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rdpoppe

Windows with a film or something

last year
last modified: last year

We had a house built in late 2021 and the Pella windows all have some kind of film or something on them. When they get moisture on them they show these streaks where the "film" is. We have tried to clean them but it doesn''t go away. Pella has denied the warranty claim due to the windows being professionally cleaned.

Any ideas what this film is and how we get rid of it?



Comments (26)

  • PRO
    last year

    The water droplets are on the surface of the glass or between the layers?

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    on the outside surface


  • PRO
    last year

    Educate me- those look like water droplets not a film. If it’s wet now what does it look like when dry?

    rdpoppe thanked HALLETT & Co.
  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Was there an actual film on the glass that had to be removed when the windows were originally installed?

    Are the windows, wood, fiberglass, or vinyl?

    Can you actually feel something when you slide your hand over the glass?


  • last year

    The windows are Pella aluminum clad windows.

  • last year

    Here are the windows when they are dry. You cans see the streaks in them


  • last year

    Oberon476 these are aluminum clad windows wood on the inside no film on the outside of the windows when installed and yes you can feel a drag when you rub them

  • PRO
    last year

    No photo

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @HALLETT & CO. See the photo attched


  • last year

    The OP photos have no visible film. @rdpoppe your later photos did not come through. When you upload a photo, wait until the photo is no longer grayed-out before you hit submit.

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    I asked about frame material because different products could have glass from different sources. Aluminum clad wood windows comes from Cardinal. Unlikely that the contamination originated there.

    Cardinal offers a poly film on the glass to help protect it from construction dirt and debris, but I don't know offhand if Pella offers that option to their customers. It is possible for that film to leave residue behind if it's on the glass too long, especially in full sunlight, but it still takes months for that to happen.

    Do you know what the window cleaners used on the glass? You might try something like goo gone to see if it removes whatever contamination might be there.

    My personal favorite cleaner for hard to clean windows is called A1 Hardwater Stain Remover and it is available on Amazon. I have seen that stuff work on windows that others said were impossible to clean.

  • last year

    @royhobbs and @oberon476 Thanks for the suggestions. Not sure if it is a film or something etched the glass. I don't know what the cleaner used. I might have to have him come back and look at it. If you look at this photo you cna kinda see what I am talking about.


  • last year

    is there a photo missing?


  • last year

    I have tried about 3 times to add a photo it never shows up


  • last year

    @oberon476 i cant get a photo to load can i have your email address to send you -.photo?

  • last year



  • last year
    last modified: last year

    @oberon476 . I looked at it today and there is no film on the window. If you run your fingers across this you can feel your fingers drag where the stickiness or film is. This area is where dirt and dust seems to stick to the window. I will post some additional photos after this post. I probably have described the issue incorrectly. I you look at these photos they look like marks from rags/sponges or squegees.

  • last year





  • last year

    Try goo gone and see what happens.

  • last year

    Tried goo gone and didn’t notice any improvement. if you look at this photo you can see what i am describing


  • last year

    Much better view, can see it this time. Do most/all of your windows have these marks? It reminds me of duct tape residue, but that's just a thought.

    My next suggestion is trying A1 along with scotch brite pads to see if they can remove whatever it is.

    https://www.amazon.com/1-Hardwater-Stain-Remover-Pint/dp/B077Y1WD9M

    https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Brite-Non-Scratch-Scour-Pads-3-Pads/dp/B0196H6TKM?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&th=1

  • last year

    Update everyone . Window company has agreed to replace the window sashes on all windows

  • last year
    last modified: last year

    Did they inspect the windows or suggest what it might be?

  • last year

    They had inspected the windows and then they hired a window washer to come clean them. The window washing company reported back that there is something on the windows. They could feel their equipment dragging when they were washing them.

  • last year

    Weird, but at least they are getting new glass for you.


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