How to remove film from plastic windows: methods and tools. How to remove the film from plastic windows if it does not come off How to remove the sun protection film from plastic windows

Gone are the hot summer days ... The shining mirror-like window of your room began to bring trouble instead of life-giving coolness? Lowered the leaves of your favorite ficus? Was it only for dinner to wake up and twitter your favorite canary? And all from the fact that there was not enough light in the house! The miracle of technology - the thinnest sunscreen film, which saved you from the oppressive heat in the summer, began to show its negative properties with the advent of autumn.

Light transmission through the plastic window decreased by 20-30%. It's time to think about how to remove the film from plastic windows without prejudice to PVC profile And at the same time, do not scratch the glass ...

How to remove the light protection film

The negative qualities of sunscreen films begin to manifest themselves in autumn- winter period. And they are connected with the fact that the light transmission coefficient of these films is 90% - 5%. Manufacturers recommend removing the film from the plastic window for the winter. And they do this not to increase sales, but to prevent complaints from consumers who, when buying and sticking a reflective film, inattentively read the instructions.

The vast majority of sun-protection (mirror) films are currently glued to a plastic window in a “wet” way - using a soapy solution. But the composition of the adhesive - in most cases, remains a trade secret of the manufacturer.

We can only state that any reputable manufacturer strives to ensure that the adhesive is of high quality and resistant to UV rays, precipitation, temperature extremes and mechanical stress.

It is these properties of the glue that create for some home craftsmen who have successfully coped with the problem of high-quality sticking of the film, insurmountable obstacles when the time comes to get rid of it.

Of all the methods that have been devised, with the exception of contacting the manufacturer with the question: what solvent should I use for the sun-protection film you have produced to remove it?

And this information is usually placed on the packaging of the film of reputable and trusted companies from the Netherlands, Germany or France.

90% + products of firms in the region South-East Asia, either do not indicate the brand of solvent at all, or place this information encrypted, in hieroglyphs that are not amenable to the Russian mind, in the list of technical characteristics.

Craftsmen came up with 3 main ways to remove the film:

• soaking;
• warming up;
• the use of solvents.

Soaking reflective films

If the film is pasted on the glass of a plastic window using aqueous solution with the addition of surfactants (surfactants), it is logical to assume that the adhesive used by the manufacturer is water-soluble.

The simplest will be the old soaking method.

For this you will need:

• cotton or semi-synthetic fabric that is true to size in size window glass;
• spray;
• foam paint roller;
• basin for solution with surfactants;
• construction scraper with replaceable blades;
• plastic or rubber spatula.

Step 1

Over the summer, the film has time to dry out, and the polymer structure becomes brittle. It must be thoroughly soaked in water to remove. Cut out a piece of canvas 10-20 mm larger in length / width than the dimensions of the plastic window glass, so that it bends slightly onto the PVC profile of the window frames. Soak it in a surfactant solution. For this you can use any detergent, but best of all - dishwashing detergent - "Fairy", "Sorti", "Dosya", "Drop", etc. or window cleaner.

Step 2

Moisten the surface of the film with a surfactant solution from a spray bottle and stick a wet cloth on it. Moisten the cloth periodically with a spray bottle to keep it constantly damp. Do not hurry! The longer the film is soaked on the plastic window, the easier it will be to remove it from the glass. The minimum exposure is 1 hour.

Step 3

With a fingernail or a sharp object (toothpick, plastic spatula), pick up the film at the upper corner of the window and try to separate it from the glass by 10-20 mm. After that, moisten the separated area with a spray bottle, so that the solution gets between the adhesive surface of the film and the glass. Leave on for 5-10 minutes.

Step 4

It is best to do it with an assistant. Grab the unstuck corner with your fingers and very slowly and smoothly, without sudden effort, pull it towards you. If the film begins to peel off, you can clean the glass without problems. You will be successful!

Holding the corner of the film with your fingers with your other hand with a hard rubber (plastic) spatula, peel off a narrow strip along the entire upper edge of the window and moisten again with a spray bottle.

