Builders cleans- what sort of surprises am I in for?

[TolishAPurd]

Ay up tradders. I've got a clean coming up where builders have been working for a while (interior/exterior). I'm expecting paint splatter, caulk, silicone, plaster etc. So i'll be using a fresh scraper blade, sticky stuff remover, silicone remover, degreaser. Anything else I should be mindfull of?

 

[mrtaytay]

Think you have it all covered there tolish. Just make sure you price appropriately as builders cleans can take some time.

Oh!, just a thought.....would it be worth getting one of those ettore porcupine applicator sleeves. It sounds like they really cut through the gunge.

 

[TolishAPurd]

Cheers mate. Good idea, the porcupine sleeve is now in my basket for my next shop.

 

[Duncs]

good scraper ,new blades

how many windows get scratched doing builders cleans

 

[Smurf]

I would also get one of these signed first for each property you do http://windowcleaningforums.co.uk/resources/window-cleaning-glass-waiver.5/

 

[norm]

cover your ass with that doc sounds like a good plan

 

[Neil]

That doc won't open up for me smurf /emoticons/sad.png

 

[TolishAPurd]

Cheers lads. Good idea on the waiver. I can't get it to open on this computor but I'll check it out on the mrs's later.

 

[Smurf]

It's in word 2007 format so you will need to open it in mirosoft word or try a freebe alternative like http://www.kingsoftstore.com/microsoft-word-2007-free-download

Hope this helps?

 

[boarcity]

these type of cleans can sap your strength for days afterwards . only take them on if you have space in the diary,dont make space for them is my tip.

 

[cheapncheerful]

hate em....one had a cling film on and i thought a doddle just peel it off and away ye go.....it was stuck on with glue.....why i didnt walk i dont know i would now....why everything isnt covered in cling film and no not with glue, till the last minute with the stickers on the film i dont know...but i hate em...

 

[Duncs]

had one on Saturday easy bungalow first clean, was thinking in the future ideal got houses nearby

they had been varnishing there windows did,int use masking tape but two inch green tape had to soap the paper tape, then scrape it off

do you ever find you canny walk past a house without chapping the door.

 

[Joshua D]

Concrete! Concrete on the windows just little spots of it can ruin your rubbers, when I do a builders cleans I cover the window in soapy water then scrapper the hole window stops scratching and stops rubbers being ruined. Also it pretty much saves time usually gets all the crap off the first time unless they had the worst decorator in the world.

 

[cheapncheerful]

Concrete! Concrete on the windows just little spots of it can ruin your rubbers, when I do a builders cleans I cover the window in soapy water then scrapper the hole window stops scratching and stops rubbers being ruined. Also it pretty much saves time usually gets all the **** off the first time unless they had the worst decorator in the world.

yep thats the best way, but i very much dont like them....and then of course just after i get them spotless up and down the road comes a roadsweeper creating a nice dust storm....straight on to my clean windows

 

[Smurf]

Most builders cleans are a bloody nightmare to do so I prefer to stay well clear now. Without a waiver you would be leaving yourself wide open and could be blamed for damage that was not caused by you.

If it was proven to be your fault then here is an example of a builders cleans claim why you should have proper cover http://www.gleaminginsurance.co.uk/claims-examples.html

Type of claim: Damage to Property Worked On (Window Cleaner)


Outcome: Claim Paid

A window cleaning customer of GLEAMING INSURANCE contacted us to advise that he had recently completed a builders clean of a new commercial development and that his customer had now alleged that 62 of the window were showing evidence of minor scratches. This damage was holding up the opening of the new development and urgent attention was needed.

Our client was worried and didn’t know what to do, he was concerned at the possible cost of rectifying the problem and he was also concerned that his customer would hold back monies due to him for other works carried out.

A normal liability policy from many other insurers would have an endorsement with an exclusion for “damage to property worked upon” meaning that scratching or breaking glass would not be covered, but this is core cover on our policy and something that sets our cover apart, so we were firstly able to reassure him that this kind of damage was covered with GLEAMING INSURANCE.

We then immediately involved our insurers and their liability claims team and we were able to get a specialist repairer and loss adjuster to speak with the customer and his client and arrange prompt repairs to rectify matters. The insurers were able to ascertain that the scratches were not deep enough to warrant replacement, but that they could be repaired and polished out to exactly the same level as a brand new pane of glass – most other insurers would have simply paid for a replacement.

Our client not only kept his customer happy, but received his monies on time and more importantly for the future didn’t have an over-inflated claim on his record for years to come.

 

[Smurf]

For those that can't open the word verision of the "window cleaning glass waiver" I've now uploaded a pdf version so you can read why glass can be scratched easily.

Also if you have a pdf editor you can edit the doc but will need to type in the password 1234 to do so.

http://windowcleaningforums.co.uk/resources/window-cleaning-waiver-pdf.18/

Hope this helps?

 

[TolishAPurd]

Thanks for the advice fellas. I forgot about concrete splatter I had a load of that on one of the first jobs I picked up.

You're a good egg smurf, thanks for that doc.

 

[norm]

very helpful @Smurf

 

[john39]

smurf is the ****** man

 

[cheapncheerful]

thanks smurf...just put me off new builds even more... .hmm on the subject of scratched glass.

..i haven't a clue how you get cement off as that is really abrasive,

on one new job i went too i cleaned all the windows and noticed a velux on the roof and begrudgingly decided to clean it...not so sure i had seen it on the estimate... got my money went home job done friday skive and into a nice weekend.....sat night checking my emails.....can you call in and see me as there are a few bad scratches on the velux....well that was my weekend out of the window, i couldn't sleep ...i used a pole with applicator/blade to clean it.....i inspected my pole ...had i just caught the glass ...i couldn't remember... i spent all weekend googling glass scratches and filled my bucket with loadsa stuff .....the best one is believe it or not toothpaste... anyway mon morning i venture up the drive with my bucket of stuff and he led me to the velux... i explained that the way i had cleaned them from the gutters meant i had applicated and then drawn my blade down to wipe of the soap....the scratches thank god were diagonally across and had clearly been caused by a broken roof tile sliding sideways across.....he was happy with my explanation and is still my customer now but it shook me up and now i won't do remote cleaning without visual inspection first....i just tell my customers the insurance won't allow it....but it can be a scary world out there....

 

[Joshua D]

Best excuse in the world is my insurance doesnt cover me. Sometimes if Im desperate Ill do it the worst thing is crap decorators that dont cover up windows!

Thanks @Smurf for the disclaimer, always wondered if I should go through the courts to get them official.