Building on the introduction as to what glass sealant "is", it's important to understand how it works. On a microscopic level, glass is a relatively porous material. If you've ever been in the unfortunate position of having to scrub mineral deposits (hard water stains) off of glass, you can attest to the fact that once the stains are there, it's a bear of a project getting them off. Sometimes it proves to be impossible, depending on how long the stains have been present. As any acne-encrusted teen can tell you, it's all about the pores! A protective glass coating, or sealant, makes the surface uniform and somewhat Teflon-like, causing water to bead up and eliminating the microscopic nooks and crannies where mineral deposits and soap scum accumulate. For the chemist's view on how this works, see below:
At roughly $5/square foot, a protective glass coating with an explicit warranty is a wise investment. Since shower enclosures range from $750 to $3,000, it adds up to pennies on the dollar in most cases, and it'll save you time and money. Time is saved through not having to squeegee after every use and less scrubbing of mineral deposits and hard water stains. Money is saved through not having to buy expensive, abrasive, often toxic chemicals for the life of the unit. As we always say, a well-made glass shower enclosure should be a once-in-a-generation project. As such, 20+ years of money saved through not buying Windex adds up. More importantly, the aggregate amount of time saved on maintenance over 20+ years equals an extra two weeks or more of free time. Perhaps that should be the new sales pitch..."Buy Shower Glass Sealant, Get an Extra Two Weeks of Life FREE!!"
All kidding aside, we apply Vindico 10 year glass sealant to our shower installations in DC, MD, VA, PA, and WV. Please find a link to their website below, followed by a self-applied glass sealant we recommend for clients outside of our service area. And as always...
Happy Showering!
http://vindico.info/home_eng.html
https://www.showersmirrorsandmore.com/products/shower-maintenance/tpc-surface-protection