Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 10:54:43 am

Title: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 10:54:43 am
ive been cleaning window wfp for over four years and have never damaged the lead on windows bar very very old leaded where it was curling up etc so i am a bit peed off a customer has accused us of damaging three top openers with leaded design apparently she found a ball of lead rolled up by her shed since then she noticed the windows are all missing bits of lead, these windows arent that old maybe 5-6 years old,

what does everyone else think damage one window but not three, does this lead sound faulty possibly there just expecting us too sort it and i am a bit dubious because i dont think we could have damaged three windows
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: Ian101 on December 10, 2012, 11:49:21 am
I thought I had damaged a leaded window as like yours it was all curled up and missing so mentioned it to customer.

This is what she told me and not making it up .... A Magpie was doing it as she had seen it doing it.
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 12:00:23 pm
ive spoken to some glazing firms and they have said if we have cleaned after the suns been shining thenwhen its cooled down this is the only way that the lead could be removed otherwise its seriously unlikely we have caused it
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: roundbuilder on December 10, 2012, 12:03:18 pm
I have damaged mountains of leaded windows. I offer to pay for the fix but luckily the custies all say its where there windows are old and due to be replaced.
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 12:08:46 pm
these arent that old though mick which is why i am bit peed off over it fingers being pointed at us because custy found lead by her shed so it must be us if they had watched it happen maybe or noticed it straight away but this was weeks after we had been too clean them
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: rosskesava on December 10, 2012, 12:22:23 pm
I've had that once while wfp.

I noticed something sticking out from the window after cleaning it so I got the ladder and had a look. It was a bit of unstuck lead but being close up to the glass, I noticed quite a few other bits of lead weren't stuck down but were still joined at both ends, if that makes sense.

I don't quite get how the lead would have been 'rolled up' by a wfp brush though.

Sounds a bit suspect or at the very least, a bit odd.
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 12:24:05 pm
i think there instigating the operator has picked it off and rolled it up and thrown it
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on December 10, 2012, 01:49:26 pm
probably that matty you av working for ya ;D ;D
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richard jagger on December 10, 2012, 02:12:58 pm
Yes selling lead for cash,rolling it up with a bush I need to learn how to do that, There is a church roof I want to roll up and sell, a few ton of lead.Just looking to blame someone.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: bumper on December 10, 2012, 04:05:04 pm
its like anything else  wear and tear wornt last for ever, tell them to do one and get some other muppet to clean them.
they wornt tell me id tell them to do one
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: JackieW on December 10, 2012, 05:18:15 pm
I had one last week. Newish house, double glazed, brush lifted lead on first window and came unstuck .

I told her I'd try sticking it back with a bit of superglue. Just about holding but I'm not going to clean that bit of window with a brush again.
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: keyser soze on December 10, 2012, 05:26:43 pm
what you going to do richy?
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 05:28:41 pm
i really dont know what to do any other time if its guaranteed that its us that have damaged a property id pay for damages and replace, but i just dont know if this is us
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: dave0123 on December 10, 2012, 05:39:54 pm
It does happen its happened to me, luckily customer wasn't too bothered but it only starts to peel off from where its glued together or whatever when there already a tad loose. I now use the superlite soft brush on houses like this now.


What you got to try and tell them is that you use a pole so even if it come out it would be liying on the roof or window ledge not behind ur shed  ??? unless these are downstairs windows
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: PoleKing on December 10, 2012, 10:48:21 pm
I pulled lead off a window a couple of years ago.
Customer was inside and saw me do it. He was not happy.
I offered to pay for a bit if he fitted it or I'd fit it if he paid for it.
Settled on 2 free cleans and he'd fit it. (£14 total)
You can buy the self adhesive lead from some glaziers.
If I was you I'd replace it just to keep your reputation.

www.laneswindowcleaning.com Rutland
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 10, 2012, 10:52:57 pm
just wondering hows it gonna work with three windows do the glazers take a photo and copy design or will they have to take each one out individually and take away etc
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: Crystal-clear on December 10, 2012, 10:59:20 pm
if it wasnt you i wouldnt offer to pay  ???
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 10, 2012, 11:13:12 pm
its like anything else  wear and tear wornt last for ever, tell them to do one and get some other muppet to clean them.
they wornt tell me id tell them to do one

Gotta love the Bumper! He's right too.

Listen ... Over the years and seasons the glass expands and contracts in the heat, rain, snow, ice etc. It expands at a different rate to the stuck on lead and the lead loosens.

We go along and scrubadedub with a brush just like we did with scrim and other cloths in the past and eventually some of the lead works loose.

Units break down, hinges wear, locks come loose, lead loosens and after about ten years repairs are needed then after 25 years or so they start thinking of new windows just like we always have whether they were original wood, aluminium, crappy yellowing UPVC or the latest UPVC wood lookalikes.

I'll tell you about the old family home - built in 1951 with painted softwood windows. Mum and Dad have an aluminium dg frame or three put in the softwood frame in side of the house that gets the weather and the sun in the 1970's. Then they get the whole front done in the early 80's with ali in hardwood and that is still fine.

The backs get ali and hardwood about 1988 and that is still ok too with a few units and hinges being sorted.

If I lived there now I'd be replacing with UPVC but as it's up for rental I just pop down with my bro every year and touch up the hardwood.

Things wear out missus!
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: Mike #1 on December 11, 2012, 06:19:06 am
Seems odd that it took for custy to find lead on floor and never noticed it was ever missing from window till then , Must be trying it on if your using a soft brush then their is no way you could have caused the damage depends how heavy handed the operator was . Mike
Title: Re: three leaded window apparently been damaged by us
Post by: richywilts on December 11, 2012, 02:52:56 pm
all our brushes are either gardiners soft or medium brush heads