14 April 2016
 Categories: , Blog

Installing a brand new set of commercial glass windows is a fast way to renovate both the exterior and interior of an older office building in one major project. Unfortunately, sometimes those fresh panels of tempered glass end up scratched within the first few months after installation despite your best efforts to keep them professionally cleaned and maintained. Before assuming the scratches were caused by the cleaners washing the windows, find out why a manufacturing issue is more likely the cause.

Surface Grits

Professional window cleaners rinse and wipe away debris like bits of dirt and dust that could scratch the window, but this pre-cleaning routine won't dislodge tiny pieces of glass and similar debris left behind during the manufacturing process. These types of grit are dislodged during a thorough scrubbing or squeegeeing, resulting in scratches that show up after cleaning. This debris is most commonly found in tempered glass and rarely affects annealed or laminated products. Scratches that appear only on brand new tempered glass are most likely caused by manufacturing debris and not the work of a professional window cleaner.

Scratch Characteristics

If a scratch is truly caused by a manufacturing defect and not the window cleaner's actions, it'll display specific characteristics you can inspect with a quality magnifying scope or jeweler's loupe. Inspect the scratch for signs like the following:

• Numerous scratches that all feature different directions and patterns instead of a repetitive stroke
• A comet-like appearance with a strong scratch followed by a lighter and more diffuse mark
• Double scratches that start at the same point and trail off in two different directions.

The scratches left behind by bits of loose glass can be visible to the naked eye or nearly invisible even with magnification, so check the entire window pane in question before declaring the cause of the problem. 

Patch Options

No matter what caused the initial scratches, you can have the glass restored by a window cleaning service equipped with glass patching equipment. A tough and clear material is packed into each scratch, and then the entire surface is polished until the new material blends in completely. If the problem is extensive and you're worried that it will continue over the lifespan of the glass, consider having the manufacturer replace the panels with new pieces of stronger tempered glass. Choosing annealed or laminated commercial windows from the beginning can prevent serious scratching problems from ever marring your windows.

For more information and assistance with cleaning and repair, contact a window cleaning company, such as Edmonton Window Cleaners.