic hard water deposits.[/B]
Yeah, he is the only person I call when it comes to these things. I was wondering if someone has had success in using other methods other than chemical. He said Dan Fields has a bunch of different ways on buffing them out, Craig said he even has something like a “sandpaper method” but did not know too much about it.
Thank you for calling Craig on it, that was above and beyond. Thanks.
No problem man that what I am here for… Hmm you know of know one in the area that has a srp machine? You can maybe give them a call and see if they sold any in your area…
1-800-328-0042 or 1-952-946-0444
If they wont talk to you let me know and Ill give em a ring for ya.
I know this comment will add anything, but sometimes is better just to let go those gigs.
You present a scope of work to the customer and they think that you promise them you’ll get it fixed (whatever it is). In the meantime you can knock tons of residential for probably way more money. These property management people need to understand the value of maintenance. Pay now, or pay way much more later.
Hey Tory
You have done a great approach to the etched problem. I would of used the same chemicals. (Safe ReStore and CC-550) and much like your findings if the improvements are minimal or etched beyond chemical restoration then the next step will be to have it buffed out.
I have an SRP polisher. But here is a problem with this kind of damage. The felt pad that the SRP uses will get “glazed” and the machine will pop off the glass. Then you have to rough up the pad and polish again. It will get the deposits back onto the pad and the machine will again pop off the glass. Frustrating. Since you have chemically treated the top surfaces of the deposits you may very well beable to polish this with the SRP sucessfully. There are other polishers out there. The “Hog” is an open wheel grinder that will make a mess but may work better in this instance.
Consider the cost of replacement of the tinted glass the property management may incure to rectify the problem. Research what the cost of a polisher would cost you. Put some of the cost of the machine and supplies into a bid proposal hidden within the labor costs and now you have an add-on to your biz.
By the looks of your van, your tools and uniform you present a very professional appearance. Good JOB!
Last month in Tracy, Dan stated that SRP will have a new-and-improved model out sometime soon (he’s heard that for ~2 years…)
Dan has been using a sandpaper-based piece of equipment very successfully to support his graffiti-removal/graffiti film business, and will be marketing something, I believe.
Hi Tory,
I like the video for the progress report. If that lady doesn’t appreciate the work you’re putting in, tell her get real. They can’t wash their windows every 6-8 years and expect good looking glass.
Thank you fellas for the info…Chris, I will give a call to that number and see if he has any out this way. Good idea. Thanks for the compliments on appearance…but I will tell you, I was slipping on a large job last week. Since we were outside and gonna be getting filthy, I had everyone wearing silk screened tank tops and shorts! Oh no…bad idea. The property management boss lady asked me what was going on with my uniforms, that someone commented on the lack of them. She said, “your estimates and invoices are great looking, the trailer etc… but why dont you have uniforms, you know appearance is everything.” Yeah, a little embarassing to say the least. I have uniforms, but I didnt want to get the nice ones dirty!!! Yeah, nobody ever accused me of being the smartest guy in the room.:o
