Kawneer (Arconic)

Quick Facts

Brand at a Glance

Product Range

Why This System

Step 1 of 2: Manufacturer Recommendations

Official Care Guidance

Step 2 of 2: The Orloffs Protocol

The Orloffs Protocol

Pro Tools

My daily tool list. This is what I carry to every job.

Follow these steps in order. Each one builds on the last. This is the same sequence I use on every Kawneer (Arconic) installation.

1. 1

   Detail the Frame First

   Before touching the glass, wipe down the frame edges with a damp, grit-free microfibre cloth and mild soapy water.

   On anodised frames, be especially careful to use a grit-free cloth - grit on the cloth will score the anodic layer. Frame dirt transferred to the squeegee rubber goes straight onto clean glass as a streak. Clean the frame edge first, every time.

2. 2

   Agitate the Glass

   Wet your T-bar thoroughly and apply soapy water across the entire glass surface using overlapping strokes. On large commercial panels, use a wide T-bar and apply firm, even coverage from top to bottom.

   Never clean in direct sunlight on a south-facing commercial facade - the glass heats up fast and the solution evaporates before you can squeegee it off.

3. 3

   Clear the Frame Edge Before Squeegeeing

   Run a dry corner of your cotton rag along the top edge and both side edges of each glass panel. This pulls the pooled soapy water off the frame edge.

   Ten seconds per panel. Eliminates most streaks on large commercial glass runs.

4. 4

   The Three Squeegee Turns

   Side to side: start at the top edge with a dry rubber. Work across in a straight horizontal line. Tilt so water spills from only one side. Wipe rubber dry after each pass. Overlap into the next line down.

   Top to bottom: same principle in vertical lines. Start in the top corner with a dry rubber. Tilt to direct water downward. Wipe dry after each pass.

   The J tune: continuous motion top to bottom in one smooth, uninterrupted movement. Always start at the top of the building and work down to ground level - never the reverse.

5. 5

   Edge Detailing

   Fold a dry cotton rag to a clean corner and detail the bottom edge and sides of each panel in one smooth pass.

   Get your fingertip into the edge where glass meets the frame seal. Water left at this joint leaves a mineral deposit line when it dries. On large commercial glass runs, systematic edge detailing is what separates professional work from amateur.

6. 6

   Operable Window Hardware and Drainage

   On Kawneer operable windows, oil hinges and locking points once per year with a light machine oil. Check that screws in the aluminium profiles are secure.

   Keep drainage channels and weep holes clear of debris, leaves, and dirt at each maintenance visit. Blocked drainage causes water to back up into the frame system.

Pro Tips

• ★ Know which finish type your Kawneer system has before you start - anodised, Permadize, Permafluor, and Permacoat each have different resistance to chemicals and cleaning agents.
• ★ Never allow mortar, cement, or construction residues to dry on anodised frames - alkaline materials corrode the anodic layer rapidly and the damage is permanent.
• ★ Never use strong organic solvents near gaskets and seals - solvents extract chemicals from sealants and can compromise the sealant function that keeps a curtain wall weathertight.
• ★ Always work from the top of the building down to ground level - cleaning upward on a facade drags dirty solution across already-cleaned areas.
• ★ In marine or high-chlorine environments, standard cleaning frequencies are not sufficient - contact Kawneer or your installer for a project-specific schedule.

What NOT To Do

Bundle Kits and Tool Recommendations

Cleaning Frequency

Glass and frames: 2x per year minimum (Inside and out as a baseline.). Urban locations: 4x per year (Traffic pollution, construction dust, exhaust particulates.). Marine, coastal, or high-chlorine environments: Project-specific (Contact Kawneer or installer for appropriate schedule.). Hardware lubrication on operable windows: Once per year. Drainage channels and weep holes: Every cleaning visit (Inspect and clear at each maintenance visit.). Construction period: Immediately on contact (Remove mortar, cement, and alkaline residues before they dry on anodised surfaces.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Field Notes

“Glass and frames: minimum twice per year inside and out as a baseline. Urban environments with traffic pollution, construction dust, or exhaust particulates: quarterly cleaning recommended. Marine, coastal, or high-chlorine environments: contact Kawneer or your installer for a project-specific schedule. Hardware lubrication on operable windows: once per year. Drainage channel and weep hole inspection and clearing: at each cleaning visit. Construction period: remove mortar, cement, and alkaline residues from frames immediately - do not allow them to dry on anodised surfaces.”

Justin Orloff