Method of making coated glass article, and intermediate product used in same

A method of making an insulating glass (IG) window unit, the method comprising:

• having a coated article including a multi-layered low-E coating on a glass substrate, wherein the low-E coating comprises at least one infrared (IR) reflecting layer comprising silver sandwiched between at least first and second dielectric layers;
• at least two flexible protective sheets adhered to a top surface of the low-E coating via at least an adhesive layer, wherein one or more gaps is/are formed proximate the flexible protective sheets such that the top surface of the low-E coating is at least partially in contact with the one or more gaps;
• and wherein a protective coating is over the low-E coating and/or over at least one of the flexible protective sheets in order to substantially fill the one or more gaps formed between the low-E coating and the flexible protective sheet(s) and/or between the flexible protective sheets;
• cutting the coated article into an appropriate shape and size with the protective sheets thereon, edge seaming the protected coated article with the protective sheets thereon, and/or washing the protected coated article with the protective sheets thereon, so that following the cutting, edge seaming, and/or washing the protective sheets and protective coating remain at least partially adhered to the top surface of the low-E coating;
• following said cutting, edge seaming, and/or washing, removing at least part of the temporary protective coating by peeling the protective sheets off and removing at least part of the protective coating when peeling off the protective sheets;
• after peeling off the protective sheets, thermally tempering the coated article including the glass substrate and low-E coating;
• and
• after said tempering, coupling the tempered coated article including the glass substrate and low-E coating to another glass substrate in forming an IG window unit.