Window Cleaning at Kalea Bay Tower 100. Your view, restored.

Tower 100 is the original Kalea Bay tower on Old Coast Road in North Naples. It rose 22 stories, was completed in 2017 and had already sold out by the time sales opened in Tower 200. A listing on the 13915 Old Coast Road address describes a three-bedroom-plus-den, three-and-a-half-bath residence of about 3,280 square feet on the 21st floor. Because it is the oldest building in the community, Tower 100 is where we most often see glass that needs more than a routine wash.

What nine years on the Gulf coast does to glass

Salt and mineral residue that is cleaned off regularly does little harm. Residue that sits through several summers bonds to the surface, and by the end of a decade some panes show a dull, frosted patch that ordinary cleaning will not lift. The usual culprits are the lanai doors that face the prevailing breeze and the lower panels that catch splash from planters or a hose. On a first visit in an older residence we clean one test pane completely, show you the result in daylight and tell you honestly whether the rest of the glass will come back to clear or whether some marks are permanent etching.

Mineral spotting versus etching

Mineral spots sit on top of the glass and feel slightly rough under a fingertip. They respond to a mild acidic cleaner and careful hand work, and they usually disappear completely. Etching is damage to the glass itself and looks the same wet or dry. We will not grind or polish heavily on tempered or coated glass, since that can leave distortion or void a warranty. If a panel is truly etched, replacement through the association or a glazier is the right fix, and we say so rather than charge you for a cleaning that cannot help.

Seals, wheels and the original hardware

Around this age, the sliders in a busy household start to show wear. Rollers pick up sand and begin to drag, weatherstripping flattens and the locks feel stiff. Cleaning the full track, wiping the rails and removing packed grit often makes a door glide noticeably better. While we work we note any door that still sticks, any insulated panel with fog between the panes and any cracked sealant line, and we send you a short list so you can raise it with management.

Selling, renting or handing over the keys

Tower 100 owners have had their homes the longest at Kalea Bay, and some are now selling, renting or passing a residence to family. If you are preparing for listing photos, a showing schedule or a new seasonal tenant, book the window cleaning a day or two before the photographer so the glass, tracks and lanai railings look their best in pictures. We can coordinate directly with your agent or property manager on timing and access.

A three-bedroom-plus-den layout

In plans like the one on the 21st floor listing, the den is often used as an office or extra guest room, and it may have its own window or door to the lanai. We count it as its own room in the quote. Expect the living area, primary suite and each bedroom to have their own floor-to-ceiling glass, which is why we ask for a residence number and a few photos before pricing.

Who handles the outside of the building

We clean every pane reachable from inside the home and from the private lanai, including both faces of the sliders and the glass railing panels. The exterior of fixed windows on a 22-story tower requires rope access or a powered platform, and that work belongs to the Tower 100 association and its contractor. We do not reach over railings or stand on lanai furniture.

Before the first visit

Kalea Bay is gated, so we ask you to put our crew on the gate list for the appointment, and we send a certificate of insurance to the Tower 100 manager in advance. We also check whether the building limits contractor hours or requires the service elevator. Owners who are away can leave a key with home watch or the front desk.

Protecting older glass between cleanings

Squeegee or towel the lanai doors after storms or after hosing the lanai, keep sprinkler heads and planters from wetting the glass, and avoid abrasive pads or razor blades on coated panes.