Fiberglass in the carpet

[Bryce C]

A customer of mine needs 1 room of carpet cleaned that has fiberglass in it from some remodeling they recently did. I told her we cannot guarantee the complete removal of fiberglass as it may be woven into the carpet fibers. But then I sold her with the rest of my knowledge and powerful equipment. But I am curious, what process would you use to remove the most fiberglass possible?

It is an 18x21 berber style carpet, and the room is empty. Would you charge extra relative to your normal carpet cleaning prices?

 

[frank fratto]

A customer of mine needs 1 room of carpet cleaned that has fiberglass in it from some remodeling they recently did. I told her we cannot guarantee the complete removal of fiberglass as it may be woven into the carpet fibers. But then I sold her with the rest of my knowledge and powerful equipment. But I am curious, what process would you use to remove the most fiberglass possible?

It is an 18x21 berber style carpet, and the room is empty. Would you charge extra relative to your normal carpet cleaning prices?

1 room?

Why would you want to be RESPONSIBLE for that???

 

[frank fratto]

1 room?

Why would you want to be RESPONSIBLE for that???

I would call my Insurance agent?

Remind the agent how powerful your equipment is and of course you

couldn't GUARANTEE it to come out?

Please, let us know what the agent said?

 

[Numero Uno]

Well you would have to deep vacuum it, possibly also with a turbo cat and dust downer . But it has not embedded it has etched. Which simply means its speared itself into the fibers.I would avoid it ...You don't need the contaminants in your waster water -filters nor tank...Selling your self is great ,but it take's conviction to say NO...Time spent on that could be time spent selling a Restaurant -Law Office -Medical building.

 

[BIG WOOD]

Vacuum, vacuum, vacuum! Then detail the edges with a vacuum hose. Then treat with the surfactant turned up above normal and agitate with the CRB with the trays to catch anymore of the fiberglass. HWE with triple dry passes and use your vacuum hose on the tm to edge the walls again.

After explaining all that, don't touch it until they release liability with their signature on the invoice documenting your discussion about it.

 

[hogjowl]

I wouldn’t be over concerned about legal liability. Your normal disclaimer is probably sufficient. If not, just add a note about the fiberglass. My best process is vacuuming followed by a Rotovac cleaning with a brush head. I ALWAYS charge more for this. If you don’t have rotary extraction capability, then you’re seriously under equipped for this job.

 

[frank fratto]

Not my house, not my room, not my carpet?

You clean it, it becomes your problem?

Let's hope it doesn't become your Lawsuit?

WALK AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN RUN!!!

 

[SamIam]

Not my house, not my room, not my carpet?

You clean it, it becomes your problem?

Let's hope it doesn't become your Lawsuit?

WALK AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN RUN!!!

Paranoid hahahah, he's gonna be fine.

If anything the olefin will cut the kids worse.

 

[sassyotto]

if they had a contractor do the remodeling, its the contractors problem. If they want it 100% out thats impossible and the companies insurance agent would need to get involved for replacing it.

When we did insurance work, we were called to a hair salon where a car crashed into the building and the adjuster wanted us to clean the interior of the building. The owner wanted complete assurance that all of the glass from the window would be removed from the carpet. I told him I couldnt guarantee that so the adjuster replaced it.

You cant guarantee complete 100% removal of all the foreign substance whatever it is.

Now if the customer did the remodeling and want it 100% out then Id walk. Its their problem until someone else gets involved.

One additional point. If YOU do the cleaning and a baby crawls on the carpet and dies, then what?

 

[hogjowl]

Same thing that happens if you wreck your van and kill another person. You have to manage your risk and insure against it, but don’t become paralyzed by it.

 

[frank fratto]

In 45 years of cleaning carpet I've never had to clean up Fiberglass.

Therefore, I would never and I mean NEVER give advice on how to do something I've never done.

But I'm glad to give advice, to know when to run away from a job.

"That I have done, many of times."

AND I DON'T REGRET DOING THAT NOT ONE TIME!!!

{You got to know when to hold 'em know when to fold 'em know when to walk away!!!!!!!!!!!}

 

[they live]

Not my house, not my room, not my carpet?

