We're Cleaning Our Windows

We finally have our new windows installed in our house in New Hampshire. We chose metal-clad wood Marvin Windows with Cardinal Soft-Coat Low-e. We were replacing single paned wood windows, originally installed in the house in 1940. To say that we will have improvements in our energy usage is an understatement.

The picture is the view from our living room, with Mount Monodnack about 5.5 miles away, in the upper left, and Bowker Pond at the base of the hill. We see roughly 100 square miles of forest and lakes through these windows, and they just had to be perfect.

And they were. The delivery was on-time, the installation was steady and didn't bring any problems, and we were ready for the finishing touch...the cleaning of the windows. The windows were protected in transit from Marvin, and only got dirty with the construction needed to put them in. A lot of saw dust, some fingerprints, and a few specks of paint.

The assumption here is that I know something about glass. I really do. Honest. But what I know about glass has not been transferred to my wife.

She wanted to help in this project so she volunteered to clean the windows.

Elaine started with a spray bottle window cleaner and did a great job, until she hit some adhesive residue from the manufacturer's labels. Manufacturers and fabricators have to walk a fine line between too little adhesive, which leaves no residue but often leaves no label, and too much residue, which guarantees information, but also guarantees left-over adhesive.

Marvin's adhesive was pretty good...just a slight amount of residue.

Elaine didn't ask me for advice. She could handle this. I saved our marriage at the last second as I saw her carrying a bottle of abrasive cleanser towards the living room windows. Another few seconds and, well you know.

All's well that ended well, but this little incident reminded me of some comments I wanted to make to our glass industry readers.

The GANA (Glass Association of North America) website has a great informational bulletin on cleaning glass. Go to glasswebsite.com, click on publications and scroll about halfway down to "Proper Procedures for Cleaning Architectural Glass Products". You should print this and make it a part of every job submission you do.

Every one reading this article has gone back to a job site that has 'scratches', which the customer wants you to fix, where the scratches have the telltale marks of razor blades from cleaning.

Unless you will be present at the cleaning, it becomes your word against theirs...and no matter what, you loose. There will be an argument, an upset customer, and a question mark about getting new work. Take five minutes out of your schedule at the turnover time, speak with the owner about proper glass cleaning, and send a copy of the GANA Procedures to the owner and to the glass cleaners. Most professional window cleaners are good...you just have to help a little. It is a good investment on your part to ensure your last check and retainage come in on time.