Incompetent Cleaners

[afright]

Just viewed a wetroom which was tiled a few months ago,the Lady got in contact with me and said the floor needs replacing,went to have a look.The tiles on the walls and floor are 600 x 600 black porcs with mosaic to the shower area,all the grout has come away from the floor tiles which puzzled me as the floor was solid.Then see explained the reason why.The painter left a few white spots of paint that she could not remove them ,so she called in a cleaning firm,they cleaned every thing with Spirit of Salts including all the chrome fittings and sanitary ware ,she said whilst they were cleaning there was a fog appearing ,the floor tiles have turned grey but the wall tiles are still black and all the chrome has gone a tarnished brown.When she stopped them and complained they could not get out of the door quick enough, she reckons she can claim on the cleaning firms public liability insurance,I thought that was only for accidents not incompetent's.

 

[Alan.P]

It will be a fight to claim I would have thought, bloody muppets.

 

[SJPurdy]

Not sure about the insurance. I suppose it will depend upon the cover terms of the policy.

What is Spirit of Salts?

 

[Andy Allen]

Not sure about the insurance. I suppose it will depend upon the cover terms of the policy.

What is Spirit of Salts?

What a ghost puts on his chips...

 

[afright]

Not sure about the insurance. I suppose it will depend upon the cover terms of the policy.

What is Spirit of Salts?

Spirit of Salts is a very strong acid, I don't know about now but years ago you could only get it from the chemist very strong stuff, a tiler I work with put his stablia level in a tub of the stuff he did not get much back.

 

[StevieBoy]

Just viewed a wetroom which was tiled a few months ago,the Lady got in contact with me and said the floor needs replacing,went to have a look.The tiles on the walls and floor are 600 x 600 black porcs with mosaic to the shower area,all the grout has come away from the floor tiles which puzzled me as the floor was solid.Then see explained the reason why.The painter left a few white spots of paint that she could not remove them ,so she called in a cleaning firm,they cleaned every thing with Spirit of Salts including all the chrome fittings and sanitary ware ,she said whilst they were cleaning there was a fog appearing ,the floor tiles have turned grey but the wall tiles are still black and all the chrome has gone a tarnished brown.When she stopped them and complained they could not get out of the door quick enough, she reckons she can claim on the cleaning firms public liability insurance,I thought that was only for accidents not incompetent's.

She can certainly make a claim against the company if things are that bad for sure.
Whether they choose to put it all through their public liability insurance company is entirely upto them.
She as the customer, should not end up with things that bad let alone out of pocket.

 

[White Room]

The cleaners really knew their stuff

 

[afright]

The cleaning company are not returning her calls now ,her solicitor has said anything under five grand she will have to go thru the small claims court,I have now got a bathroom fitter involved to give her a full cost as I am only interested in the tiling,being the company is small and Ltd ,I think she will have a hard fight to get anything from them.

 

[Meddler]

Not sure about the insurance. I suppose it will depend upon the cover terms of the policy.

What is Spirit of Salts?

Spirit of Salts is hydrochloric acid (38% concentration if my memory serves me correct) so a lot stronger than your normal cleaners. Its good for removing limescale (especially dirty toilet pans) but should be used with care and generally only be used on glazed ceramic ware and definitely not metal. When used it gives of chlorine gas – not a pleasant environment !.

It would appear the cleaners were not experienced with using it – sounds like eastern european labour working without supervision.

As the other posts have already said the cleaners should be liable but the crux of a successful claim will be to prove the remedial works are necessary (plenty of pictures) and to give the cleaning firm ample opportunity to put right the damage themselves. Last resort is to use the small claims court.

Although I realise this post did not originate from the home owner they could check with their insurance company whether they would cover the work (and claim back against the cleaning company) or they have legal cover.

 

[afright]

Spirit of Salts is hydrochloric acid (38% concentration if my memory serves me correct) so a lot stronger than your normal cleaners. Its good for removing limescale (especially dirty toilet pans) but should be used with care and generally only be used on glazed ceramic ware and
not metal. When used it gives of chlorine gas – not a pleasant environment !.

It would appear the cleaners were not experienced with using it – sounds like eastern european labour working without supervision.

As the other posts have already said the cleaners should be liable but the crux of a successful claim will be to prove the remedial works are necessary (plenty of pictures) and to give the cleaning firm ample opportunity to put right the damage themselves. Last resort is to use the small claims court.

Although I realise this post did not originate from the home owner they could check with their insurance company whether they would cover the work (and claim back against the cleaning company) or they have legal cover.[/QUOTE They are definitely English have seen a video on the Web site, family run.

 

[SJPurdy]

[QUOTE
Although I realise this post did not originate from the home owner they could check with their insurance company whether they would cover the work (and claim back against the cleaning company) or they have legal cover.[/QUOTE]

That will be the best way to go if they have appropriate home insurance, all the hassle/stress of dealing with the cleaners and their insurance will be passed over to experts who are just doing their job!

Thanks to all the contributors for explaining what "spirit of salts".

 

[afright]

Always used Spirit of Salts in the sand and cement days for cleaning shovels and straight edges but always watered it down it is a good cleaner ,but always did it outdoors my boss would get it from the chemist and always had to sign the poison book,the poor lady paid 5 grand for her wetroom and the cleaning ruined it in an hour, she put a long feedback on their Web site makes good reading,got a bathroom fitter going to see her on Tuesday to give her a price for a refit, I have told him to take plenty of photos.