Welcome to the UK Window Cleaning Forums

Starting or own a window cleaning business? We're a network of window cleaners sharing advice, tips & experience. Rounds for sale & more. Join us today!

Scratches on garage door

DrGonzoSnr

Member
Messages
65
Location
Overseas
Hi all,

Turned up for a first time clean and the customer asks if I can also wash the garage door, I say sure but it'll be extra.

Do the whole house and come to the garage door and start to wash it down. It's filthy from the build.

I don't know if I saw the scratches as it was happening or what I was thinking but yes it scratched the black door.

Customer isn't happy. Only second time I've touched one of these garage doors. Never again.

They are obviously asking me to make it good. Excess on the insurance is a grand.

Anyone come across these garage doors which scratch from the brushes?

 
Hi all,

Turned up for a first time clean and the customer asks if I can also wash the garage door, I say sure but it'll be extra.

Do the whole house and come to the garage door and start to wash it down. It's filthy from the build.

I don't know if I saw the scratches as it was happening or what I was thinking but yes it scratched the black door.

Customer isn't happy. Only second time I've touched one of these garage doors. Never again.

They are obviously asking me to make it good. Excess on the insurance is a grand.

Anyone come across these garage doors which scratch from the brushes?
Did you carry out a visual inspection with the client before cleaning it? 

If it was that filthy before cleaning it you wouldn't of known

Did you rinse it off first with a garden hose and nozzle as static dirt will scratch if you go straight in with a water fed pole and brush 

 
I am 100% sure I caused the scratches. I don't know what I was thinking, clearly I just wasn't as I would have stopped.

No I never thought about rinsing it off first. I have done one garage door before no issues so didn't think twice about doing this one.

What can the brushes scratch? I am guessing this is an aluminium. 

 
Before accepting blame I would work to determine if you did indeed cause the scratches, if it's even possible for you to do so. I would contact the manufacture of the brush and ask them to advice. I personally don't see how a brush could possibly scratch a garage door unless you used it incorrectly or the brush was damaged/worn out, but that's just my opinion. 

Edit: Also, once you've got this settled, please change your insurance company. A £1000 is insane, most are £250, some even £150!

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I am 100% sure I caused the scratches. I don't know what I was thinking, clearly I just wasn't as I would have stopped.

No I never thought about rinsing it off first. I have done one garage door before no issues so didn't think twice about doing this one.

What can the brushes scratch? I am guessing this is an aluminium. 
Do not hit your liability insurance as it will cost you.

Best advice, contact a mobile car paint repair specialist and ask him to meet you at the property for a quote. Do not let your client chip in to the conversation.

Most garage doors are either GRP aluminium or galvanised steel 

If its a painted high gloss finish the car paint repair man could save your ****

Rookie mistake made, always rinse first mate 

Before accepting blame I would work to determine if you did indeed cause the scratches, if it's even possible for you to do so. I would contact the manufacture of the brush and ask them to advice. I personally don't see how a brush could possibly scratch a garage door unless you used it incorrectly or the brush was damaged/worn out, but that's just my opinion. 
the Brush agitates the dirt containg grit. Nothing to do with a brush 

 
On a dark coloured door I guess you can cause scratches we clean a lot of lighter coloured ones and never had any issues , are you sure it wasn’t like it before you started ? If it’s a new build it could be the builders scratched it Cleaning it then it’s got dirty and you  clean it and get the blame , if you are 100% sure you did it then the only option is as already said get it re sprayed or replace the door , ????

 
Yes it's a black matt finish. You can only see it if you're up looking at it. When I was turning in the drive you couldn't see anything the matter. The guy was difficult with the windows also.

I wanted to shift the blame onto him as he asked me to do it when he should have known I would use the WFP as it's all I use and he should have been aware of what you can and can't use on these doors but I guess I haven't a leg to stand on.

I know it was the brush that caused it, yes he might have a hard time proving it but I don't want to be that dickhead.

Maybe I should go smash it in in the middle of the night and then he can claim a new one on his house insurance! (joking)

 
How can you say you know the brush caused it?

I clean these day in day out and never an issue.

Just think you clean composite doors etc with the same brush.

You probably made existing scratches visible by taking the dirt off.

 
The guy was difficult with the windows also.
You inevitably have your answer, the guy is trying to have you over, the damage will have been caused during the building work going on how can they claim it was you when the garage door was filthy, I clean a fair few black aluminium garage doors without issue only one I found was damaged and I notified the owner straight away and it was clear the builders had tried to cover up the damage after the initial builders clean. 

 
You inevitably have your answer, the guy is trying to have you over, the damage will have been caused during the building work going on how can they claim it was you when the garage door was filthy, I clean a fair few black aluminium garage doors without issue only one I found was damaged and I notified the owner straight away and it was clear the builders had tried to cover up the damage after the initial builders clean. 
No, it's not like that. The whole thing is scratched like it would have from me cleaning it. It's not a build scratch or anything. 

 
No, it's not like that. The whole thing is scratched like it would have from me cleaning it. It's not a build scratch or anything. 
Hard to say without photos, but if you didn't given a good pre-rinse and not used a detergent to help shift the dirt then if you are adamant it's you then you will have to cough up,

I always give a full pre-rinse and clean in small sections from left to right and work my way down slowly and will pause cleaning and rinse plenty to ensure all dirt is rinsed down and not getting under the brush or that I don't miss any cement or anything so I am always visually checking, but I don't do builders cleans,

but as you've done a builders clean I would in future avoid cleaning them unless the custy is able to provide a garden hosepipe to give a really good pre-rinse

 
Last edited by a moderator:
I wanted to shift the blame onto him as he asked me to do it when he should have known I would use the WFP as it's all I use and he should have been aware of what you can and can't use on these doors but I guess I haven't a leg to stand on.
The burden of proof is on him, he has to prove you did it, otherwise it's his word against yours. With your other comment about him being awkward about the windows he sounds a proper PITA and not someone that will be a good customer going forward. My advice is deny, bin him and move on. 

 
Hard to say without photos, but if you didn't given a good pre-rinse and not used a detergent to help shift the dirt then if you are adamant it's you then you will have to cough up,

I always give a full pre-rinse and clean in small sections from left to right and work my way down slowly and will pause cleaning and rinse plenty to ensure all dirt is rinsed down and not getting under the brush or that I don't miss any cement or anything so I am always visually checking, but I don't do builders cleans,

but as you've done a builders clean I would in future avoid cleaning them unless the custy is able to provide a garden hosepipe to give a really good pre-rinse
Or it might pay to buy a garden hose and spray gun and put it in the van incase the custy does not have one.

 
Or it might pay to buy a garden hose and spray gun and put it in the van incase the custy does not have one.
I wouldn't go that far as depending on the house you could need 30-50m of hose on a reel, typically if a custy has a outside tap they will have a hose if not and there is any chance or concern or the garage door been damaged I wouldn't clean it, but I have cleaned some really dirty doors without issue using wfp. 

 
I wouldn't go that far as depending on the house you could need 30-50m of hose on a reel, typically if a custy has a outside tap they will have a hose if not and there is any chance or concern or the garage door been damaged I wouldn't clean it, but I have cleaned some really dirty doors without issue using wfp. 
Its quite a handy thing to have anyway when cleaning soffits, fascias and gutters. saves using so much of your own pure water. Just agitate dirt with brush then spray on normal water with hose. Rinse off with pure. Mind you thats a different topic altogether.

 
Back
Top