Step 5

All further work will consist in the fact that you will smoothly and evenly pull the film towards you, trying to prevent it from tearing, and the assistant will moisten the glass surface at this time so that the soap solution gets between the film and the glass.

The main thing is not to rush. The intervals after wetting should be 5-10 minutes.

Step 6

If pieces of unseparated film remain on the window, they are abundantly moistened and removed using a construction (stationery) scraper with replaceable blades. After complete removal window films are washed with a solution of window cleaner. You can add a few drops of ammonia solution (ammonia) to it to make the glass shine.

Removal with a hair dryer

All polymer coatings sensitive to temperature rise. When heated, they become more ductile and much easier to bend or separate from each other. Reflective films are made from heat-resistant polymers. So that when they are actively heated in the Sun, they do not exfoliate spontaneously. Therefore, the temperature of their heating should be quite high - 50-100°C.

An ordinary household hair dryer will not work for this (the overheating protection relay will work).

To clean the window, you must use a building hair dryer. The film separation technology does not differ significantly from that when using a soap solution.

Step 1

Evenly heat the entire surface of the window with the glued film, holding the hair dryer at a distance of 100-150 mm from the surface. Don't keep your hair dryer in one area. Glass may break due to overheating.

Step 2

Point the hair dryer for 2-5 seconds at the corner of the film at the top edge of the window.

Pick up the softened film with a spatula and separate from the glass.

Step 3

Help needed assistant. Evenly, holding the hair dryer 50-100 mm from the glass, run it along the film in a horizontal plane. At the same time, the assistant must keep the film in a taut state separating (pasting) from the glass.

The main thing is not to overheat the film and glass, the film may begin to deform and stretch with threads, and the glass may burst due to high temperature.

Step 4

After removing the film, wash the glass.

Removal with solvents

All polymer films, including reflective ones, are sensitive to nitro solvents. Therefore, in no case should liquids containing acetone or similar chemicals be used to remove them. Otherwise, you risk dissolving polymer base, turning it into a viscous mass, leaving glue on the glass.

As solvents for glue, it is necessary to use either the solvent that is recommended by the manufacturer, or select it empirically by conducting a series of tests.

For samples, use the pieces of film left after the repair, or by peeling off the corner of the film on the window glass using one of the methods described above.

Important to remember! Working with solvents requires mandatory use of respiratory protection equipment - a protective respirator with cartridges for working with chemicals or a gas mask.

Remove all plants, pets (especially cold-blooded - fish, amphibians, reptiles) from the room! Work in the absence of children!

Windows must be open during operation!

The most suitable for removing the film are solvents based on petroleum distillation products - gasoline, naphtha, solvents:

• nefras C2;
• Z-646;
• toluene;
• ethyl gasoline;
• orthoxinol;
• solvent, etc.

Or based on alcohols - isopropyl, formic alcohol, formaldehyde, etc.

All these solvents are toxic!

After peeling off a corner of the film, apply a few drops of solvent from a pipette between the film and glass. If the solvent is effective, an iridescent spot should form between the film and glass, and the film should separate from the glass without any effort.

Apply the solvent between the film and glass from a pipette. Exposure between solvent application and film release time is 1-3 minutes.

The process can be controlled visually, by the formation of an iridescent layer between the film and glass.

Before starting work on the inner surface of the PVC profile, determine the resistance of the PVC window profile to the selected solvent. To do this, moisten a piece of cotton wool in the solvent and attach it to the PVC profile. If after that cotton wool fibers remain on the window profile, such a solvent cannot be used!

Be especially careful when applying solvent around the edges of the film. He shouldn't get on rubber seals windows, otherwise they will melt! Any solvent that gets on the rubber should be wiped off immediately with a dry cloth.

You can work only in rubber gloves resistant to gasoline!

Instead of a conclusion

These are not tricky, time-tested, but very unreliable ways to remove reflective film from the glass of a plastic window. All of them require time and painstaking, unhurried work.

