Glass Coatings have become the driving force behind the float glass manufacturing industry. There are hundreds of different types based on many different chemistries and materials. Unfortunately almost all window cleaners have no clue how to maintain them. Or even detect when they are in contact with one. The reason for that is just because coatings are becoming more difficult to see. Here is a company that sells a simple and inexpensive tool for quickly identifying coated glass. It even tells you what surface the coating is on.
First we all MUST know that we should never use a metal razor on a coated surface. Razors will scratch and leave abrasion marks. Which are usually invisible except in the bright sun. Another problem is it is very difficult to identify exactly what the coating is because of proprietary knowledge of the coating. Knowledge such as the actual name of the coating including a knowledge of what metals have been used are usually hidden. So you can't know what chemicals will do damage and which are perfectly safe. Typically I would sway anyone away from a high or low pH. So no alkalies or acids. Further it is difficult to know which superabrasive based products are safe. These are questions that will only waste your time.
Your greatest aid will be in identifying that there IS a coating that you are in contact with. It could have any number of deposits that would make you reach for your razor. But don't do it. If the owner wants the window cleared then they will need to sign a waiver giving you the absolute choice of doing whatever you need to in finding an answer to the problem. On the first window. With that freedom please call me and we can walk it through. If you find an answer then get a second waiver signed that will give you the right to do the entire building. Get payment for your time to locate an answer to the problem on the first window. Then a second payment for the first half of the building. Then a last payment for the rest of the job. These three payments should be defined in the first waiver. Which can be your contract.
If you need a legal waiver it would be a smart move to go to a lawyer to get one written up. Then get it signed and dated before you begin.
Henry Grover Jr.
No comments:
Post a Comment