Commercial window cleaning should be considered a vital maintenance project as it improves the appearance, integrity, and lifespan of your building’s windows.
It may seem like an obvious statement, but commercial building windows are designed differently from standard household windows. They also require specialized cleaning, care, and maintenance. Did you know that it takes only a year or less of no maintenance or cleaning of commercial building windows for some of them to show damage and staining? Here’s everything you need to be aware of and how to make maintaining your commercial building windows a top priority.
Problems with the Typical Commercial Window Cleaning Process
For years, building owners and managers used commercial window cleaning products that contained ammonia. Some still do. It’s a particular problem for historic buildings with stained glass windows, as ammonia can damage the glass.
Many widely available commercial building window cleaning products have ingredients that scratch the glass. This is not only an unattractive side effect, but it can leave the surface open to future contaminants. And while these scratches might be invisible to the naked eye, they’re virtual magnets for stain-forming materials that attach themselves to them. Another problem with many of these products is that over time the windows that have been cleaned with them develop stains that are far more difficult to remove.
Why Our Commercial Window Restoration Method is Superior
Many commercial building window cleaning companies use abrasive techniques that scratch the glass. Some also use hard acid products that burn the glass and surrounding surfaces as they drain down the building’s sides and damage precast surfaces and window frames. The result on the glass is that hazed look you’ve probably seen on many commercial windows. Acidic products in particular can also be harmful to employees. Our process doesn’t use harsh abrasive. We use our own products and techniques that have been refined over decades of experience.
Commercial Window Restoration Saves You Money
It’s true proper glass restoration can be a significant investment. But having to replace the glass because of damage is even more costly, with you spending hundreds to thousands of dollars more. For instance, you’ll pay roughly $5 to $20 per window in product costs for restoration; replacements windows range anywhere from $350 to $8,000 per window.
Restore, Protect, and Maintain Your Commercial Windows
To maintain and protect your commercial building’s windows, it’s critical to choose the right combination of products. Presto’s proprietary products work as a cohesive team. Our 3-step process restores, protects, and maintains the glass on high-rises, multi-family complexes, business parks, and other commercial structures:
Step 1: Restoration
To bring your windows back to their original pristine appearance, we use three of our products:
- Glass ReSurfacer® Stripper is an acid-based formula that removes heavy mineral staining before the Glass ReSurfacer Final Polish. This product is used only when absolutely necessary.
- Glass ReSurfacer® Final Polish effectively removes flaws from glass surfaces and produces a scratch-free and highly-reflective finish.
- EnviRestore® Glass Stain Remover is a restorative cream designed to remove tough stains from glass surfaces without using machinery.
Step 2: Protection
To protect your commercial building windows from various damaging elements, we use our Glass Defender Series coatings that help prevent scratching on glass surfaces.
- Glass Defender® HD provides invisible protection by forming a hard coating on the glass surface that won’t crack, fade, or peel for up to 20 years.
- Glass Defender® MD provides the same protections for up to 10 years.
Step 3: Recommended Maintenance Schedule
Once your commercial building windows have been cleaned and restored, the best way to protect your investment is with regular maintenance. We recommend you:
- Have the windows cleaned two to three times per year with deionized water.
- Protect the windows every 10 to 20 years using one of Presto’s Glass Defender Series.
- Seal the precast every 5 to 15 years using Presto’s Leach Stop® Mineral Leaching Mitigation Treatment™. This prevents stains caused by materials leaching out of the precast and onto the glass.
Care for the Surfaces Adjacent to the Window
What many building owners and managers don’t realize is the materials adjacent to the windows play a major role in commercial window stains. Oxidation of metal building materials, precast leaching and run-off, paint run-off, and eroded window glazing can all cause commercial window stains. Presto’s technicians are skilled at removing a range of mineral and hard water strain from commercial window glass as well as applying post-restoration sealers.
Hiring an Experienced Commercial Window Restoration Company Saves You Money
For more than 25 years, Presto Restoration has provided cleaning and restoration services for commercial building windows across the country. Whether you manage or own a commercial high-rise structure, a multi-family complex, or a historic structure, our professional cleaning, restoration, and maintenance services can in the long run save you money and ensure your commercial building windows are in tip-top condition.
Contact Presto Restoration for a free consultation today.
Call us at 1-800-785-9927 or Request A Quote.
