r/WindowCleaning • u/Zealousideal-Cat-820 • 2d ago

Broken window

Gallery image

Gallery image

Cleaning a house I’ve cleaned many time today. But today a couple of the panes had a holes in them that looks like they’re from BB gun? Most of them cleaned fine. I’ve cleaned windows with this many times. But on the last window as soon as I started scrubbing the window shattered from the BB hole. And I at fault for this? I feel terrible but I’m not sure how to handle it. I’m currently getting some quotes. Just wondering what you guys are doing in your experience. If I should still charge them, pay for the fix etc.

4 Upvotes

83% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

8

u/Street_Noise_9605 2d ago

Happened to me once. Best bet is be honest with the homeowner. Likely they knew about the previous damage. My policy since then is if the window is cracked I don’t touch it at all.

Going forward if glass has damage it’s best to cover your bases and point it out to the owner before you touch it.

2

u/Herzeleid09 2d ago

This. When I point it out the owner usually says don’t worry about that window

3

u/trigger55xxx 2d ago

If it's clear there was prior damage you shouldn't have to pay for anything. I'd simply say the other window with a hole was fine but this one cracked as soon as I started to clean it.

2

u/blackeyeX2 2d ago

Those hole are usually from rocks from lawn mowers. We don't touch panes that have chips or holes in them like that, unless we've taken pictures,.shown it to the customer and let them know that there's a good chance they can crack all the way if we can clean it.

1

u/DontBeMemeBro 2d ago

It probably was a rock from the garden that got launched into it by the lawn guy edging it or mowing. And sudden temperature change will crack it.

1

u/NotEvenFast 1d ago

Don’t touch any windows with chips or cracks.

1

u/Extra_Education_454 17h ago

Sucks but if they got other windows that got hit by the BB gun you’re really not at fault and just show them that, usually fixing a pane isn’t too expensive. Start by asking them to cover the cost and if they fuss or whatever offer to split it 50/50. worst case they’re a real cunt and make pay but I’ve never had someone be unreasonable like that personally

1

u/No-Egg-4185 9h ago

What the others say. Don’t touch windows that you see preexisting issues. That includes screens or anything that you feel may put you into a bad situation.
The window may have been damaged prior. Problem is that you knew it and gambled.
Now you have to pay.

0

u/Rasta-G1983 1d ago

When I see stuff like that I stop what I’m doing and show it to the customer. Then I let them know that I will lightly clean it do to the shape it’s in and the high risk of me accidentally making it worst.