Many users, faced with the problem of a window film firmly “soldered” with a PVC profile, are in a hurry to experiment, which does not always end well. Especially in the case of colored windows, there is a risk of destroying them. How to effectively and without disastrous consequences remove the old protective film from plastic windows, the WINDOWS MEDIA portal will tell.

All plastic windows come on the market with frames protected by the manufacturer with a self-adhesive film. According to the regulations, the protective film should be removed as soon as possible after the installation of the windows is completed - especially when the PVC window is exposed to direct sun rays.

Why is it so difficult to remove the old protective film from PVC windows?

Unfortunately, it happens quite often that due to the negligence of the installers or the user himself, the protective film on the PVC profile can remain even for several years. In this case, when the hands reach the point of putting the new plastic windows in order, the user will be in for an unpleasant surprise - it is almost impossible to remove protective covering.

It is difficult to remove the old window film from the profile of a plastic window, because it consists of two layers. outer layer ( transparencies) under the influence of ultraviolet rays begins to peel off and is relatively easy to clean. But at the bottom there is a second layer of white plastic with markings - it is he who adheres so strongly to the substrate.

The presence of an old film looks especially bad in the case of a tree-like profile, because usually a protective coating is used white color. Under the influence of UV rays, the film undergoes vulcanization and adheres very firmly to the surface of the PVC window. At the same time, it becomes less durable and breaks easily.

Some try to wash away protective layer gasoline, acetone or other solvents - this helps a little, but in parallel you can remove the wood texture that is applied to the frame lamination ( white pvc windows, of course, are insured against this). Experts do not recommend exposing the surface of a colored PVC profile to too much mechanical stress (scraping or sanding), because it is very easy to damage the lamination layer.

Eureka: there is a way to get rid of the old protective film!

Fortunately, there are several ways to get rid of the protective film, we suggest considering one of them. This method is simple, effective and, most importantly, will not destroy the plastic window. However, the procedure will take quite a long time and will require the use of a device with a steam cleaning function.

Such a device can be bought without problems, they are often sold in supermarkets. Please note that the package includes a special hose that allows you to fix the nozzle. Versions of this device often appear on the market, in which steam exits directly from the tank through a nozzle. In this case, you will have to constantly hold the heater in your hands during cleaning, but it will soon become clear that heating the film in the lower part of the frame is impossible in this case (the window sill interferes).

Work begins with filling the purifier with water and connecting it to the mains. After a few minutes, you can start heating a small area of ​​the protective film with a steam jet (hold the nozzle directly over the film or even touch it). Heat up a small piece of 1-2 cm across the entire width. If the window film is already too old and not peeling off, you will need to reheat it (after it has cooled down). At this time, you can heat the protective coating of the window from the other end.

To remove the protective film with steam, shortly after heating a small area, you should try to separate the film from the substrate with your fingernail. This must be done carefully and slowly, across the entire width of the tape. This is the most important point. It is necessary to make sure that a small piece of the film is peeled off across the entire width. Then you can grab the end and slowly (!) tear off the film with parallel heating with steam from above and below (at the points of contact with the substrate).

If the protective film begins to tear and its fragment does not come off, you need to use a fingernail in this place and lead to a situation where it will peel off again over the entire width. After removing a sufficiently long fragment, cut it off with scissors, leaving 2-3 cm so that there is something to catch on to continue further cleaning the PVC profile.

After removing the protective layer on the surface window frame remains white coating, which is quite difficult to wash off. And here there is a proven way - you can use a glass cleaner for this purpose (for example, Mr. Muscle).

When buying new plastic windows, do not ignore the advice of the window company, which is clearly stated in the instruction manual, when it is worth removing the protective film from the PVC profile. This will save you both time and money, and save your nerves. In general, compliance with the manufacturer's recommendations, not only in this paragraph, but also in all others, is the key to the impeccable appearance and durability of your plastic windows.

A protective film on the frame of a plastic window is necessary in order to protect the frame from minor damage and dirt during transportation and installation. According to the instructions, it is required to remove the old film from plastic windows no later than 10 days after installation. During this period, it is very easy to clean the windows from the film, but if you carry out the procedure after 3 or more months, you will have to make a lot of effort.

