Tempered Glass and Tempered Glass Windows

Hello, this is Mike from Detroit Sponge... 

   Scratched glass is one of the hottest topics in the window cleaning world today. This page includes some of the links, information, and video that you will need to know! There are different types of glass, but this specific concern is about a type called tempered glass windows. Tempered glass windows are most commonly used in new construction building.

The recent problems that have developed often occur when window cleaners conduct first cleans of new construction, tempered glass windows. Many experts have confirmed that some tempered glass will scratch during normal construction window cleaning as a direct result of something called fabricating debris that can be found on the glass. Fabricating debris consists of microscopic shards, fragments or pieces of glass created in the factory while glass is made. When this debris is not properly and completely removed from the glass prior to the tempering process being completed, this fabricating debris becomes sealed into the surface of the glass. When the window cleaner then cleans the glass using a scraper, the pieces of fabricating debris become dislodge and are dragged across the glass. The result is glass dragging on glass which will potentially scratch the surface of the window.

The problem with scratched glass caused by fabricating debris is that it is usually identified after the construction clean is complete. This then leaves the appearance that the window was scratched by the cleaning process when in fact; the problem was with the quality of the glass that was installed. Keep in mind that scrapers are used SAFELY everyday by the professional window cleaning community to safely and effectively remove various types of construction debris (such as tape and paint over spray) from glass surfaces. As stated earlier, many experts have confirmed that some tempered glass will scratch as a result of the presence of fabricating debris. The problem is not the cleaning technique, but the quality of the glass.

While this may be a very simplified summary of the concept, this is a very tricky issue for window cleaners and is an issue about which you must become informed. A few experts have developed out of the window cleaning profession. They approach this problem from the perspective of the professional window cleaner. They have provided some excellent tools that are available to help you to become better informed and therefore better prepared in the market place.

Here are two websites which will provide more detailed information regarding this topic as well as forms such as waivers and information packets for builders are: www.iwca.org which is the official website for the international window cleaning association / www.scratched-glass.net which is a site created by a window cleaner that has become very knowledgeable and one of the industry experts regarding the topic.

On our site detroitsponge.com, we also offer a selection of DVD’s that provide in depth information from one of the foremost experts on glass surfaces. Now that you know that this issue exists, it will serve you well to be become better informed about the topic. The hope is that this information and knowledge will help serve you well in your professional endeavor of window cleaning as well as help the broader market by providing accurate information to the market place. With this process of information being accurately gained and shared, the hope is that this issue of fabricating debris on glass can be confronted and eliminated in the future. Click here for Gary Mauer's review on tempered glass windows.