Just wondering how often a client doesn’t sign a waiver and what your exp. was. Guess this should be a poll or something, but I’m not sure how to do that
I’ve never had it happen - Yet! With the stickers that some glass companies are putting on right now that say no scraping, it may happen. The key is education and being willing to walk away from what appears to be a lucrative job. One claim against you for scratched glass and you’re out of business (depending on how deep your pockets are).
If you get yourself educated as to what the real problem is (fabricating debris) and convey that to the client, whether they hire you or not you’ve helped in fighting the problem at some level.
Builders are going to be looking to find the uneducated wcer to get them to clean their glass so they have someone to blame for them not doing their job (covering the glass at every level). The more we as an industry help fellow wcers get educated the more we take this avenue away from them and make them deal w/ the real problem.
This is why at most of the wcing events you read about there is usually a segment on fabricating debris education. We will have a discussion about it at the Midwest Window Cleaning Conference in July. It’s just to important not to talk about it!
So the only time one should use a scraper on glass is in construction window cleaning? Also I wouldn’t do a job without a waiver signed if it is a construction window cleaning job
No, use a scraper any time customer education and a signed waiver are in place.
I wouldn’t do any job without a waiver signed.
So, you get a waiver signed for every job, every time you clean it? Or is it just the first time you do a job?
First time.
I get a waiver everytime I use a razor. I will get a ton of jobs that I may have cleaned the windows many times before but now for what ever reason I have to use my razor…waiver gets signed. I will even have my waiver signed if I am only going to use steel wool. If metal is going to touch the glass I have the waiver signed every time. You may get it signed once and then return a year later to new windows, you never know. doesn’t hurt to do it every time. I like to be extra carfull.
I get a waiver signed by a builder or homeowner and it’s worded in such a way that it covers every job I ever do for that builder or homeowner.
So even if I’m not sure if i will have to use a scraper on a job get all clients to sign the waiver? Maybe tell them about it when I do an estimate? Or only let them know if I have to use a scraper? Guess here is an idea.
Say I’m doing a residental home and one of the windows has tree sap on it or something that has to be scraped to get it off? It would seem I would need to tell the client this in the estimate stage about the waiver. Would seem a little unprofessional to be cleaning the windows and get to that one and say “oh I need you to sign this waiver because I have to use my scraper here.” So just have it on the waiver where it says that “this waiver is for all work ever done by “company name” for the below signed client.” or something like that.
Thanks to all of you for replys, I’m really greatful for all the help you are giving me
All clients get a waiver to sign on the first job I ever do for them. Usually around here by the time I get the job it’s been a while since the windows have been cleaned. That means using a scraper to get them clean. Having a waiver in place means I don’t have to worry about FD hidden under a couple of years of water spotting and grime.
If you have liability insurance, does that cover any damage that could happen if you don’t have them sign a wavier?
1 Like
Any? No.
I’d check w/ your agent. Some will recommend a Care, Custody, and Control rider but make sure it will cover you in this case. Most will not, due to the fact it’s a defect in the product.
That’s really a loaded question. An insurance companies liability policy is designed to protect you when you are at fault. Is fad debris on the window your fault? If you ever had to go to court as a result of scratching glass I’m sure you’d bring evidence relating to fab debris and how it is a result of poor quality control on the part of the glass manufactuirer.
Sadly, Tony, far too many don’t. We actually have the homeowners best interest at heart when we do educate them. If we didn’t use the waivers and talk about it upfront then some other person could come along and scratch the glass. It’s a vicious cycle that must be stopped. Just about every service business I can think of has some kind of waiver. It’s always to protect both parties.
Really? Both?
Waivers are good, but is it always Fabricating Debris’ fault?
What if we used a rusty razor?
What if we didn’t follow proper procedure, and scraped forwards AND backwards, scratching the glass in the process…
That would be our fault, yet we can still blame the manufacturer?
Is that fair? Can you tell the difference?
vic
If we were to scrape a window free of fabricating debris in a backwards motion would it be detrimental? If we scrape a window with fabricating debris forward and scratches result is it our fault for scraping at all?
Rusty blades or steel wool, presence of concrete- those are detectable. Scraping good glass backward may be lazy, but not bad, correct? There’s a difference in my thinking.
Scraping backward – with a trapped piece of abrasive material such as concrete – might result in scratches, eh?
