Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Glass Prices Increase

As of July 1st glass manufactures implemented drastic increase to the price of flat glass and mirror. Most flat glass including clear, tinted, tempered, and laminated. In addition, an 18% silvering surcharge was added to mirrors.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Cardinal 10 Shower Door Glass Protection Option

Cardinal 10 Surface Protection
Repels water, soap scum & grime from your shower enclosure for 10 or more years.

Ten Year Warranty
Care Instructions
Frequently Asked Questions
Warranty Registration
Cardinal 10 Surface Protection is a glass protection system that repels both water (hydrophobic) and oils (oleophobic). Chemical bonding (Covalent bonding) takes place between Cardinal 10 and the glass surface, not molecular bonding (Hydrogen bonding), as in other glass coatings. This creates a near permanent bond that can only be removed by abrasion and removal of the top layer of glass. Cardinal 10 is resistant to UV degradation. Exposure to UV rays does not cause a film to form, nor does it cause a breakdown in the coating.

Scientifically Tested
Accelerated testing, performed to duplicate the effects of continuous cleaning and UV exposure of the coated surface for a 10 year period, concluded there was no noticeable degradation of the water and oil repelling properties of Cardinal 10. The coated surface should continue to perform well after the 10 year warranty period.


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Ten Year Warranty
The manufacturer warrants that the Cardinal 10 Surface Protection will remain water repellent for a period of ten years from the date of the receipt provided by your installer.

Conditions
Cardinal 10 Surface Protection must be maintained as per manufacturer’s instructions to validate and maintain the warranty.
If, within the warranty period, you feel that your glass is no longer easy to clean, please send an email to warranty@cardinalshower.com and provide a brief explanation of the problem along with your name, address, telephone number and date of installation.
If it is determined that an area that has been treated has not remained water repellent, Cardinal Shower Enclosures will gladly provide replacement Cardinal 10 Surface Protection in an amount determined to be adequate to re-coat the area.
Cardinal Shower Enclosures reserves the right to inspect the glass in order to determine that the product has been maintained in a manner consistent with the manufacturers’ instructions.
NOTE: Visible streaking or swirling patterns may appear on the glass when the glass is steamed up. This is a normal occurrence and does not affect the performance of the surface protection. It is not visible when the shower is dry and not in use.

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Care Instructions
Congratulations, the cleaning and maintaining of your shower has become much easier.

After each use a simple swipe of a squeegee will help maintain that brand new look.
The glass needs to be cleaned every few weeks using a damp microfiber cloth and a mild detergent or soap to remove soap scum and grime from the glass.
If you prefer, a general glass cleaner and a cloth are also suitable.
The need to use harsh cleansers or toxic chemicals is no longer necessary to maintain the pristine appearance of your glass.
When cleaning your treated glass be careful not to use any rough, gritty, highly acidic or abrasive cleaners that may remove the surface of the glass and damage the coating, therefore voiding the warranty.
For areas with hard water, due to a higher concentrate of mineral deposits such as lime and calcium, a build up may occur on the protective coating and not be easily removed with a mild detergent. A solution of white vinegar and water (1 part vinegar to 5 parts water), will need to be used occasionally to dissolve these deposits.
Approved Cleaners
The manufacturer has tested and approved the following products as preferred cleaners for Cardinal 10 Surface Protection:

Windex
Lysol 4in1 Bathroom Cleaner
Fantastic Orange Action
Green Works Natural Glass & Surface Cleaner
Clean Shower Daily Shower Cleaner
Mixture of 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water

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Frequently Asked Questions
When I'm taking a shower, I can see a pattern on the glass. What's that about?
Visible streaking or swirling patterns may appear on the glass when the glass is steamed up. This is a normal occurrence and does not affect the performance of the surface protection. It is not visible when the shower is dry and not in use.

What is the best way to clean my shower screen once it has been treated?
A mild detergent with a sponge works well. A micro fiber mitt/cloth with water works just as well and saves you money on cleaners. You can buy these in the cleaning isle of your supermarket.

How often do I clean the shower glass?
Every two weeks to keep the glass looking like new.

Will the coating crack, peel or discolor over time?
No the coating is only 2 molecules thick and is invisible. There is nothing that will crack or discolor over time. It is unlike a lacquer or varnish.

Will coating gradually wash off with each use?
No the product is practically permanent. It is unlike some products that are silicone based and wear off over a period of time.

Does the coating get attacked by chemicals?
No. The only way to remove the coating is by removing molecules of glass, such as scratching the glass or using a rough, gritty or abrasive cleaner. You can still use your harsh toxic cleaners, but why would you?

Will the surface become patchy if the coating is worn off in any way?
No. The coating is only two molecules thick and transparent, thus it does not change the appearance of the surface. If an abrasive was to be used, it would not be visible that where it was worn away. That area would, however, be harder to clean.

How long will the coating last?
Accelerated testing was performed to simulate cleaning the treated surface for a 10 year period. The results revealed that after this time there were minimal or no change to the molecules structure.

Thursday, March 17, 2011



Vandals were caught on video breaking windows at a commerical property in West Houston. Little did they know the they wouldn't be able to get into the building threw these windows becuase they were made of laminated polycarbonate, bullet resistance material.