Why is old film difficult to remove?

The protective film has two layers and is fixed on the frame with a special adhesive. Under influence solar radiation and high temperatures, the thin layer inside the film breaks down and adheres firmly to the plastic surface. It is not difficult to peel off the outer layer of the film, but you will have to tinker with the inner one.

Causes that cause the protective film to stick to the plastic:

• Influence of the ultraviolet spectrum of sunlight. It will not be difficult to peel off a film that is in the shade even after a few months, while a protective coating that is exposed to sunlight will begin to adhere more strongly to the plastic after 10 days.
• The quality of the adhesive. Removing a film fixed with low-quality adhesive will be more difficult. Typically, these compounds are used to protect cheap plastic windows.
• Thermal impact. If the windows were installed during the cold season, then the film will begin to dry later than when installed in the summer season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE Video can "t be loaded: How to remove the old protective film from PVC windows (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3RjCSQOgEE)

Effective Methods for Removing the Protective Film

There are many ways to remove film from plastic windows. The following is a list of the most effective methods, which will help to 100% remove the film from the surface of the frame without damaging the window:

• Building hair dryer.

The use of a building hair dryer is considered the best way to help remove the film. The main thing is that you should direct the device only at the frame and in no case at the double-glazed window, as it may crack. The flow of hot air heats the adhesive composition of the film, which makes it more elastic. After heating, the protective tape should be easy to remove.
The problem with this method is that not everyone has a building dryer in their home workshop. The problem is solved by using a conventional household hair dryer at maximum mode. However, this option will only help if the protective layer is not strongly adhered to the window profile.

• Scraper for cleaning glass ceramics.

Such devices are present in many kitchens and are used for cleaning glass-ceramic plates. Even in the absence of one, it can be purchased at the nearest hardware store. It is required to pick up the film with gentle movements and apply it. The process is laborious, but allows you to achieve results, even if the building hair dryer could not help.

• Stationery or construction knife.

This method is not much different from the previous one. To remove the adhesive tape from plastic windows, you will need a knife, so safety precautions must be observed. The film is picked up by the corner of the knife, after which it is removed by hand. The remaining sticky mass can be removed with ordinary detergent and dishwashing sponge.

• Solvent.

You need to use only weak compounds so as not to damage the plastic. Test on an inconspicuous area before removing. It is necessary to moisten a rag with a solvent and wipe the film. The film will corrode from exposure to the solvent. After removal, the frame is washed with a regular detergent.

• School eraser.

With the help of an eraser, you can remove the film that has not been exposed to the sun for too long. The process is laborious, but the result can pleasantly surprise you.

• Hard brush.

It is necessary to moisten the brush in soapy water and proceed with the removal, exerting moderate pressure on the surface of the film. Do not use metal-bristled brushes or metal sponges, as they will damage the plastic, leaving deep cuts.

• White spirit (nefras-C4-155/200).

Using this tool, you can also clean plastic windows from the old film, however, it is necessary to apply the product between the film and the window surface so that the composition has an effect on the adhesive. To do this, you need to pick up the edge of the film and moisten the treatment area with the agent. After a couple of minutes, the film can be removed by hand.

• Cosmofen.

You can remove the protective film using a tool that is sold by installation companies. plastic windows. "Cosmofen" is designed specifically for cleaning plastic. Depending on the activity of the active ingredients, this tool is labeled serial number from 5 to 20 in increments of 5 units. "Cosmofen No. 5" is the strongest solvent capable of dissolving plastic, so it must be used with extreme caution.

A little advice: it is better to remove the protective film immediately after installation, and to protect the surface of the window for the period finishing works masking tape can be used. This solution will avoid damage and contamination of the window surface during the repair process. And at the end of the work, you do not have to tear off the adhering protective film from the plastic window.

The described film removal methods are suitable for all structural elements of a plastic window. Before removing the protective material from the plastic, it is necessary to finish all construction work held next to the window, which will save appearance window elements for a long time.

