Hi there. Can someone tell me if there is really such a thing as self-cleaning glass? It seems too fantastic. Does this mean once installed, I need not worry about cleaning anymore the glass as it will always look spic and span? What if we are in a tropical country and the pollution factor is high, and the rain is contaminated? Will all glass be cleaned equally well if some are exposed fully while others are half-exposed (to rain and sunlight because of the roof eaves)? I don't want to get my hopes up only to be told that there are "many hidden factors" for it to be self-cleaning. Please, someone enlighten me as I would have to import these expensive glass but do not want to be saddled with lemons. Thanks
Yes, self-cleaning glass works very well. But as a previous poster mentioned you need daylight and water to make it work properly. The UV in the daylight will make the coating break up the dirt attached so it doesn't stick and rain will then wash the dirt off. So if your window is under overhanging eaves and doesn't get any rain on it, you'll need to hose it down with water occasionally to remove the dirt.
Self Cleaning Glass - JUST NOT TRUE!!!
Talk about overselling a product, invented by the Jap's some years ago this product is sensibly marketed in the States as 'Low Maintenance' or "easy Clean" glass which reduces water marks but does not self clean with all types of dirt.
It only breaks down organic dirt {most dirt on glass is inorganic from air pollution and cement/water run off} and it only works when you get hard driving rain.
Glass makers even state in their instructions that the glass needs to be cleaned by hand from time to time!!!
Silicones and oil resins permanently damage the self cleaning coating which can not be repaired, resulting in the glass needing to be replaced.
The long term problems associated with the use of these types of coated glass may prove to be very expensive for installers.
In life when something sounds to good to be true - it usually is!
To Dave Smith,
I do not uderstand. Are you saying that self clening glass priciple doesn't work?
Are you talking about self clening for the windshield glass. There may be some problem because windshield has more external factors that can effect it.
For the bulding purposes it does work and it does not need cleaning as long there are water and sun.
Of course there is such thing as Self Clening glass I saw it in action and it works. Basicly the self cleaning glass uses two step process. Firstly, UV rays in sunlight break down organic dirt which is on the glass and makes the glass surface become 'hydrophilic'. During the hydrophilic process, the glass creates a film with rainwater and the rain then washes the dirt away in a sheeting action that allows for minimal water marks.
So basicly you need sunlight and water. If you have those two components the glass will work.
A so-called selfcleaning glass is a fairy tale with the actual techniques. Indeed it is easier to clean than 'normal' glass, but for that you have more so called haze to look through: the glass is a bit milky and the green of your grass changes permanently in a somewhat bleuerand 'colder' color by this.
Moreover, when it rains, by the hydrophilic effect you cannot look clearly through your windows, there is a film of water on the glass than, that prevents you to see clear images outside ! On the other hand the window is sooner dry once the rain stops
But it must rain very very hard, before dirt is washed away by itself...... if it is not bird's droppings ! This may attack the coating permanently
So I am not sio happy with it, I'd rather clean myself one or two times more a year than I have to do now
Whilst self-cleaning glass may have it's downsides, and may never be as clean as having beed cleaned by hand, there is still a market for it. Conservatory roofs are the obvious one. Where the use of a hosepipe on self cleaning glass, is a damn site easier than climbing on top to get at the angled corners.
The same applies to windows above conservatories, or above extentions and the like.
But more importantly, how long will it be before H&S clamps down on window cleaners climbing ladders. Remember ladders are only for access and must not be worked from. The day window cleaners start getting prosecuted and have to start charging for access equipment just to clean our windows will make self cleaning glass a very attractive (and cheaper) option.
I agree with Kev Classic. It depends where do you use self cleaning glass. For some application is more appropriate than others. However self cleaning work does work, but it is normal that you cannot achive the same clean effect as when you clean the glass with detergents.
I have see it working and it does work. If you compare two sheets of glass one regular and one self cleaning which were outside for several time you can see that the regular is dirty while the self clening is clener.