There are a growing list of companies that are offering installation of
Invisible Grille systems today in Singapore. As consumers, you are very likely to be spoilt for choice and would be able to find the best
Invisible Grille company that will offer the most from your buck. The one that offers the lowest price to install your home's
Invisible Grille.
But is the lowest price the best? Most people will say, "if you pay peanuts you will get monkeys". So the phrase goes. However at the same time, if you can find that one company that does not provide you inferior materials and at the same time offer you the best quality materials for your
Invisible Window Grille, I believe you will go for it hands down.
The renovation or cotractor industry is to day so competitive, it is very difficult to tell who will be the best in providing and not just excellent sales presentaion but also be able to "walk the talk". Meaning, provide what he says he will provide when he or she sold you the product.
Same applies to the growing number of
Invisible Grille providers and installers.
There are several components that complete the
Invisible Grille system;
a. the stainless steel cables that are use to draw the actual
invisible grille with,
b. there are the roller tracks that support # a,
c. the indivual locking system to secure and properly tension # a.
For # a. the
Invisible Grille industry presently uses 2-2.5mm thick stainless steel cables to draw the actual
Invisible Grille that gives the "invisibility" so to speak. They are lab test to withstand up to 240lbs (or 154kg) before breaking.
Although the stainless steel cable itself is similar in most aspects, it is that thin membrane epoxy coating that differentiates each
Invisible Grille stainless steel cables that several of the installers use.
The cost of the cables of course varies with reference to the membrane coatings of all the different cables. To tell the difference between technologically graded cables and those which are less inferior, is to compare the different types of cables presently used by the
Invisible Grille installers.
The original stainless steel
invisible grille cables are coated with nano-technology membrane to provide the cables an added proctection and also to provide ease of maintenance as well as cleaning. The nono-technology coating do not degrade over time and not subject to environmental elements compared to other types of coating used. The membrane is clear and smooth, not to mention it does not appear to be actually there.
Other types of cables uses nylon or other rubberized membrance coating. They often look frosted and thick when touched and that makes the Installation of these
Invisible Grille stainless steel cables drastically more visible.
For #b, the roller tracks and aluminium covers for the
invisible grille, if necessary and on request of home owners are to be powder coated to the colours to match the room or window frame's existing colour. Powder coating is applied onto metals by means of free flowing dry powder and does not need any form of solvent to bind or fill unlike conventional spray painting.
The completed powder coating is then cured in heat and allowed to flow before forming a as a second skin ontop of the treated meatal surface.
Powder coating is usually done on the upside and outside of each metal surface. This means, the aluminium roller tracks and covers should have symetrical colour all over instead of merely just on the top or bottom surface only. The final powder coated metal surface should be smooth and without and visible eneveness as observed with a typical quick spray job using a spray can or even with spray gun.
Powder coating cost at least ten times more than a typical spray job. To tell the difference between a conventional spray job and one that has been professionally powder coated, you just need to check for the following;
1. uneveness in the surface of the painted quality,
2. if the top side and underside is coated in the same colour (for powder coating) or of just on one side (for spray jobs),
3. and finally, since powder coating do not degrade easily when scratched and the colours on all surfaces and edges do not peel easily unlike a conventional spray job.
Last but not least, although on appearance all the installers of
Invisible Grille may be using similar type roller tracks and covers, but sadly it is not so. Do check that the aluminium roller tracks and covers for the
invisible grille. They should have a minimum thickness of about 1.5-2mm. Any less, it may cause the roller tracks and covers to be substantially warped during tensioning and tighening of each individual locking system.
As you all know, for any operating business bottom line is most inmportant. Some companies in order to cash in on the popularity of any product may offer components of poor quality and with lower cost to maximise profits to pass off the genuine stuff.
Although most of the raw components are brought in from the same manufacturers, the final treatment to the raw compoents are often not treated professionally which lowers cost to the installer but the consumer suffer.
Do not be swayed by sweet talking sales persons that promises the best quality and take you for a ride. Ask to see all samples of the roller tracks n covers, the stainless steel cables and the quality of the powder coated finish. Use my guide above to judge for yourself before you committ to a
Invisible Grille installer.
