[captain lard]

Picked up a builders clean this week and went to do it this afternoon external glass first cos no one was there,went up to the upstairs bedroom window on me ladder and sprayed it first with a pump action 2 litre spray bottle just to try to loosen any dirt and stuff then looked for anything gritty and removed it then ran me applicator top to bottom and sqeegied top to bottom.As soon as I finished I saw three horizontal scratches to the left edge of the pane midway down,no way was it me but the scratch was there,you couldnt see it pre sqeegee cos the glass was that dirty.Went on to the big downstairs window and did that ok but there was a lot of tiny spots of cement which had to be carefully scraped and once loosened taken off the glass..
Went to look at the conservatory which was hacky and had one pane with cement sprayed across,looking very closely I could see at least 2 scratches already there.Small but there.
On a lot of the glass its that dirty you could miss more,stepped back had a think and thought sod it so packed me gear up and came home.
Am due to meet the builder at 4 to do the insides but I am telling him I dont want the job.  Me gut instinct had been leave it,but having started it it was more hassle than I realised and going to take an age to do plus in 40 minutes was stressed out over the worry about scratches. 

[captain lard]

Have just spoken to the builder who took it well really.I told him about the scratch and told him that it was not my fault(if I had caused a scratch I think it would have had to run vertically) then told him I was dropping the job because it was going to take way too long and that there was too much building debris on the windows to guaruntee no scratches,he took it well to be fair so as far as I am concerned its a lesson learned by me.Trust me gut and avoid such cleans.

[mick40]

ive just picked up 2 builders cleans today.im heading out shortly to have a look at them.i really dont mind them but i do charge accordingly.there isnt a window cleaner near me who will touch these cleans so its pretty good for me.

[captain lard]

If you are experienced with them and feel ok with them then why not mate and good luck,having dipped me toe in what I would say to anyone doing them is ask for very decent money.
I realised within 30 mins of starting that my price was way too cheap and was not going to reflect the time, effort and stress it was going to need. I thought I had factored it but it was one of those things where until I started the job I didnt exactly realise how it was going to be.
Also I think you should check for scratches before the job and point them out,I did look the windows over at the quote but not closely enough,I tried to but the dirt is so bad in places you cant tell what is hidden beneath.The disclaimer idea re scratches is good but I realised I was onto a loser here and thought it best I backed off.Even if he had offered much bigger money I didnt want to do it.
I am going to stick to straightforward domestics.

[s.hughes]

I run a mile.
Same thing happened to me, I cleaned some large panes of glass and saw loads of scratches which wasnt mine. I explained to the builder about it and he had the glas replaced. I carried on cleaning the windows for the people who moved in and they informed me that when the glass had to be replaced because the w/c doing the builders clean had scratched it all up. They didnt know it was me who had done job. From what they said it had cost £6000 and you would know this figure would be right if you'd seen the glass. Anyway I never did anymore work for the building company even though they rang up and asked.
I've recently been asked to clean a large house and was told the builders clean was done. It wasnt, and when I saw the glass I got back in my car and drove off.
No way ho-say

Steve

[freshwater]

This may be a stupid observation (I am not a window cleaner) but why don’t have a clause (verbal or written) that you cannot be held responsible for any scratches. Then if you get the job all is OK, and if you don't then you’ve just wasted a bit of time.

steve@freshwatersystems.co.uk

[neil100]

I am totally Gobsmacked that builders do not cover up brandnew widows with a strong plastic. When all the work is finished on the house, Peel it off and the windows will be fine, No scratches or marks.

Its amazing that propertys change hands for hundreds of thousands of pounds and nobody as the common sense to cover windows up. You buy a brand new mobile phone for peanuts and look it as a cover on the screen to protect it.

It would then save them money because they would not have to pay to have the builders muck taken off.

Nel.

[captain lard]

To be honest Freshwater I trolled the threads and found a lot of sound advice and a contract/disclaimer re scratches was mentioned and it did occur to me after I quoted that maybe some sort of disclaimer might be a good idea but I decided to get going and found these horizontal scratches which I know were nothing to do with me.
It was my mistake to not do the disclaimer. I was going to say in future I will but to be honest I wont bother with this type of thing again though it is useful info/experience,you never know what might crop up on a domestic clean for example.A customer might have a diy moment and mess a window up with cement/debris,I will know know to treat this very very carefully.

[mick40]

well thats me just back after looking at the 2 houses.one of them still has the blue polythene on so thats a good start.the other one is not bad at all maybe 3 windows with a fair bit of cement on them.the secret for me is never rush them,try not to set a time(obviously within reason).i change the blade regularly as well and keep the window well soaked and run your hand over it too feel for any small pieces of cement.last clean i done i also used one of the white scourers which does a good job without scratching.

[robbie14000]

Captain - never mind you are alot wiser after having the experience so it will stand you in good stead for the future.
There is a large worry when doing these cleans cos you can,t see all scratches when pricing up due to the mess.
Like others i don,t like doing them but will for a price.
Had one last week.
Building contractor rings me friday evening wanting a part of a private school doing on monday morning.
Windows were a right mess.
About 100 or so windows.
Didn,t want the job due to having to move my other customers back so told him £450.00.
He just laughed saying it,s only windows you are cleaning.(cheeky bassa)
I told him it would take a day and I turn over 400 a day as a norm.
Should of seen his face.
Think he might be in a new career shortly.
Good Luck
Robbie - Clearshine - Harrogate

[captain lard]

Aye a lesson learnt Robbie-take care mate.

[ccwc1988]

Mr Lard,

Good for you I did try and talk you off it on your other thread.....(even the builder said theres a fair bit on the windows  :)...They are a nightmare and not worth the hassel (is that one s or two l's .....enough..whatever) Another lesson learnt, the more we learn the more we earn..

[ccwc1988]

Mr Lard,

Good for you I did try and talk you off it on your other thread.....(even the builder said theres a fair bit on the windows  :)...They are a nightmare and not worth the hassel (is that one s or two l's .....enough..whatever) Another lesson learnt, the more we learn the more we earn..

[ccwc1988]

How did that happen....do do, do do twilight zone

[captain lard]

Mr Lard,

Good for you I did try and talk you off it on your other thread.....(even the builder said theres a fair bit on the windows  :)...They are a nightmare and not worth the hassel (is that one s or two l's .....enough..whatever) Another lesson learnt, the more we learn the more we earn..

you did mate and after me aborted attempt yesterday was mad with meself cos me gut instinct was to avoid it but I decided to give it a go and immediately wished I had stuck to my first impressions,but the good thing is I can learn from it and move on - cheers mate.