Our Anti-Acid Etch Graffiti Protection Process

Some buyers prefer to commission specialist work without ever seeing the operational detail behind it. They want the outcome and they trust the contractor to deliver. Others, particularly facility managers, asset managers, corporate procurement leads and council estate teams with documented accountability for the spend, want to see the actual process, step by step, before they sign the contract. This guide is for the latter group. It sets out exactly how a DUA London anti-acid etched graffiti protection installation runs, from the first phone call to the ongoing service relationship that follows the install, with no marketing language, no vague reassurance, and no hidden steps.

The process is mature, well-documented and refined across thousands of London commercial installations. Each stage has a defined deliverable, a defined timing expectation, and a defined point of approval. For wider context, our pillar resource on anti-acid etched graffiti protection in London covers the full landscape; for the technical mechanism behind the work, our explainer on how anti-graffiti window film actually works walks through the layer chemistry.

The Process at a Glance

The total elapsed time from first call to a fully protected, fully signed-off installation is typically two to three weeks for a standard commercial property, faster for urgent cases, longer for large multi-property programmes that require coordinated scheduling.

Step 1: Initial Enquiry and Same-Day Response

Every engagement begins with a phone call to 020 8050 5997 or an online submission via our instant quote form. Both routes produce the same outcome: a same-day acknowledgement from our team and a confirmed booking for the next available site survey slot. For urgent cases, typically post-vandalism response, we attend the same day. For proactive enquiries the survey is scheduled within 24 hours during business hours.

The enquiry call is not a sales call. We confirm the basic scope (single property or estate, retail or corporate or transport, urgent response or proactive specification), establish access logistics, and set up the survey. We do not pressure-sell, we do not require commitment at this stage, and the survey itself is no obligation regardless of whether you proceed.

Step 2: Site Survey and Specification

A senior technician attends your premises at the agreed time. The site survey covers four things in sequence.

First, a comprehensive walk-around of the property to identify all glass that needs to be considered, both genuinely vulnerable glazing (ground floor, accessible first-floor units) and inventory that does not realistically need protection (upper-floor units out of pedestrian reach). The aim is a sensible specification that covers the actual threat without inflating coverage unnecessarily.

Second, individual measurement of each pane to be specified. We measure each unit precisely rather than estimating, because film cutting tolerances matter for the final visual outcome.

Third, assessment of any existing damage that needs to be addressed before film application. Where polishing is viable, we scope the polishing alongside the film install. Where replacement is required, we coordinate with the client's existing glazing contractor or recommend partner specialists.

Fourth, technical specification confirmation: film grade, application surface (internal or external), access requirements, scheduling constraints, ongoing service terms. The output is a comprehensive scope that becomes the basis for the formal quotation.

For complex or multi-property surveys, we may schedule follow-up visits or coordinate with the client's facility management team to confirm specification across the wider estate. Our buyer-oriented ultimate guide to glass graffiti protection for businesses covers the specification framework in detail.

Step 3: Quotation and Approval

The formal quotation arrives within 24 to 48 hours of the site survey. It is itemised, transparent, and structured to support direct procurement comparison with any other contractor you may be evaluating.

The quote covers: film grade and product specification with manufacturer references; application surface for each pane; per-pane pricing with total summary; installation scheduling proposal aligned with your trading or operating hours; warranty terms for installation workmanship; manufacturer warranty for film material; rapid-response service terms for the life of the install; scheduled replacement cycle and projected timing; insurance and indemnity documentation. There are no hidden costs, no unstated assumptions, and no asterisks.

For corporate and public sector clients with structured procurement processes, we provide additional documentation as required: detailed method statements, risk assessments, manufacturer technical data sheets, public liability and professional indemnity certificates, completed-work case references, and any specific compliance documentation requested by the procurement framework.

Once approved, typically by signed acceptance of the quotation or formal purchase order, we move to scheduling.

Step 4: Installation

Installation timing is scheduled around your operational realities. For retail clients, this typically means overnight or pre-opening installation so the shop trades as normal. For corporate buildings, weekend or out-of-hours scheduling is standard. For transport and council clients, scheduled maintenance windows or designated service slots align with the authority's operational framework.

On the day of installation, our technicians arrive with the cut film, application equipment, cleaning materials and quality control tools required for the specific scope. The installation sequence on each pane is precise.

Substrate preparation. The glass is cleaned to a clinical standard using a defined cleaning protocol. Atmospheric pollution, fingerprints, oils, and any residual cleaner from previous maintenance are all removed. Contamination at this stage produces permanent imperfections in the bond, so cleaning is taken seriously and is repeated until the substrate is verifiably clean.

Film positioning. The pre-cut film is positioned wet against the glass using a controlled application solution. The wetting allows precise positioning before the adhesive sets, with millimetre alignment against the pane edges and frame.

Bonding. A precision squeegee technique works the film into place from the centre outward, expelling the application solution, any trapped air, and any remaining contamination through the edges. The technique requires trained hands and is the single biggest determinant of installation quality.

Edge finishing. The film edges are tucked, trimmed and finished against the frame to a tight tolerance. This is where lazy installations announce themselves, visible margins, slight curl, imprecise trim, exposed adhesive, and where our installation technicians spend disproportionate time to deliver a near-invisible finish.

Inspection. Each pane is inspected against our quality standard before moving to the next. Any defects are remediated immediately rather than left for later.

Step 5: Handover and Documentation

Once all panes are complete, the install moves to formal handover. The site lead conducts a walk-through with the client, confirming visual quality on every pane, sign-off on the installation workmanship, and discussion of care guidance.

