Who the hell is Glass Sentinal?

So I'm a Canadian Eh! I've installing flat glass films for 11 years, used god knows how many brands (my old boss changed manf's faster than his drawers) and now that I head up the film dept at my shop I am a dedicated Llumar man. So the other day this guy comes in and tries selling me this S/S film called Glass Sentinal. Gives me this fancy shamcy portfolio and CD-Rom. Okay I'll take a look. So the samples of film he leaves me are 2, 4, 8, 10, 16 mil films. So I start picking these films apart literally. The laminations peel apart easier than that crap DIY film at your hardware store. The CD-Rom has videos about glass becoming bullet-proof with this film , about tempered glass not crystallizing when beaten . I call up their web-site and nothing, I send an E-mail and it's returned undeliverable. Then buddy stops by the shop again while I was out. So what gives? supposedly the Pentagon and Senate buildings are done with this stuff bull . Has anyone heard of this stuff? And can you convince me it's better than Llumar (a tough sell)

Action Man

I seriously doubt it.

I heard this name. That's all I can tell

I am always curious when manufacturers start claiming what buildings "Their" Products are on. I can tell you "THEY" are not on the pentagon.


Here is what I did Find.

http://www.gsi-a1.com/index_heb.asp unregulated and worthless

They are a member of the PGA http://www.protectiveglazing.org/members/glasssentinal.html

Not really a Sentinal Site, but interesting http://www.psgglass.com/

I was albe to find a lot of info about thier product on dealer websites, but all linkks back to them were dead. Maybe their web site is down..

HEH... Kind of fishy... i can't believe PGA has them linked and advertised as bullet resistant film.

Must have a link with HANITA COATNGS because webpage also in Hebrew.

Maybe just a privat label of Hanita films

quote:

Who the hell is Glass Sentinal?, "Too Good To Be True"


Who cares!

MeTint, I've come to the same conclusion.

Well we should care. Because if something happens and this film fails to perform. All of us will get burned.

I can see it now in the media, so called security film fails to protect people's lives. News at 11.

The media will not segregate which brand failed, just that the secrity film failed.

This where where the film manufacturers have failed in my opinion. Too many butt faced, crack headed fools have installed tons of security films after 9/11 and installed it wrong. What worries me is it failing to perform because of daylite installs on tempered, someone installed a 2 or 4mil when it should have been 10 or 14, etc.

It's sadthe industry has come to this..after 9/11 , it was apparent that $$$ would be made from security tint , so everybody jumps on the band wagon..problem is, installing it isn't like selling something over the counter at a store cause it's the "latest thing"..there's things to KNOW about installing

Good point TIN... but I'll bet before the media is through with the story the full scope will have been exposed.

Look at them today... talk about a whored out market, just watch the various news agencies go at it.

Tintiman hit it right on the head. I can't stress enough to clients that not everyone can install this stuff properly. Edge failure being the number one thing. On all my estimates, I include in BOLD, Anchored with 1/2" 995, or (insert anchoring system here), daylight @ 1/8 inch. Leave them with enought education to ask the right questions and make them feel that they can call me about any questions. If the competitor matches the requirements, I'll match his price. If not, you get what you pay for. My only worry is about the news spot that wil run when some idiot's half assed job fails. Hard as hell selling this stuff already. I can't imagine what some bad publicity will do to the business

:booga
Almo here. I found this place through a search about Glass Sentinal.

What would you like to know? The company I work for has purchased the Canadian and several offshore countries marketing rights to the products. We are here to learn, and provide a product that works. We dont install under 8 mil, and go right up to 22 mil. YOWSAH!!

I noted that one of the comments covered the edging, I call it "Frame Locking" .. we recognize that the film and glass only is not going to work. All of our projects to date have to include the frame locking or we won't do it. (Actually, we just add it into the price and let the customer know it's there)...

all comments are more than welcome.

Keep the faith.

Almo

<edit>

Sooooooooo metint, tell us how you really feel!

No libel or slander please.

SSAF. R U Gary Blake ???

Nope,

that's Nick Ashton.. owner and CEO of SSAF.

Anyone else with some ideas on flat glass film?

Right on man!

I don't even offer it as an OPTION..

I add it to the price and show them that this is NON-Negotiable and must be applied for proper protection.

I don't even charge much for it... $1.50 a linear foot and I hire out for it.

ADN:

Glass sentiental is actually GSS.... they were experiencing some internal legal problems. So the bad film was proably from one of old dealers posing as GSS. The company I am currently working has relationships with GSS. The CEO of the company is Mark Gaston. If you woud like to contact him for further information 407-788-6550 or email him at info@glassstrengthening.com.

Hey TC...

Almo here...
thanks for stopping in and adding some info to help me out.

Hey TC...

Almo here...
thanks for stopping in and adding some info to help me out.

hopefully admin will take away one of those

almo

Its kool... I hate it when good people get a bad rap....

not that i think that anybody cares, but i think glass sentinal products had more than internal legal problems. more like external with companies they were supplying not have their full orders supplied with rolls missing or substituted.

arent glass sentinal products and GSS the same company? i may be wrong bu they seem to be in the same building on sunshine lane?

i personally wouldn't touch any of their products with a barge pole. any company that wants $'s up front to use their product and then want to charge $800 for a roll of 4mil is only in it to make money out of dealers.

do GSS actually manufacture their own film? i know glass sentinal products didn't.

