We can agree that communication with the customer is extremly important. We disagree on what we as window cleaners are responsible for when hired.
Point is debris did get on the glass and now a window cleaning company is hired to remove it. A responsible window cleaning company will take measures to remove it all without damaging the glass. Educate the customer on precautions their subs can take to prevent excessive construction debris from the start.
If you scratch something it’s damaged. Many scratches are noticeable but the window does still serve its purpose. I dont think the window washer is the person who decides if scratches matter or not but should decide to perform a task using methods to eliminate them.
If scratched glass is no big deal why are there so many companies and products to remove scratches from glass?
The example of a waiver you posted is not only unprofessional but a train wreck. Who would sign a document if within it states if the work I perform becomes a nightmare we can charge the guys who were they before me for both our irresponsibilty.
There are ways to remove most every construction debris even though window manufactures state not to use razor blades. My job is to find the way and charge accordingly.
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Window cleaners are not responsible for damage resulting from cleaning off crap that shouldn’t be on the windows. WHAT DO THE MANUFACTURERS SAY ABOUT GETTING CEMENT AND PAINT AND STUCCO ON GLASS!!! HUH?
Everything you say is null and void. It’s all about the expectations of the one paying the bill.
Dude I’m still new to this business but not new to how things work… wth are you talking about? Everything he said makes perfect sense. Your just being lazy and trying to find easy way out of shit.
If contractors aren’t covering stuff up, it’s still YOUR responsibility when you get hired. They are hiring you to clean what’s on the glass not to find excuses.
Not cool how your talking to people. And like mentioned, check which windows are actually tempered. Because it’s only a percentage of that house that you have to worry about. Your being lazy and arguing that. That’s all your arguing.
Your probably the guy that goes HAM on the glass and doesn’t care to scratch it.
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We did almost $100k in construction cleanup last year. So probably average. I’ve been doing this almost 10 years, never been called lazy. Im sick of people blading the window cleaner, get a different job if you hate window cleaning so much. I don’t scratch windows hardly compared to some but the blame game is a dark path of sadomasichism.
Ok
I wonder how many customers I would get if I said this to them.
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guy cleaning car that has gravel on the hood. grabs towel then proceeds to wipe car with said towel scratching paint
car owner “hey man, you’re scratching my car’s paint!”
guy cleaning car “sorry man, not my fault, there are rocks on the hood”
car owner “you should have cleaned off the rocks first!”
guy cleaning car “sorry man, but i’ve cleaned $100,000 worth of cars this year and i don’t scratch them near as much as some other guys, besides it would take way too long to pick off the rocks, (besides they shouldn’t have been there in the first place). no customer is gonna pay for that. i’m sick of always being blamed for scratching the paint. this wouldn’t happen if the rocks wern’t there when i started or if the manufacturer used paint that didn’t scratch so easily. not. my. fault.”
this is what your logic sounds like to me
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Maybe only the ones who know you cannot guarantee 0 scratches or you’re a liar.
I’m sure it’s annoying as balls. Trades should be covering up but the fact still remains, if there are scratches before you start, not the window cleaners fault. If there’s scratches after, clearly the window cleaners fault.
So maybe we need to take closer looks before starting work, point out everything found and then work with “proper methods”.
Have you even tried other methods or have you been hiding behind the scratch waiver?
Like…Going from a 6/4 inch blade down to standard 1.5"?? That already cuts out scratching something with too much pressure to one corner of the blade.
Or other methods to remove stuff?
There’s no blame game. It’s either you did it or the trades before you.
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There are plenty of window cleaning or other service companies, for that matter, who can do enormous volume due to population concentration or good marketing. That in itself doesn’t get you a customer base. What are the chances that customers who now have scratched glass because nobody really cared enough to do something safely are going to call the last glass handler, the window cleaner, back. Probably not good.
I personally can’t stand the fact that most contractors that are handling or working near glass don’t care much about what happens to the glass and the window cleaner has to deal with it all. I’d actually rather not do post-construction and stick to subsequential cleans.
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It really is unfortunate that they don’t care so much. Stucco guys and brick layers could cover the windows up while they work on a side. This should be enforced.
I did 2 construction clean ups on new homes last year. I walked the house and pointed out about 4 big scratches to the builder while I quoted them. Saved me from getting blamed.
And most of the stuff comes off just by rubbing and I stuck to my standard razor size for other parts. I used it on the tempered glass too. Should I have tried something else? Probably, but I am responsible for my own actions and if I scratched one, I would replace it. That would be my fault for using a razor. I’m not going to blame manufactures. I would suck it up and get it replaced.
Or avoid that totally and try other methods. There’s always a way.
Never used a waiver, tried once, was laughed out of the office. Now it seems fabricating debris has been a laughing matter.
As for blaming the window cleaner, just please go away. It’s Like blaming the car wash for scratching paint with cement on it. It’s like talking to a 2x4.
You’re entitled to your opinion on these matters.
I personally feel they are callous and having read the various posts on this thread I feel there is a more professional and mature way to go about dealing (or not dealing) with whatever FD is going to be called now.
I’d go out on a limb and say I’m in the majority on this subject.
I’ve always been an outlier I’m used to that and I’m fine with that also
I’d like to think I’m a 4x4 actually 
It’s the majority that believed the nonsense that was sold to them last time and as an outlier I have a bit of skepticism and naturalness and opinion based on my own experience that’s worked for me
You neglected the part about no way to get the rocks off because they are adhered by adhesive without scratching if you’re trying to correlate this analogy to anything I’ve said otherwise your flame-baiting or a 2x6. You can at least be confident that while fd may or may not be a thing no one can guarantee not to scratch a window that has stuff on it that shouldn’t be on it unless they are lying period. but at this point I believe heads are rolling and no one seems to know whats what, but I’m fine knowing whats what and that is what I just said. Prove me wrong without being a 2x6. I’ll admit it but you can not sin by omission when quoting my or neglect to include the most important points I’m trying to make although I really don’t care because this is a breeding ground for keyboard superheros. I just have the energy to defend myself. Here we go can we get 5,000 views? I should start charging for hits.
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you joined this forum in feb, you’ve read 288 posts in 3 hours and you’re already picking fights.
you missed the point of my analogy
Why am I entitled to my opinion? Who decided that everyone is entitled to their opinion? Its the age of entitlement I suppose.
I can see why his employees get yelled at 
