Category: Gallery

Photographs of ADVANCED ON-SITE projects, with commentary when available

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Job Photo – Paint Removal from Drapes

Requested Service: Paint Removal from Drapes

OAK HARBOUR – A property manager previously unknown to us learned through a mutual contact that paint removal from drapes is possible when an attempt is made within days. Actually, while it’s best to get after it immediately, we’ve removed paint that was said to be 2 years old.

The paint transfer shown in the ‘Before’ image above was on the order of 1 month old by the time we arrived. Several drapery panels occupying the same room had been tied back prior to commencement. Unfortunately, all were released before the paint completely dried. Several others had paint transfer on them as well.

The ‘After’ photo shows the same area shown in the ‘Before’ photo, but following successful removal of the offending substance. Given the fact that repeated spot treatments and mechanical action must be applied in specific sequence, the time spent on just this one panel amounted to approximately an hour and a half.

It’s imperative anyone attempting to remove a substance like paint understands just how much mechanical action can be used without changing the drape’s appearance. Too much, and its fabric can become abraded. Much the same as new shoes are scuffed against rough surfaces.

Latex wall paint presents the best chance of success, as far as complete removal is concerned. Oil based paints, and especially enamels are much more stubborn. Alas, removal of epoxy coatings is not possible at all.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 05/26/18

Requested Service: Hunter Douglas Silhouettes Cleaned

LOBLOLLY PINES – For aesthetics and functionality this homeowner could not have selected a better window covering for her master bedroom window openings. Elegant look with light filtering properties even as it provides visibility, during the day. Then, with a flip of the vanes, that all important privacy at night. 

One drawback is that insects have a tendency to crawl between the fabric layers and die there. (TIP: Use canned air to blast those critters out.) In this case there had also been a roof leak, causing water stains hither and thither.

Having been thoroughly satisfied with our work on previous projects, the property manager reached out. We’re so thankful for such continued confidence in our abilities.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 04/23/18

Requested Service: Sheer Drapery Panels Cleaned

BALLEN ISLES – A lovely home in the St. James section had 5 openings (3 pictured) with sheer panels draped off iron medallions and through ornamental tie-backs. No stains, but the lady of the house noticed a bit of surface dust last month. The panels were twelve years old and had never been cleaned. She remembered a friend raving about drapery panels cleaned in her home by ADVANCED ON-SITE a couple years earlier.

We just LOVE IT when a satisfied customer recommends our services!

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 03/22/18

Requested Service: Luminette Cleaning

This Singer Island homeowner had a very large and expensive Luminette by Hunter Douglas installed over a sliding glass door opening. (pictured) A few weeks later he hired a marble polishing company to service his floors.

The polishing process threw small amounts of a gritty compound up onto the Luminette’s face. Needless to say, the owner was very upset. That is, until he learned of our capabilities. Now he could have it restored to original condition at a fraction of the cost to replace it!

Thankfully the polishing company did the right thing. They absorbed the cleaning cost. However that’s not always the case. Which sometimes has the effect of rendering our service even more valuable.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 07/09/16

Requested Service: Pirouette Cleaning

 This resident of Broken Sound in Boca Raton was having some work done on their roof when the contractor accidentally cut through the A/C unit’s condensation line. Water came down the walls and ultimately onto their eleven month old window shades (Pirouette® by Hunter Douglas). Pirouette cleaning was in order.

When we left you couldn’t tell where even the nastiest water stains had been. Customer = GIDDY!

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 11/17/15

Requested Service: Cleaning

 While the owners of this Boca Raton residence were 1500 miles away at their home in Montreal, the pictured area of ceiling developed a leak and partially collapsed.

Monsoon conditions in September forced enough water through the breach and down the right-side drape, so as to wick into the bedding it comes into contact with on the bed’s left side. Structural elements incorporating fabric, such as the bed’s headboard and skirting, as well as the carpet below, all ended up with rust colored water stains.

ADVANCED ON-SITE does not normally clean bedding, upholstery, or carpeting. However in this case we elected to roll all three into a package that would most quickly and efficiently remediate the damage. After the leak was repaired and the ceiling restored, we went in to erase all remaining evidence.