According to what we know they used to be the same company. We however stuck with Glass Stregthening. We have been w/ them for over a year and we have no complains as of yet. We are one of their dealers.

(without prejudice).. treat this more like an editorial...

GSS does not manufacture their own film, and is not associated with Glass Sentinal. The guys that worked there, moved on to form their own company when the prev owner "went away"

Glass Sentinal in Canada has also folded camp and disbanded. IT was sad really, the more I learned about security film, the more I realized that the operation in Canada was joke. The "trained professional installers' had no more than 3 months or so of total overall film application time in. They had no idea how to even do a simple reverse roll on a piece of glass 2ft x 2ft They were operating and swore they knew all about film application based on a one or two week training course in Miami from Glass Sentinal.

I got a call from one of their clients (only because they had my cell #, and the office #'s don't work) ... they did a job .. around 1500 sq.'.... that was ok.. the film that is.. but when they personally (the "technicians") applied the Dow Corning.. (what a muck up that was)... when they did the front doors, they Dow Corning'd the film on the glass TO THE DOOR STOPS... Well... FU***KKKK guess what happened 6 months later when the bad guys came bashing through the front doors.... YUP.. film, glass, and freakin' door stops all laying on the floor... Professionals my ass... Now that I know better, I hire THE BEST guys that I can find, and as for the dow corning application if and when it is used... the best freakin' glazier/caulker I can get to do the job.

The "special chemicals"... what the hell was that called... Acrylon5 ?? Hell, anyone can get pretty much the same thing from buying the special stuff all over town.. what's that... some glue you add to the water to make the film stick better....

Anyways... I guess I have made a dumb ass of myself from past comments, but be assured that I have changed my ways, and am on the right path buds.... no more for me... all freakin' smoke and mirrors it was... (in my humble opinion).. again.. just an editorial of what is in my head....



Keep the faith boys.

Almo

Still workin'!!

yes glass sentinal, was'nt this where they had tools for sale also like the channel that went on the outside of the box so you got a straight cut?

also did'nt they have the power squegee that was operated by electricity ?

Correct, and correct.

almo

<edit>

Takes guts to say this... Sorry... I didn't see it until now.

[/quote]



thanks bud.

Almo

what about the tools ????? was this the place?????

I know that the electric squeege's are available, but I don't know about the film guide box cutter though. Drop me an email instead of going back and forth here. Go to my website in my signature and contact me.

Keep the faith.

almo

Good to see you are still alive and kicking, Almo. If you are going to be at the big home show in a few weeks, you'll have to stop by and say hello....

what show? The buildex show? Canada Trade and Convention Centre?

No, not going to be at that one. Just the big home show at BC place. I'll try giving you a call when I'm down there to see whats up....

Ahhh... the Spring Home Show at B.C. Place.

I was not planning on going to the show this year, but why don't you send me a couple of comp tx I believe they are free for merchants, but then again.. what do I know.

That's it..

keep the faith man.

almo

This note peaked my interest.. could you explain? I am sales and service for energy efficient products in Vancouver and have just introduced film. The installer never mentioned to book evening installs. Would that be the best idea?

Thanks for the help.

No, No... day-lite install does not refer to installing during daylight hours.

'Day-lite' install refers to the 'trim' space left between film edge and frame or gasket of the window or glazing unit once an install is completed.

'Edge-to-edge' refers to installing film to all edges of the glass... requiring rubber gasket removal in some cases...

And then, there is 'anchored' installs, which incorporate the use of intrusive, non-intrusive or structural sealant polymer attachment system used with either daylite or edge to edge film installs.

If you are just getting into Sales, may I suggest you get your hands on the IWFA (Internat'l Window Film Assoc. www.iwfa.com) Safety and Security Education Guide. It will help immensely in building knowledge base.

Hey Bekha.... who are you dude, and who do you work with?

I am based here in the Lower Mainland as well.... judging from your name, you must work for Bekhart? Correct?

Almo
agmdirect@shaw.ca

PS, if you need some help, let me know !

Awesome..I just might need the help and have some work for ya as well. I'm Canadian and have been working as and energy consultant in TX and PA for quite some time. I do energy audits, consult and implement retrofits. I have a few clients in TX that just happen to have property in Canada which is awsome for me..Im comming HOME!!

Although I have never suggested film before, I'm just now seeing the benifits and am trying to educate myself in this area. Added security for my clients is so great! But I don't want to steer them wrong either.

Rebekha Ferguson
www.empoweres.com

Welcome to the board Bekha. Its great to hear of another seeing the posibilities of of window film.

thanks...this site has been fabulous and the iwfa material has been educating. I can believe I thought glass was just glass! I feel like Im back in science class!! Sorry for jumping into the thread.. I should learn the lingo before I mouth off.

I still have a lot of reading to do!

Food for the mind is a daily affair...

And it's always good to have a different perspective in the mix! Welcome!