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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 08:22:20 pm

Title: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 08:22:20 pm
Is there any chance that Pure Water can damage the gold hinges on UPVC doors? I've been accused, but not sure if I can be blamed.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: NWH on June 30, 2008, 08:26:13 pm
I don`t go near them i just do the glass,and that`s not being a smart arse either.I don`t go in for all this i`ll do your doors n all in the price,if they want there doors done i`ll do them and if then they damage it`s there problem you could then say that`s why normally i stay away from them.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 08:27:24 pm
Thanks for the quick reply but that doesn't help me  ???
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: niceandclean on June 30, 2008, 08:29:42 pm
Is there any chance that Pure Water can damage the gold hinges on UPVC doors? I've been accused, but not sure if I can be blamed.

Unlikely, do you know how old the hinges/frames are?
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: NWH on June 30, 2008, 08:29:58 pm
To see if it`s not just staining go over them with ettoree water spot remover,if that dosen`t shift it there damaged.I can`t see how the water can damage them unless your blasting them with water every clean.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: Nathanael Jones on June 30, 2008, 08:37:59 pm
The hinges are normally made from brass,... brass is used for fittings on boats/ships because it is not affected by water.

What kind of damage is it?
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: johnny_h on June 30, 2008, 09:27:15 pm
how old are these doors and how long have you been doing them?
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: jeff1 on June 30, 2008, 10:12:01 pm
Is there any chance that Pure Water can damage the gold hinges on UPVC doors? I've been accused, but not sure if I can be blamed.
There the cheap nasty imports, plated to made them look gold, after a few years the plate begins to fall of in flakes, NOTHING to do with wfp or pure water.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 10:15:33 pm
These doors are 12 month old. Been cleaning them since they were put in. They might get the odd wash every now and again but not everytime. The gold colour looks cracked and blistered. I've lost this customer because of this but I want to try and put things right as I don't want a bad name giving out also slagging the WFP off.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 10:19:04 pm
Also the customer has had the window company out and they said its not there fault, how do you have your windows cleaned? The woman replied by a professional with Reach And Wash. To which the window company guy replied thats the problem then, its the chemicals in his (my) system that has done the damage. ???
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: NWH on June 30, 2008, 10:25:28 pm
Also the customer has had the window company out and they said its not there fault, how do you have your windows cleaned? The woman replied by a professional with Reach And Wash. To which the window company guy replied thats the problem then, its the chemicals in his (my) system that has done the damage. ???
Just by him using the word chemical say`s it all he hasn`t a clue what he`s on about,like all window firms they`ll never accept liability they always blame the window cleaner and what with WFP these days they have more excuses.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on June 30, 2008, 10:29:40 pm
While I was trad I saw many hinges and door handles go to pot, some in a very short period of time from being fitted and then they try to blame it on the detergent. At the same time I've seen fittings that have lasted for years being cleaned exactly the same way.

Its poor manufacturing IMO. The Window company is trying to avoid their esponsability.

To say it's the pure water is utter nonsense.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on June 30, 2008, 10:34:38 pm
What should I do next then? Could do with some written proof really.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: jaykie on June 30, 2008, 10:37:24 pm
Ring the window company and ask them water chemical in pure water would cause this to happen, i got one of them brass handles and the other month my daughter shut door and it came off in her hand, corroded from the sea salt.

Chris
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: Pat Purcell on June 30, 2008, 10:38:38 pm
For a start I would give the window company a call and tell them that their erroneos and slanderous remarks have cost you a valued customer and that you are in discussions with council as to how to proceed
if nothing else it might make you feel better
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: jeff1 on June 30, 2008, 11:12:29 pm
Also the customer has had the window company out and they said its not there fault, how do you have your windows cleaned? The woman replied by a professional with Reach And Wash. To which the window company guy replied thats the problem then, its the chemicals in his (my) system that has done the damage. ???
I had a customer only last week tell me, that the window company that installed his new windows tried to blame me for the damage to his seals, good Job my customer was well switched on and told the guy what utter crap he was talking, Just like the guy who told your customer the same story.

