Hi all,
I am going to start using scratch waivers with my future customers. After hearing some of the stories, I’m a bit mortified I haven’t been using them so far.
Would anyone mind sharing the scratch waiver they are currently using for their business? It would be great to have one to go off of.
Thanks so much,
Jace
In need of one of them right now
Has anybody actually used a waiver with success?
Yes, scratched up an $800 window and the builder made the supplier replace it because I made her (yes the builder was a her) sign the waiver after presenting her with a packet of information on fab debris. The supplier replaced the window and the builder covered the labor, I was in the clear.
So your method scratched the glass by using a scraper, dislodging fabrication debris and the manufacturer covered it?
Yes.
No, the supplier did. The manufacturer wasn’t involved.
You may have been lucky, window stickers from manufacturer here all state use of razor is not a proper method for debris removal of their windows.
Their way to escape those claims.
All stickers I’ve ever seen state the same.
It has become the norm now, for decades window cleaners have been fighting for better glass. But that is less profitable so instead all they need to do is to change the way we clean glass, by clearly stating not to use any blades on the glass. And if the glass gets all scratched up they make more $$ when the builder needs to buy new glass to replace the glass that got all messed up. double ka’ching 
But they forgot to tell all the other trade who for the past 100 or more years haven’t really had to worry about the glass coz the magic window cleaners got them all clean. Where as now we have every trade still assume a standard window cleaning includes removal of all their crap. I recently did a job where the painters covered nothing and spat paint everywhere on the glass.
I told the customer to tell the painter my day rate for removal of the paint is $600 it it will take at least a day or 2 to remove all the paint without damaging the glass.
Cleaned windows with steel wool still tons of debris that can only be removed with razor. I told him I’m not touching glass with a razor. Finished the job builder is angry he’s got debris on his Window. Do I hit him with a waiver and 6 in razor his windows or do I collect money for work done and walk away
I find almost everything can be removed without a razor, you just need the right chemical to loosen the bonds and a ton of scrubbing. I had this builder and I scrub 1 spot of lacquer for 5 minutes on this low E coated glass that a blade could not be used on just to show it could be removed but how laborious it would be.
It won’t be removed for the 215 I quoted him for lol. I gave him this quote before I ever worked solo and had no idea about pricing.
I’d have to see one of these waivers, I don’t understand if a manufacturere clearly states do not use a razor blade how this waiver would protect somebody that does.
Is the waiver just stating you’ll be careful but your techniques May scratch the glass and you won’t be held responsible? I guess if they accepted those terms I would say that’s just being lazy changing method with industry of manufacturing and use it to get better pay.
These is a franchise a available here to purchase called goop guys. these guys apply a peel-able film to the glass which protects it, this is what the glass manufacturing companies expect as soon as glass is installed. I looked into this franchise it was over 20k, then when I did more research found I could by a comparable product from the hardware store and paint it on with a roller, super easy.
https://goopguys.com/products/windowgoop
How would someone partner with these goop guys
The waiver is between you and whoever the responsible party is, not you and manufacturer. The waiver protects you by having it in writing that the person hiring you understands the risks and accepts those risks associated with using a scraper to clean the window.
In the event that there is damage at least you have some proof that you did your part to notify the customer of the possibility of damage. If you scratch up enough glass you still might get dragged into court but at least the plaintiff can’t claim ignorance and cannot sue you on the basis of your being negligent.
It doesn’t matter how many sticker the mfg puts on the windows if you explain things to the customer and get their permission to do it anyway, then it’s on them not you. In my case it was only one big picture window and so the builder went back to her supplier and complained about them selling her a defective window and they agreed to replace it. I assume their decision was partly based on the fact it was only one window and they wanted to keep her business. I don’t know and I don’t care as long as she didn’t come after me.
After that incident we don’t use scrapers anymore on her jobs, she has all her subs keep the windows covered during building because I told her that cleaning the windows with only chems and abrasives would be three times the cost.
You can’t go wrong with a waiver even if it doesn’t guarantee immunity, it’s still nice piece of mind. I won’t do a CCu without one. In fact I just lost a $4,000 CCU on a commercial building (church multi-purpose facility) because I wanted the builder and the owner (the church) to sign waivers and they refused. I’m told by the builder that the building has $80,000 worth of glass alone. No thanks, no waiver, no work. Oh, and they still haven’t found anybody to do it, haha.
give the franchise owner 20k…
A few months ago I asked a friend of mine who is his last year of studying to become lawyer, I provided him with all the relevant info and the fact that a scraper did not have to be used however the use of one makes it faster and easier.
He said in very simple terms unless I give the customer the option of the 2 different cleaning methods with the relative price differences and risks for each method and they choose to have it done at the reduced price and accept liability, if an alternative method was not disclosed and the customer was lead to believe this was indeed the ONLY way to do the glass and it would be seen by a court or by any reputable insurer as though you left out information that would have helped the customer have come to a conclusion which in turn would have lead to the glass not being scratched.
He further explained the way the glass industry have now worded their no blades disclaimers that if I was to cause damage with a blade then I would be 100% responsible and liable, regardless this is the reason I will be pushing out shield and peel from the new year emailing all builders in the area offering covering services.
Great post Steve thanks for sharing what he explained to you.
It makes sense.
