Generally speaking if challenged most if not all waivers would not save you from being liable if you use non approved methods to clean the window without informing the customer that you are doing such.
The customer is trusting you as a professional to clean the glass without causing damage.
This gets brought up at least once a month, still there are professionals who continue to do things they way they have always done it, believing that they know what they are doing and these new care instructions do not apply to them.
If you use non approved methods and damage occurs, its highley likely you will be found liable.
Looks like fabricating debris damage to me. I see this in a lot of commercial glass some residential. Our waiver explains why we use razors and they can opt not to use razors but anything we canāt get off is the way it will look. We educate them for sure on the whole procedure. Big manufacturer window stickers wonāt come off with chemical only. Also, we have in the waiver about previous damage, I look for scratches and make note of that. In 25 years weāve never had a problem, customer sees we are being as through as we can.
I doubt your waiver will hold uo. With how severe these scratches are who wouldnt demand replacement. Most dont draft one properly.
To know how strong your waiver is depends on how and who drafted it. Does it include the known risks and recommendations for properly removing debris from windows.
Likely, with the recent decision of GANA and IWCA your waiver is worthless.
I absolutly would know If my technique caused this by the motions I use dailey to clean. I dont understand why you arenāt sure if you caused the damage. The scratches do conform to a wide blade scraper.
This is a case where you performed the work, if an employee did there would be room for question.
I quit using a wide blade scraper a few years ago because I would notice an occasional scratch as I was working. THAT IS WHEN TO STOP.
I now only use a 1 inch razor for particular spots and try to swap out blades often. If lots of paint or stucco I let Titan Oil-Flo to dwell for a few moments than easily remove.
I learned my lesson a while ago which ones I can use a blade, and those I cant because Iāve made the mistake before. I rarely use a razor unless I know the one Iām working on wonāt scratch. Otherwise I softly use wool doing my best and let them know to call their painter/contractor about the paint overspray. Hey, Iām a cleaner, not a window replacer.
Just admit you scratched them, like are you insinuating that the customer is trying to take you for a ride to replace his brand new windows for different brand new windows?
Btw, I didnāt read any of the replies, I will later on my break.
I donāt see how an unger scraper could scratch that deeply though. Iāve only had a couple instances with my Triumph but it didnāt gouge anywhere near that bad.
Thatās the thing, what is suspected of happening in these instances is: the blade dislodges the āglass fineā (small particle of glass fused to the surface) and that āglass fineā is carried up the window by the blade the more you scrape the more āfinesā dislodge and are also carried up the glass with your blade. Since the āglass fineā is the same as the surface when the 1 is dragged against the other damage is caused.
The glass industry is aware of this and thus states do not do this as the outcome that has occurred is likley to occur.
This is the reason not to use blades on tempered glass, furthermore if you do use a blade on a tempered pane that contains āglass finesā and you go to non tempered glass without thoughly ensuring there are no 'glass fines" present on the blade the āglass finesā can also cause damage to any glass surface.
If you must use a blade, use a 1" blade and spot clean the paint or other stuck on debris with miniumal movement 1-3mm stroke (if you could call that little movement a stroke).
Also toughened glass scratches from when itās going through the toughening process the glass is undergoing molecular changes due to being heated and then itās super cooled which freezes that molecular change leaving the glass no longer as flat as glass that is not toughened, do when you run a scraper blade over an uneven surface you start scratching it
More and more window cleaning companies are running into itchy glass in my area. I have discovered that two other companies have recently sworn off metal razor blades because of having to pay large sums to home owners for scratching windows.
So, my question is, do you think these plastic razor blades might do the trick? Has anyone tried them? Do you think they would pull the tiny glass fines across the glass and scratch windows like metal razors do?
Any actual experience with these plastic razors would be very helpful!
It would be interesting to experiment with glass you know has or will scratch with a stainless razor and do a side-by-side comparison with the plastic razor. ( Triumph Stainless vs The Plastic version )
I had no idea Triumph had that product. I have never seen it carried by any suppliers I have used.
It is the method that needs to be changed rather than the type of blade. from blanket strokes to spot removal reduce the size of the blade to reduce the footprint of the potential damage, the problem with this is it is far more time consuming.
The basic technique would be to clean the glass as normal with either a WFP or traditionally, give them a quick clean, then inspect the glass and then spot remove any stuck on debris with the use of chemicals for each specific type of debris to loosen the bonds then a plastic scraper might be useful, however you should still limit the strokes as these are the source of scratches. Adapting as a solo operation would be much easier than adapting with employees as everyone has to be re trained.
The other option is to avoid construction cleans, and have on your quotes that the price does not include the removal of construction debris. I had a guy the other week, I said all done and he was like āok lets have a walk aroundā I was a little shocked as 99% of people donāt do that. Then he starts going what about this picking at a paint spot on a window with his fingernail, I pointed out the quote where it states and he agreed.
@anon46335951 nailed it, not rocket science hereā¦at least with residential. Before I do any larger pane scraping Iāll test a corner and feel/listen for the telltale āhissā of fines. Once I hear that, scraper stays in the pocket.
I use the end if my scrubber to get the more stubborn spots off but notify the customer I did the best I could, and educate them on tempered glass. Most are really appreciative Iām knowledgeable enough to protect their glass.
I agree with avoiding construction cleans as many painters (paint) or window installers (silicone) out here donāt mask windows because their many excuses. And most homeowners believe them. Ultimately it falls on āwell the window guy will ācleanā it off easilyā. Well, if itās a glass that I know will scratch (and yes doing this WC work long enough, I can tell), I basically let the homeowner know the situation. I also randomly have those knit-picking customers of āletās do a walk aroundā.
Holy crap, that window looks terrible. That is some of the worst scratches I have ever come across. I hope it all works out for you OP, I just donāt see how someone can do that if not intentionally (Maybe even the owner!) Especially if you did not see it while cleaning, which 99 percent of cleaners would. (You have to remember, we have ātrainedā eyes on this whether we admit it or not!) That is tough, which makes me wonder why even have a scratch waiver if you can still be held liable. I donāt know, it would take a lot to do that to glass! I see that a lot on commercial glass, very rarely on residential.
What blades are you guys using? I have a 6 inch Triumph angled Stainless steel on me alwaysā those damn mulch spores are killing me, smalls!!! I like the stainless steel, they arenāt as fragile as carbon and donāt rust for weeks. I clean the window as normal to see whatās left behind-- I just soap the hell out of any glass I scrape, one pass and never āback and forthā. Never on dry areas, ALWAYS heavily lubricated.
Anyway, hope it all works out for you man. That doesnāt seem like it will be fun to deal with. Good thing to have insurance in case the shit hits the fan.
