Window Glass Inspections

From almost invisible seriously failed insulating glass units to missing low e coatings, thumbprints and dessicant outgassing in between low e units, negative deflection from leaked argon gas, uncleanable tempered surfaces, reflective distortions of tempered glass, etched surfaces from previous power washing, mineral deposits, scratch damage, weld splatter, chemically crazed and or hazed plexiglass or lexan surfaces;...the list just goes on.  The inspection of window glass is a highly specialized expertise.  But certainly not one that is not needed.  Anyone selling, buying, or building a home or business property could potentially lose many thousands or tens of thousands of dollars due to the cost of replacing such defective units.  Most times it is necessary to have every window in a home professionally cleaned and then professionally inspected on a bright sunny day before any of these defects can be identified.  The Real Estate Agent will always defer to the Home Inspector for all inspection services.  Then the Home Inspector ‘might’ call in other more specialized inspection service professionals if a need is determined.  Owing to the potential cost of replacing damaged or defective windows it only makes sense for the seller, buyer, or builder to make this request to the Home Inspector.  You will need to ask them to have the windows professionally cleaned and then inspected.  The reason is very simple.  That this is almost never done.
When I clean windows I always perform this service free of charge.  I see it as an absolutely essential service on brand new buildings.  Owing to the fact that there is always a full one year warranty on the entire building.  So if you have any defective or damaged windows you can have them replaced free of charge.  If you wait longer than a year you might own them.  It is a very common practice for owners to have a home or commercial building constructed only to clean the windows years later.  This is especially the case for franchise owners.  Over the last three decades plus of cleaning windows I have taken on many new building/commercial accounts, and cleaned many new homes.  In every single case I have uncovered both damaged and defective windows and glass.Most times I can work with the contractor from start to finish to prevent any damage and identify any defects.  This always saves the contractor both time and money.  Defective windows that are discovered early can be replaced at no cost to the contractor and replaced before the time of installation for a timely completion of the project.  If damage is done inadvertently during construction, at times this can be repaired.  Which again will save the contractor.  The contractor will also want to store the glass in such a way that damage does not result. Once the building is complete the windows and mirrors should be maintained to ensure protection.  For example scratches can be removed and prevented.  I call this scratch and abrasion maintenance.  Not every window cleaner offers this service.  I have noticed that franchise restaurants are routinely hit by errant scratches.  Which is certainly not a structural defect but it does take away from the overall beauty of the room.  Simply because little patches of scratches end up looking like food stuff stuck to the glass.  These scratches can be removed and prevented with the right tools and technique.

Written by Henry Grover Jr. 

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