From the article you will learn:

To ensure that the profiles of plastic windows are not damaged or dirty during their delivery to the installation site, as well as during installation work, they are covered with a special film. The protective material has an adhesive backing and can be easily removed after installation.

Manufacturers recommend not to delay the removal of the film coating and do not leave it on the frame for longer than for 10 days after placing the window in a permanent place. In principle, if you violate the deadline slightly and start removing protection through 30-60 days, then special difficulties most likely will not occur. Removing the film after this period can cause unexpected difficulties, and cleaning the frames will require considerable effort.

Why does the film lag badly behind the plastic?

The reason for the ultra-strong "seizure" of the film with the surface of the frames is simple:

The film consists of two layers, on the bottom of which glue is applied. This layer is quite thin and unstable, it quickly collapses under the influence of high temperatures and sunlight. The resulting substance is tightly glued to the frames, and when you try to tear off the film, only the outer (protective) layer is separated from the structure.

There are several circumstances that accelerate the process of durable bonding of materials:

• Influence of ultraviolet. The more shaded the plastic window area is, the longer the bottom layer of the film will break down. The sun's rays accelerate the process of decomposition and absorption of the adhesive substance into the plastic.
• Heat. In the cold season, the film retains its integrity longer, and with the advent of heat, its inner layer collapses faster.
• Adhesive properties. High-quality adhesive breaks down the film more slowly and allows more time for easy peeling. Cheap adhesives shorten this period. film with inexpensive windows of dubious quality should be removed as soon as possible.

Read also: What are the types of double-glazed windows for plastic windows

How to remove old film?

1. With a hair dryer. A directed stream of hot air from a professional device will allow you to easily remove even a long-adhered film. Under the influence of high temperature adhesive composition melts and can be removed without much difficulty. There is one subtlety in working with a building dryer - it is impossible to hot air hit the glass, as it can burst from a sharp increase in temperature. If the film did not have time to stick strongly, then the situation can be corrected by a regular hair dryer used in the “turbo” mode.
2. With a scraper designed for cleaning glass-ceramic plates. The tool has an adjustable blade that will not damage the plastic surface.
3. By hand. The film is removed in small pieces, which are picked up with a sharp blade, razor or scraper. The main work is done by hand, the tools must be used very carefully so as not to scratch the frame. Used to remove traces of glue household sponge having a rough surface.
4. household solvent. Only weakly active plastics are suitable for working with plastic. chemicals. Before starting treatment, the effect of the composition must be tested on small area frame, which is not particularly conspicuous. If the solvent has not changed the color of the plastic, then it can be applied to the entire surface.
5. white spirit. A solvent gasoline familiar to everyone will help if it is applied not on the surface of the film, but between it and the frame. Painstaking work requires separating the edge of the film from the surface and instilling a dissolving liquid into the gap. After some time, the treated area can be removed from the frame.
6. School eraser. After removing the outer layer, the remnants of the film are removed by rubbing with an ordinary rubber band. The process is long and laborious.
7. With a stiff bristle brush moistened with soapy water. Do not use products with metal pile. The method is effective only for windows located in the shade.
8. Cosmophen. modern substance for cleaning plastic products is available from companies involved in the installation and repair of windows. Cosmofen is divided into types, depending on the concentration of the active substance, and has a numbering. No. 5 is considered the most active - it is able to dissolve plastic, and therefore it must be used as carefully as possible. Numbers 10 and 20 are less "vigorous", but their effectiveness is not so high either. Cosmofen refers to substances that are harmful to human health, and therefore, before using it, all safety measures must be taken (wear a respirator, gloves and other protective equipment).
9. Order film removal at a cleaning company. Almost all major "cleaning" agencies have in the list the service of cleaning plastic windows from pollution of various kinds. Their specialists are equipped the right tools(hair dryers, solutions, scrapers) and have experience in similar work. This method is the fastest and least energy consuming.

Not everyone knows that after installing new plastic windows, you need to remove the protective film in time. It is usually advised to do this within 10 days. If the removal is delayed, the protective coating will stick to the glass. Getting rid of the old film is not easy. It is necessary to use only proven methods of removal, otherwise the glass may be covered with cracks and scratches. Cleaning should begin as soon as possible so that the film does not dry out even more.

