got a call last week, local construction guy referred by an out-of-state contractor that I did a job for a few months ago, that’s a good thing, right ?
When I got to the building it was a 4 stories, and some guys working there with a 28ft ladder and breaking the packaging of a few ettore stripwashers bought at Lowe’s. Called the guy and he told me those were “his” guys, they were going to clean the firs 2 floors.
Long story short, they just finished waterproofing the building and needed to clean up to return the building to management. All this has to be done “quick and on a budget”, I just said I’m sorry, I can help you but not under those terms for this and that reason. Research this product and get your guys to apply it. Here are the pictures so you can judge for yourself.
BTW, product suggested was NC9, because when I asked him what was the main ingredient on the product the applied he said silicone
I would have done the same thing - good call. It still amazes me that these knuckleheads don’t think to cover the glass on an operation like that.
I did a house that had brick sealer sprayed on it. I underbid it because I had never done that kind of work before and this house took me three days to do an exterior cleaning only. Each double hung window took 30+ minutes! Never again…
And people wonder why I am getting out of construction. Its exactly what is in those pictures. Nobody knows what they are doing, and worse yet, nobody cares. I know not all jobs are like that, but a lot are.
I just went to look at a job, helping a young freind of mine bid the work. Two $600,000 houses on $200,000 lots. The brick veneer is literally falling off parts of both houses. The houses are less than 5 years old! Someone, the architect and engineer, actually thought it was a good idea to cantilever masonry from a 2X4 stud wall. Thats right, they used lag bolts and bolted angle iron to a 2X4 stud wall and laid 6.5 tons of masonry on it. I have no words to describe how bad an idea that is. In 30 years of construction, I have never seen anything like this.
I could go on, but I won’t, its just sad what passes for “quality” today.
Walking away is definitely the best thing you could do.
For my own knowledge…that stuff in the pic is the run off from the waterproofing they used? And if they didnt have "special requests’ as far as time and cost would you bid it or still walk away? I am guessing you need heavy duty stuff to get it off?
puntadigilt, that was your fault that they did to there windows !! got your attention didn’t i !!! ha ! i see this every where !! i think every bodys seen it !! u should have droped by with a buss. card and told then it would be easyer if they were covered !! ya !! i did this and was told mind my own buss. well 10,000 later with glass replaced may be i was right !! yes i get work from them and they do cover up the windows !! these guys are cheap ass and they get away with it some x’s !!this can be restored !! not cleaned !! for a price !!! get a waiver !!! do a test spot just for the kicks ! they may call u back !! stan
Yeah, I think that you guys are right about the restoration thing. I wouldn’t touch it for less than the cost of just that, a full restoration. Also, the worst and most sucky thing about this is, they can probably find some dip**** to do it without a waiver, on a schedule, and under budget, just so he can get the job. Sure is something to say about just walking away, huh, Carlos?
I was polite enough to send the guy an email with a link to Prosoco, NC9 manufacturers, because I knew he and his guys were the ones going to clean that mess. He never answer my email, but I’m in peace knowing that I did the right thing business-wise and being helpful enough to show him a way to make their job easier.
Price shoppers, but the sad part is they’re contractors like us.
I had a ccu a few years ago that was similar to this job. Huge custom home that was cedar. Painters got the idea to spray on the stain on a windy day. Long story short, everything got nailed. Huge picture windows the size of a double garage door 28 feet high. When i bid the job, it wasnt all screwed up. I tested a few of the lower panes that were facing the West (direct sunlight) and they were loaded with fabricating debris. Thats when I told the builder that it was no normal window cleaning job. It was more of a restoration job that I didnt have time or the man power to complete. He was surprisingly cool with me walking.
I later found out from the builder that this painting company was in pretty hot water with just about every sub that was working on that house the day they sprayed it. Every single workers car/ company vehicle had overspay all over it and it could not be buffed out. A good amount of vehicles had to be repainted.
Winderwasher, had a silmlal deal except no cars were damaged !! Must have been the same blind, left handed painters !! Ha!! I took the job with wavier and told them i try my best !! Made some good money and customer thought i walked on water !! Three x a year on this home and once a year at the summer home !! What a deal !! One of my better customers !! Yes u can turn these deals in to a good deal !! Some body going to restore these screw ups !!back in your mind a person wonders how it done ??? Stan
Stan,
I have fixed enough screw ups and turned them into regulars- no problem with that. I just dont like being caught right in the middle when I know that there is going to be damaged glass due to fab debris. If I were in the homeowners shoes, I would have a hard time dealing with scratches left over from the window cleaner because the painters didnt do their job right. Why should I have to deal with this issue as the homeowner? I am paying big $$ to have a beautiful home built and have to deal with such unprofessionalism. The biggest fear as a window cleaner is that you were the last guy that touched the glass. Painters,builder,homeowner could then gang up on you and now its your problem. I know that this is what waivers are for but if I were to hand something to a homeowner that said your windows will have scratches left behind when Im finished, they would be complete idiots to sign it instead of demanding new glass. I avoid these situations at all cost. Let the painters learn from their own mistakes.
I couldn’t agree more, I am saying no to more of these types of jobs because they consume too much of my resources. I’m more focused on the repeat residential clients.
