Window Cleaning at Montenero. Mission: every pane.

Montenero stands at 7575 Pelican Bay Boulevard in the north-central part of Pelican Bay, right beside the north tram station. It was completed in 2001 and has 133 residences on 20 floors, which makes it one of the larger towers in the community. The building curves around toward the north, and every residence has glass at both the front and the back, looking west over the mangrove preserve toward the Gulf and east across Pelican Bay. Two exposures in every home means two different kinds of dirty glass, and that is how we plan a Montenero visit.

Set back from the sand

Unlike the Bay Colony beach towers, Montenero sits on the boulevard side of the preserve. Residents walk the boardwalk or take the tram from the building’s west entrance to the Pelican Bay beach facilities. The preserve between the building and the Gulf softens the salt spray a little, yet the upper floors still catch onshore wind, and salt film builds on west-facing doors over a season. Lower floors pick up more pollen and humidity from the mangroves.

Views and stacks

Gulf views begin on the fourth floor and grow with height. The 01, 02 and 03 stacks have the best Gulf views, and as the building turns north, views shift until the 08 stack looks mostly north across Pelican Bay. With eight stacks, layouts and glass counts vary more than in most towers. When you ask for a quote, give us your residence number; the last two digits tell us the stack and roughly how many doors and windows to expect.

West glass versus east glass

West-facing doors take the afternoon sun and most of the salt, so spots there are often hard and need a careful soak. East-facing windows see the morning sun, pollen and dust from the boulevard and the golf course side, and less salt. We clean the east side first in the morning shade, then work on the west side before the afternoon heat makes the glass too hot to clean well.

Amenities and the 2018 remodel

The association remodeled the common areas in 2018 with a lighter, more contemporary look. Residents have a staffed front desk around the clock, a pool with a large deck and barbecue area, a fitness room, a theater, a billiards room and four large guest suites. We arrive through the front desk, follow the building’s rules for contractor elevators and hours, and protect floors from the elevator to your door.

A large building means scheduling ahead

With 133 homes, Montenero’s service elevator and loading area are busy during season, especially with movers and renovation crews. Booking a little further ahead in winter helps, and we confirm the time with the desk the day before so the visit starts on schedule.

Coming back after the summer

Many Montenero owners spend the summer up north. While a residence is closed, rain storms leave streaks on the outer face of the lanai doors, dust settles on the interior glass, and salt builds up without the regular wipe-downs that happen when someone lives there. A full cleaning in October or November, before you fly back, means you arrive to clear views over the preserve. If you are not in town yet, management or your house-watch service can let us in, and we will lock up and confirm with the desk when we leave. Many owners then add a second visit in February or March, the busiest months of the season.

Leasing and pets

Owners can rent once a year, with a minimum lease of 90 days. One dog up to 15 inches at the shoulder, or two cats, may live in a residence. If you lease your home for the season, schedule a cleaning shortly after your tenants leave so the glass is clear when you return.

What we clean

We clean everything you can reach from inside your residence and from your lanais: interior windows, both faces of the lanai doors, any railing glass, frames, tracks and sills, plus screens on request. Exterior faces of fixed windows on a 20-floor tower that cannot be reached from a lanai are cleaned by the association’s contractor.

Help between visits

Keep the lanai doors closed on windy afternoons, rinse the west-side tracks with a little fresh water now and then, and dry the lower glass with a microfiber cloth after watering lanai plants. Plant water left to dry on glass is a common cause of hard spots, especially on sunny west-facing doors.