Though not as heavy, the fabric was of an almost canvas-like material, in the sense that it was quite densely woven. This limits the effectiveness of the usual injection/extraction method. That’s when our arsenal of exclusive cleaning agents and techniques, together with years of experience, becomes so critical.

Removing all traces of what were some pretty significant deposits, involved a six hour process requiring the application of multiple agents, in specific sequence, with thorough rinsing between each.

When we were through, it was as if the incident never happened. Customer = SPELLBOUND!

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 10/31/15

These very heavy lined draperies and matching top treatment really drank up the dry clean solution.

The main ingredient in dry clean solution is a solvent that can best be described as mineral spirits, subjected to several more levels of refinement. As such, it is a petroleum derivative, and therefore much more expensive than the distilled water used for wet cleaning. 

Interestingly, while the cost of gasoline has dropped by up to $2.00 a gallon in the year preceding this writing, dry clean solution has remained pretty much steady. Primarily because the main costs are associated with the comprehensive refinement process, as well as special cleaning agent additives. For these reasons, a dry cleaning project can end up costing half again as much as a wet cleaning project.

Coming soon, a post explaining why certain window coverings must be dry cleaned rather than wet cleaned.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 10/28/15

Requested Service: Cleaning

The sheer panels pictured were peppered with regularly spaced dragonfly appliques, approximately one inch square. As the material was synthetic, these panels could have been placed in a washing machine with no danger of shrinkage. However, with the possibility that the appearance of even one applique could be altered during the agitation process, there’s no point in risking it. Our exclusive ON-SITE process is safe and effective. NO shrinkage or Damage, GUARANTEED!

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

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Job Photo – 10/18/15

Requested Service: Installation

These window coverings were installed in the public relations area of a local power generating facility. We say “these” because, in case you didn’t notice at first glance, there are two in the opening pictured. 

Management contacted us about concerns over glare caused by afternoon sunlight streaming through this opening, and an identical opening beyond the glass doors at left. In that other space is a control room where operators must be able to see clearly through portals in the opposite wall, while maneuvering a giant cantilever crane just outside. 

Motorized screen shades with remote control capability were requested. However at 202 inches, these openings are simply too wide to cover, using just one shade. This is because, with the mounting brackets stationed at each end, and no way of supporting the middle, maximum width limits must be imposed to avoid sagging.

Even when forced to place more than one shade in a single opening, you still want them to operate in sync. To accomplish this, a special coupling system is used in conjunction with a modified bracket.

The other challenge is to align the inevitable light gap between shades with an existing structural element. In this case a vertical mullion serves to, at least partially, block sunlight from streaming right through the gap.

Unfortunately, there’s not always an easy solution to every challenge. Were it not for the mullion, someone would have had to decide whether to tolerate the naked light gap, or go with an alternative product that might be less desirable.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

 

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Job Photo – 10/06/15

Requested Service: Cleaning

This, friends, is perhaps the most unique window covering we’ve ever seen. And we’re in the business!

Its hardware, carriers and control cords are virtually identical to those of any other vertical blind system (left photo). But that’s where the similarity ends.

Where other systems are intended to suspend the familiar PVC vanes from their carriers, or less rigid fabric vanes with weights sewn into their bases, these suspend something quite different – braided nylon strands.

Hanging freely, they form groups that can either “puddle” on the sill’s surface, or cascade over its edge (right photo). While this is an interesting effect, it comes at the expense of privacy. As the photo clearly shows, this is not the type of covering one would commission for a bedroom window.

A certain homeowner at St. Andrews Country Club, Boca Raton inherited these when he bought the existing residence. Most likely European made, they had been installed in several openings overlooking a very large back patio.

Somehow, rust-like deposits had formed along the bottom, while the home sat empty for several months in foreclosure. The gentleman was given our contact info by a Boca window coverings firm and, following an afternoon cleaning session, we left him with a song in his heart.

ADVANCED ON-SITE‘s specialty is drapery and shade cleaning, though we offer a range of other services related to window coverings. Contact us to discuss your needs.

 

 

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