Hard water spots gone. Glass restored.

Most can. Stains that have been on the glass for less than 2–3 years almost always come off completely. Stains that have actually etched into the glass surface (which can happen after 5+ years and high-fluoride water) sometimes polish out with cerium oxide and sometimes can only be improved, not erased. We'll assess and tell you which you're looking at before we start.

Not when done correctly. The chemistry we use is calibrated to remove mineral deposits without etching the glass surface. For tinted or coated glass (low-E, spectrally selective), we use non-abrasive approaches only. We never use muriatic acid, razor blades, or abrasive pads that could strip a coating.

Our municipal water has high calcium, magnesium, and sometimes fluoride content. When water droplets sit on glass and evaporate, they leave these minerals behind. Sprinkler overspray is the #1 cause on residential windows. Pool splashback is #2. Coastal homes also get salt deposition from marine air, which behaves similarly.

Only if the source continues. If your sprinkler still hits the window and you do nothing about it, yes, the spots return in months. Fix the source — adjust the sprinkler head angle, add a splash guard, add drip irrigation — and the restoration holds for years. We can apply a hydrophobic sealant that slows redeposition even when the source isn't fully fixed.

Pricing is per window and scales with stain severity. Light mineral haze on a standard window: $65–$95. Heavy buildup that needs cerium oxide polishing: $125–$250 per window. Whole-house restoration with 10–15 affected windows: $800–$2,400. We always quote flat-rate per window before starting.