The film dries on the windows and is difficult to remove for several reasons:

1. UV exposure. If the windows are on sunny side the protective coating must be removed as soon as possible. If you miss the deadline, it will firmly stick to the surface.
2. Heating. If the window is heated under the influence of sunlight or heaters, the film dries very quickly to the glass. To get rid of it without a trace, you have to try.
3. Poor quality glue. If cheap glue was used in the manufacture of the film, then it will soon dry to the window. This can happen even before the deadline for its removal.

Regardless of the reasons for drying, the film must be disposed of. After all, it spoils the appearance of plastic windows.

Removal methods

It is possible to remove the old coating from the glasses at home. Even if it managed to stick strongly to the window, you can try to fix it.

But for this you should choose proven means and methods that will not harm the glass surface.

Mechanical impact

The easiest way to get rid of a dried film is mechanical action. To do this, its edge is hooked with a knife or blade and they try to tear it off with their hands as much as possible. most dry coating.

This method is dangerous because noticeable scratches can remain on the glass. Therefore, you need to be very careful not to use metal scrapers. It is desirable to minimize contact sharp objects with a window.

hair dryer

If the protective coating adheres strongly, then you can use a building hair dryer. It should be used carefully - there should be no sources of fire and flammable objects in the room.

Action algorithm:

• direct a jet of hot air at plastic frame or window sill, trying not to get on the glass;
• when the film heats up, you need to carefully pry off its edge with a knife and peel it off by hand.

It is important not to direct air directly onto the double-glazed windows. Otherwise, the glass will crack due to the temperature difference.

If it is not possible to use an industrial hair dryer, you can take a steam generator or a regular hair dryer. However, they will only be effective if the film has adhered recently.

White Spirit

A potent agent that helps to remove even a long-dried film is white spirit.

Mode of application:

• pry off the edge of the dried protective coating;
• apply white spirit in the gap between it and the window;
• gradually remove the film from the entire surface.

Use this tool very carefully, as the solvent can damage the surface of the window. Therefore, before use, it is necessary to check its effect on an inconspicuous area of ​​​​the double-glazed window.

Alcohol

You can also remove the old film from plastic windows with alcohol. For this you need:

• take denatured alcohol;
• using a spray gun, spray it on the old coating;
• leave for 5 minutes;
• pry off the edge of the film and tear it off with your hands.

Protect your hands while working rubber gloves.

Ready funds

You can also use to remove the old coating special means. They are capable of efficiently and quickly.

1. Cosmophen.

Companies that install plastic windows often sell a special Cosmofen solvent.

There are three versions of this composition: No. 5, No. 10 and No. 20. They differ in the strength of the impact. The most aggressive is #5.

Therefore, it is advisable to use #20 or #10. Otherwise, you can dissolve not only the film, but also the double-glazed window itself.

2. Paint remover RP 6.

You can purchase a paint remover - RP 6.

Instructions for use:

• apply the product in a thick layer on the surface to be cleaned;
• wait 10 minutes;
• the coating should begin to bubble;
• after the allotted time, the softened film should be removed.

Using this method, it is necessary to protect your hands with thick rubber gloves, and your eyes with special glasses.

3. Noisy.

In the shops household chemicals you can find detergent "Shumanit". They need to process the glass and wait certain time specified in the instructions. Then rinse the window with clean water and wipe it dry.

This tool is very caustic, so it should be used with extreme caution.

window washing

After removing the film, traces of glue will remain on the glass. You can wash off the remains using this method:

• prepare a concentrated soap solution by dissolving the chips laundry soap in warm water;
• moisten a rag with the resulting solution;
• wipe the window, not forgetting the edges and corners.

You can also wipe off the dirt with a newspaper. After cleaning, the glass is wiped dry.

It is advisable to remove the film from plastic windows immediately after installation. However, if for some reason the protective coating has dried to the glass, it is necessary to start solving the problem as soon as possible using proven means.