Its the cheapest way out for these window companies, to blame someone else for there shoddy workmanship.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on June 30, 2008, 11:18:55 pm
The burden of proof lies with your x-customer. They will not be able to proove it because unless you malisciously put something corrosive in your water - which doesn't make sense - There are no chemicals except pure water that goes on their windows. Likely rain and deffinitely What comes out their tap has more chemicals in it. Give them a sample of your water and let them get it tested if they don't believe you.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: Wayne Thomas on June 30, 2008, 11:22:52 pm
I've noticed the colouring run from the hinges as well, coincidence or what? I try to avoid cleaning brass hinges, letterboxes as much as possible unless they're filthy or covered in cobwebs.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: cbcs on July 01, 2008, 09:18:59 am
I might try and get a couple of pictures to put on here so you can see.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: AuRavelling79 on July 01, 2008, 04:16:28 pm
I had a lady mention this about her plated "gold"/"brass" door letterbox and asked me if I would leave the door. (It only had a small window in and so I buff it with a scrim now)

She said to me "the problem is the stuff they make nowadays is just cheap and nasty" which is essentially often true. She was fine about it.

It's cheap crap which weathers badly. IMO

I would write a letter saying I am not responsible for the cheap materials used by her glazing company and that I use no chemicals in my pure water. I would  also state that "some window companies build down to a price and use the cheapest of materials" - also add a paragraph that if the company representative has blamed me and my system then I consider that a slanderous statement and I would like his company name so that "I may seek redress".

You will have firmly stated your case, the householder will not want to get involved and will shut up. If they're really good they'll take it up with the company, but I doubt it ...
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: Clive McDonald on July 01, 2008, 05:34:01 pm
I've lost couple of jobs because the painter and decorator said I rot and damage the frames.

I find the rights and wrongs don't matter if the customer sacks you thats it. Let it go.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: jeff1 on July 01, 2008, 09:06:16 pm
The Boss just reminded me that some months back we took on a new customer, when I walked around with the custy to price his house, I noticed the fittings on the door were Gold affect.
I then noticed all the gold cracking and flaking off, I pointed this out to the customer and he told me it that it had been happening for a long time and this Guy never had a window cleaner since the conservatory was built a couple of years previous.

Defiantly not pure water damage.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: dai on July 02, 2008, 08:04:41 pm
What's the difference between DI water and rain?
No seriously, has anyone done a PH test on DI water? It won't be alkaline or it would show on the meter, it could in theory be acid though without affecting the TDS reading.

I have seen these plated hinges deteriorate rapidly on a Marina that I clean, I put that down to sea salt.
I was trad then, so nothing to do with WFP. Where could I buy some litmus paper?
It would be interesting to see.







Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: dai on July 02, 2008, 08:08:52 pm
Just googled this, I don't know if 7 is acid or not.
Letter 33146
pH of Deionized Water [Saudi Arabia] 

++++

I just want to know the standard pH of deionized water if there is.

Thank you very much.

Ghani Gonzales

Isagani Gonzales
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center - Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

++++

pH will be fairly close to 7 as it comes out of the resin bed, particularly if it is a mixed resin type. This pH will slowly drop as it absorbs CO2 from the air.

Note that you cannot use conventional pH meters on really pure DI water. It requires a modified approach that can be given to you by any manufacturer of research grade equipment.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: darragh windows on July 02, 2008, 08:10:53 pm
What's the difference between DI water and rain?
No seriously, has anyone done a PH test on DI water? It won't be alkaline or it would show on the meter, it could in theory be acid though without affecting the TDS reading.

I have seen these plated hinges deteriorate rapidly on a Marina that I clean, I put that down to sea salt.

I was trad then, so nothing to do with WFP. Where could I buy some litmus paper?
It would be interesting to see.











someone on here a while back tested it with their aquaraium tester and it was very acidic cant remember how strong though
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: dai on July 02, 2008, 08:15:06 pm
Ok here's the answer, The hinge manufactures are full of crap. 7 is neutral.

The further from 7 you are on the pH scale, the more acidic or basic the solution.  For example, a solution with a pH = 1 has a hydronium ion concentration of 1 x 10-1 M (0.1 M).  The table below further illustrates the relationship between hydronium ion concentration and pH.
Title: Re: Damage to door hinges???
Post by: dai on July 02, 2008, 08:25:02 pm
And this is why you should not drink too much of it.

"DI water is extremely low in everything, so what it does is take electrolytes from your body into solution and carry them out. This can be a problem over a period of one day if enough is given with no other electrolytes. The safety people can not say anything is OK if it can't be safely overdone in a work environment, they deliberately err on the side of caution, as they should. Moderation in all things... A little pure water is actually good for you, but too much is very very bad... kind of like potassium, sodium, or any other mineral. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, edema, stroke, and death".

There can be a high concentration of germs in it too. Dai