You clean it, it becomes your problem?

Let's hope it doesn't become your Lawsuit?

WALK AWAY AS FAST AS YOU CAN RUN!!!

We already knew you couldn't remove it.

 

[frank fratto]

We already knew you couldn't remove it.

If you don't remove it with your dry vacuuming?????????????????

TM guys will embed with your MUD MAKING


And another thing no one's talked about PPE,

for the Carpet Cleaner HEALTH????

 

[they live]

I wouldn't touch it these days. But when I was younger I would I think I did once.

I wouldnt vacuum it though. Get it wet scrub with crb extract and repeat until I feel I did all I could. Watch the wand and look for fiber as I scrub. Clean the wand head periodically to help look for loose fiber.

I would first advise them to replace it though. Its an empty room and new carpet wont be much more than cleaning and they get a better product.

 

[they live]

if they had a contractor do the remodeling, its the contractors problem. If they want it 100% out thats impossible and the companies insurance agent would need to get involved for replacing it.

When we did insurance work, we were called to a hair salon where a car crashed into the building and the adjuster wanted us to clean the interior of the building. The owner wanted complete assurance that all of the glass from the window would be removed from the carpet. I told him I couldnt guarantee that so the adjuster replaced it.

You cant guarantee complete 100% removal of all the foreign substance whatever it is.

Now if the customer did the remodeling and want it 100% out then Id walk. Its their problem until someone else gets involved.

One additional point. If YOU do the cleaning and a baby crawls on the carpet and dies, then what?

Ask Bawb. He killed a lady once.

 

[sassyotto]

Same thing that happens if you wreck your van and kill another person. You have to manage your risk and insure against it, but don’t become paralyzed by it.

one situation you control, the other you cant.

 

[Bryce C]

I would first advise them to replace it though. Its an empty room and new carpet wont be much more than cleaning and they get a better product.

I cleaned a trashed apartment carpet several months ago and told them it really should be replaced instead of cleaned.

It was 2 small bedrooms. She said she was quoted $1600 from one company, and then $1800 from a different company, to replace the carpet in the 2 bedrooms. That was why she wanted me to clean it. The rooms were about 11x12, and 9x12. I was shocked at how much she was quoted for the replacement.

 

[Bryce C]

From AI:

"Carpet replacement typically costs
between $3 and $11 per square foot for materials, padding, and labor combined. For a standard 300-square-foot room, this usually ranges from $1,000 to over $1,900. Total costs vary based on carpet quality, style, and labor, with budget options as low as $1 per sq. ft. and luxury, high-end carpets costing $20+ per sq. ft.. "

 

[Dwain Ray]

I cleaned a trashed apartment carpet several months ago and told them it really should be replaced instead of cleaned.

It was 2 small bedrooms. She said she was quoted $1600 from one company, and then $1800 from a different company, to replace the carpet in the 2 bedrooms. That was why she wanted me to clean it. The rooms were about 11x12, and 9x12. I was shocked at how much she was quoted for the replacement.

I would say thats alot!! 55-66.00 per yard, but googling it that's mid range for high end carpet

 

[they live]

I cleaned a trashed apartment carpet several months ago and told them it really should be replaced instead of cleaned.

It was 2 small bedrooms. She said she was quoted $1600 from one company, and then $1800 from a different company, to replace the carpet in the 2 bedrooms. That was why she wanted me to clean it. The rooms were about 11x12, and 9x12. I was shocked at how much she was quoted for the replacement.

How much are you going to charge to clean that?

Its probably not enough for the risk.

And you dont have to tell me how much you would charge im just saying.

What happens when they start getting a cough everytime they vacuum after you clean it?
I would rather lose a job than a customer who figures out later they need to replace it for their health and then blames you for not doing a good enough job.

Its a risk either way but which way protects you the most and them. Its hard to tell people what they dont want to hear. Put it back on the insulation installers hands. They should at least help for replacement costs for the damage they caused if you the expert recommends replacement.

How old is the carpet and the condition before the insulation issue?
And dont prejudge your customers. Everyone complains about costs and not being able to afford things. The tightwads usually can afford the tough decisions.
$800 a room for carpet doesnt sound bad to me.