Recently I was asked if I could remove a advertisement for " body tanning" that was painted on the store front glass. This paint has been on the window for over 3 years and I think it could be an acrylic paint, and I’m not really sure on the best way to remove, any ideas??? I have been cleaning windows for 8 years and have never had a problem removing special signs and holiday stuff, but this seems a little different.
Jeff Crabb
Firehouse Window Cleaning
Hoover, Alabama
"Roll Tide"
A lot of time the person who painted it will sign it at the bottom. If that is the case contact them to find out what type of paint they used. We were told by these window painters to use ammonia, but that was horrible and took forever. We Use Goo Gone, Just put it on let it sit for a minute and the paint will just slide right off.
Wet scrape it off !! First have a signed waiver for damage you can’t see !! Lots of drops and wast basket with a liner. Flood with water and let dewell. Charge double what you would for cleaning !! Glide helps too !! Do you have a 6 inch scraper ?? Put a new blade in and have at it !! Stan
Forgive me for being the devil’s advocate but if I hired you as my window cleaner, I signed your waiver, watched you put in a new 6" razor, and then have at it on my glass w/ total disregard to other means of removal… Well that would tick me off.
Well, mr. Wizard what would u do ??? I’ve been doing this for 25 years !! I’ve got about 800 sq feet to do next week. This is not fun !!! Every 90 days i remove the paint !! I carry a scraper with me at all times. There allways something on the window!!
Remember that “other means of removal” could be detrimental to IG seals, your health, or the public’s health. The scraper is the tried and true method for removing debris or other things from the surface of glass. Of course there are proper methods for scraper use, i.e. never use a rusty blade, go in only one direction w/ the scraper, and lift the blade off the glass at the end of each pass. The waiver is a great form of protection from hidden defects that are in reality someone else’s responsibility.
Wizard eh?
So you have 25 years under your belt(hard to tell w/ the name calling). This is what I don’t get. Dealing w/ FD is a PITA and more of this garbage glass is being produced daily. I understand what the waiver is designed to do(protect us window cleaners and in the past I have used them as well). These waivers are to do just that, not a license in negligence, which to me is synonymous w/ “having at it”.
What sucks most is that the home owner, store owner, building owner is now stuck w/ scratched glass. So many threads here about retaining clients, this is not a way to do that, imo.
Tony I agree w/ everything you mentioned and please take this w/ no disrespect “The scraper is the tried and true method for removing debris or other things from the surface of glass”. It’s also a method that dislodges fd and can mess up the glass and fast. My point is it still sucks that the home owner is now stuck w/ scratched glass and I just can’t do that to my clients.
I understand your feelings completely Art. We have to remember though that we didn’t manufacture the defect and shouldn’t step into the liability loop. It’s a defective product and either the customer lives w/ it or replaces it. It sad but unfortunately the way it is. We can’t tell (in almost every case) if FD is present and the client wants us to clean the window. The waiver lets us do that w/ peace of mind.
I agree completely. Get the waiver signed. My company is my life. And in California anyways, it is totally necessary.
For the issue of the paint…i highly recommend a methyl ethylene. Not really designed for glass and it works VERY fast. As far as using other methods…Well any home owner knows THEY can use a scraper or razor. And they hire us because we are the professionals. I find they take a different view of me after i pull out the acids and other chems and explain what they do and why. That way we appear to the customer to be more than a guy good with a squeegee.
Just my thoughts!!!
Went by job today and tried the Goo gone and Safe Restore, both will work fine. Did a small test area with both products to see which one will produce the best results, seems that Safe Restore was a little quicker to release the paint but, the smell is rough. Very little WET scraping will be needed (if any), Thanks for the info on this topic from everybody.
Glad to hear it. If you go w/ the Safe Restore just remember your Personal Protective Equipment.
[SIZE=“7”]Scrape it with a 3 year old blade[/SIZE] and wet it down with some sand…that should do the trick:D
Just kidding…
x
