How Is Acid Etched Graffiti Removed From Glass
What is acid etched graffiti?
Acid etched graffiti has a white milky appearance on glass and is usually hydrofluoric acid damage. The chemical responsible for this damage is extremely harmful to living things. Aside from etching glass, this acid has an affinity for calcium. It can actually dissolve nerves and bones without causing a burning of the skin. If you’re thinking about using Hydrofluoric acid to etch glass, think again. It’s not worth the risk.
How Is Acid Etched Glass Saved
The removal process for both acid etched graffiti and scratched graffiti is very similar in nature. First step is to remove the damaged layer of glass. With acid etching however, this damage goes beyond the white milky layer.
Aggressive grinding should be used until all damage disappears. Oftentimes people do not grind deeply enough to completely remove etched glass damage. With this type of damage in tempered glass, the glass defects can be completely removed in three steps. Grinding, pre-polishing and polishing.
Cost of Glass Replacement versus Glass Restoration
Unfortunately, a relatively small section of acid etched glass graffiti is unsightly and ruined. Most small business owner cannot absorb the cost of large glass panel replacement. Neither can they afford to do nothing and leave the unsightly glass graffiti etching.
Over the years we have been removing acid and scratched glass graffiti, we have kept track of the average cost of repair per glass panel. The average price per panel to remove acid graffiti has been right around $200/panel within a 45 mile radius of our base. Expect higher cost for further distance.
Expectations of Glass Graffiti Removal
When it comes to glass restoration, glass graffiti removal is the “low hanging fruit”. It’s easy to find for the new guys to the glass restoring industry. When choosing someone to restore your glass windows, make sure they offer more than just the lowest price.
Two quotes we like to remind people of when looking for glass graffiti removal tech.
- You will get what you pay for!
- The person offering an extremely cheap price knows what his work is worth!
Don’t take chances with your etched glass. Find someone with experience and save your glass.
When Acid Etched Graffiti Removal Goes Bad
As with any type of glass resurfacing and polishing, things can go horribly wrong. Most inexperienced glass guys with remove glass damage unevenly and leave wavy glass. The graffiti looks better than the waviness in the glass! We call this distortion.
Worst case scenario, your glass breaks from excessive heat or polishing glass too long in one area.
But many noobs leave what we call, hard edges, haze and swirls. While it’s hard to capture these glass flaws in pictures, you will notice them if they’re in your glass unfortunately!
Make sure whoever you call has a track record and can prove their experience.
Glass Resurfacing Specialists based in So. Cal
While we do specialize in high end and high volume glass restoration throughout the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, we still get satisfaction by helping people in need of glass graffiti repair. There’s more to life than just making money. We will be as fair as possible to save your glass at a good price. If we can’t save the glass, nobody can. On occasion, we have been known to save clients 90% over replacement on a scratched glass project! So give us a call. If we’re in town and are feeling generous, you just might get your etched glass restored for next to nothing!
Pricing for glass graffiti removal starts at $500 minimum.
For more information or to schedule a project, call or text, Call Unscratch the Surface 805-295-9020.