The handover documentation pack includes: signed-off installation record with per-pane confirmation; care guidance for ongoing cleaning regime (approved products, frequency, what to avoid); warranty certificates for installation workmanship and film material; rapid-response service contact details; emergency contact protocols for out-of-hours response; scheduled replacement projection with anticipated timing; copies of all relevant compliance and insurance documentation.

The shopfront, building or asset is now fully protected. From the customer-facing perspective, nothing visible has changed, the glass looks exactly as it did before installation. From a vandalism-resistance perspective, everything has changed.

Step 6: Ongoing Service for the Life of the Install

The service relationship does not end at handover. For the operational life of the installation, typically several years for premium hard-coat film, we provide ongoing rapid-response replacement, scheduled inspection where contracted, and end-of-life replacement when the time comes. The detail is set out in our piece on how long anti-acid etched graffiti film actually lasts.

If a protected pane is attacked, the response is straightforward. You call 020 8050 5997 or notify us through your service contract channel. We dispatch within three hours of the confirmed call, all day, every day, including weekends and public holidays. The damaged film is heated lightly to reduce adhesive grip, peeled in a controlled motion, and any residual adhesive is removed with a non-aggressive solvent. The substrate is inspected, and is preserved, by design. A fresh layer is applied using the same precision technique as the original install. The work is typically completed within ninety minutes once on site, often faster.

For estate operators with multi-property service contracts, the same response framework applies across all covered locations, with consistent specification, consistent reporting, and consistent service standards.

What Distinguishes Our Process from Generic Contractors

The process described above sounds straightforward, and it is, for trained installers working to defined protocols. The differences between our installations and the average contractor's are not in the headline steps. They are in the execution of the steps that look the same on paper.

The cleaning protocol matters. The film cutting tolerance matters. The squeegee technique matters. The edge finishing matters. The inspection criteria matter. The bond cure time matters. The rapid response framework matters. The documentation matters. The service consistency over years matters. We refine each of these elements on every install, and the cumulative result is the difference between protection that performs and protection that does not.

For a no-obligation site assessment for any commercial premises in Greater London, request an instant quote through our online form, or call our team directly on 020 8050 5997. All day. Every day. Within three hours, across all London boroughs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is the entire process from first call to install completion?

Typically two to three weeks for a standard commercial property: 24 hours from enquiry to survey, 24–48 hours from survey to quotation, and 1–2 weeks from approval to install completion. Urgent cases can be accelerated; multi-property programmes typically extend to several weeks for coordinated scheduling.

Can the survey happen on the same day as the call?

For urgent cases, particularly post-vandalism response, yes. Same-day surveys are standard during business hours and our Rapid Response Team frequently attends within three hours of a confirmed call. For proactive enquiries the survey is normally scheduled within 24 hours.

Do I need to be present for the site survey?

Not necessarily. For straightforward commercial premises with available access, our technician can complete the survey independently. For complex sites, multi-tenant buildings or first-time clients, having a representative present typically helps, we can confirm scope and specification together and answer questions in person.

What does the formal quotation document include?

Film grade and product specification with manufacturer references, application surface for each pane, per-pane and total pricing, installation scheduling proposal, warranty terms, rapid-response service terms, scheduled replacement projection, insurance documentation, and any specific compliance evidence requested. There are no hidden charges or asterisks.

Do you need access to interior or just exterior of the property?

For internal applications (the standard for most commercial installations), we need interior access. For external applications, exterior access is sufficient. Most installations use internal application; we confirm at survey based on access and pane specification.

Can installation happen in stages across multiple visits?

Yes. For larger properties or sites where scheduling around trading is sensitive, we routinely phase installation across multiple visits. The phasing is confirmed at the planning stage and incorporated into the project programme.

How do you handle multi-tenant building access for installations?

Through coordination with the property manager, building owner or facility management team. For multi-tenant scenarios we work with the central management party as the primary client, with tenant notification and access coordination handled through standard building protocols.

What happens after the handover documentation is signed off?

Your installation is operationally protective from the moment of handover. The ongoing service relationship begins immediately, with rapid-response cover, scheduled inspection where contracted, and access to our team for any subsequent questions or service needs.

What's included in ongoing service after install?

Rapid-response replacement of film damaged by vandalism (within three hours, all day, every day), scheduled inspection cycles where contracted, end-of-life replacement coordination, warranty support for installation workmanship, and continued access to our team for any service questions.

What's not included that I should budget separately?

Restoration of existing damage prior to film application (polishing or pane replacement) is quoted separately. Any non-standard scope outside the original quotation (additional panes, different film grades, ancillary services) is also separately quoted. The original installation cost itself is fixed at the quoted price.

How do you handle out-of-hours emergencies for protected premises?

Through our Rapid Response Team, dispatched within three hours of a confirmed call, all day, every day, including weekends and public holidays. The same response standard applies whether the call comes in at 11am on a Tuesday or 2am on a Sunday morning.

Is there a formal service level agreement?

Yes, for all standard installations. The SLA covers response times, replacement timeframes, scheduled inspection cycles where contracted, reporting commitments, and warranty terms. SLA documentation is included in the standard handover pack.

How do you report on completed work?

Per-pane installation records, signed handover documentation, photographic evidence where requested, post-event replacement records for each rapid-response visit, and scheduled inspection reports where contracted. For corporate and public sector clients we align reporting format with the client's asset management framework.

What if I'm not satisfied with the installation?

We strip and re-install at our cost. Installation quality is the single most controllable factor in long-term performance, and we do not consider an install complete until the client has signed off on the visual outcome. If anything is unsatisfactory at handover or in the warranty period, we remediate.

How do I begin the process?

Call our team directly on 020 8050 5997 or request an instant quote through our online form. Same-day acknowledgement, site survey within 24 hours during business hours, no obligation throughout. We attend across all London boroughs.