Since being in the landscaping business, I've munched some fences and struck stucco houses and a sewer line with tractors while as an operator and while watching my operator go to it.
With a line trimmer I've always been conscious of any object it might hit that would take off with sufficient velocity (450' per sec.) to cause damage or bodily harm -think about a small child about three feet tall coming around the corner while some small rocks are flying. Always keep an awareness about the area around the trimmer action (circle of safety) have to look around and not just completely focus on the ground. I cannot stand mindless operators of blowers and trimmers.
With windows or slider doors,I shield them with an object or affix a blanket in front of them -its only takes a few minutes to avoid that insurance claim - and sorry to get negative here, butyou may still hear more about it from the homeowner - he hasn't seen his bill for that tempered glass yet.

 

I broke a window on time cleaning the back yard up for a customer that had dogs . My toro 21 inch threw a rubber dog toy thru a single pane window. ( It was green and the grass was high). She said she had a freind that would fix it and the next week when I showed up to cut she had it fixed.

 

Risk managment. however being somewhat an expert in this field.

we have broken 7 this year.

breaking things is just part of the job, dont let it get you down. AND ALWAYS REPORT IT

 

I couldn’t help but to notice that you said at the end of the day the glass looked frosted and then the next day the owner came to you about it. Is there any reason why you didn’t go to the home owner? The worse thing you can do is be dishonest.

Being dishonest is a good way to loose customers, get a bad name for yourself, and get your ars kicked.

 

I agree w sanger if there is any damage to any property of any kind we imediately report it to the customer. It is better if you go to them and not have them come to you asking questins. Dont try and duck out on a few hundred dollars worth of repairs after all a few hundred dollars is not that much in the grand scheme of things and you cannot think about everything in such a drastic measure $300 for the day - $300 broken glass = $0 for the day thats not the way to think. You should think of the cost as expensed out throught all the other yards you mow say you mow 1000 yards a year so the $300 damage expensed through out the 1000yards a year your cost is actualy around 30 cents per yard

 

I've been mowing now for 21 years, I've broken 3 windows total (2 by mower and 1 by trimmer). It happens eventually, not really a matter of 'being careful' or not. Sooner or later, sh** happens.

 

If you KNOW you Broke the glass door i would Still pay to have it repaired, because 1. it's the Right thing to do. 2. it's the Professional thing to do. 3. you will most likely win a Customer for life by taking responsibility and paying for the damage you caused. and 4. word of mouth is the BEST and also the WORST Advertising, the homeowner could very easliy tell someone (yea, i have this guy doing my lawn but he broke the glass door) and you will NOT get that new customer.

 

2 windows in the last 6 years. The most expensive one was the back window of my truck. Both with an edger. Stuff happens.

 

I have only broken ONE window of a customers in all the years I've been mowing. But of course the one I broke was a doozey... $358 to replace because it was a double pane, tempered, insulated glass on a storm door. I was certianly something to see, it was still cracking long after it was hit with whatever I had kicked up onto it. I called the homeowner and left them a message (since they were both at work). He called me back and was appreciative that I had been honest with them and he said he would get it taken care of and we could settle up later. I wish I had taken matters into my own hands, because I could have bought a WHOLE NEW DOOR, identical to theirs from Lowes for $300. They had a glass shop just replace the glass, which as I said, was INSANE for even tempered glass. It wasn't beveled, or round, or stained glass either. I got bent over, but I had to just take it and pay the bill.

 

mowing or trimming i have never broke a window

been mowing for like 10 years then 2 were commercial

but throwing scrap in the back of my pos scrapping truck some thing bounced and busted out the one side of the back window ya $260 to replace i didnt even make that off the load of scrap but good thing it was the beater truck and not the good truck

 

Last year in the beginning of the season, I took out the rear passenger window of a real nice Buick. It cost me $230.00 to get it repaired. I was using an Echo stick edger and the rock shot right through the V in the rubber guard. To me that is not enough to guard against this happening. So I went to the hardware store and purchased a 1/2 yard of rubber and made one with a flap going down the middle. So far so good that i have not had it happen again. My deductible is $250.00 so it wouldn't help, but I think I would be couscous on any claim as insurance companies will pay and turn right around and drop you if they feel you are to much of a risk. Hopefully I will never need to call them, but if I do it will be if I injure someone and desperately need it.

 

I take it you do not have insurance?

 

I take it you do not have insurance?

No I do, but don't want any claims that might jeopardize it if I can pay for it myself, they will probably allow one incident. But If they are paying out claims to often for the amount of biz. a part timer has, I would think they would drop that policy fast. That is all.

 

Its about 2 windows a year for me but I dont use guards on the trimmers either. Dont think that makes a huge dif. but oh well. Cost of cutting lawns, bound to happen to anyone at anytime. I agree that any damage should be reported asap, its also hard to hear over a 2 cycle engine 14-18 inches away from your head and having ear plugs in too. Same goes with riding on a mower.

 

Edging the a front walk way I took a full glass storm door out, thought I heard a ting, looked up and the front door was spider webbed! Suck but $hit does happen!

 

not hard to do with a trimmer. always trim higher when rocks are visible. Take your time. Broke 2 in 12 or so years.

 

just last week an employee (my nephew) was edging with a trimmer and the line picked up a stone the size of a golf ball and sent it right through one of those tinted windows in a cargo van! luckily it was the smaller back window cost me 140.00 that was an expense lawn that day heheh

 

I have only broken ONE window of a customers in all the years I've been mowing. But of course the one I broke was a doozey... $358 to replace because it was a double pane, tempered, insulated glass on a storm door. I was certianly something to see, it was still cracking long after it was hit with whatever I had kicked up onto it. I called the homeowner and left them a message (since they were both at work). He called me back and was appreciative that I had been honest with them and he said he would get it taken care of and we could settle up later. I wish I had taken matters into my own hands, because I could have bought a WHOLE NEW DOOR, identical to theirs from Lowes for $300. They had a glass shop just replace the glass, which as I said, was INSANE for even tempered glass. It wasn't beveled, or round, or stained glass either. I got bent over, but I had to just take it and pay the bill.

You can remove the insert in some storm doors and take it to a glass company. I got by with $150 for the glass replaced in the insert by them, and me putting the insert back in the door frame. It's not all money saved though because of the hassle running back and forth, and losing mowing time.

 

i havnt broken one yet and i hope to keep it that way

 

Word of advice from a schooled guy...
Anytime something breaks like that?

If the customer is home, INFORM them!
Yes, tell on yourself, I know, I know.

And if they're not home?
CALL the customer before leaving the property, and leave a message letting them know.

Seriously, as you can see they don't bite your head off, but in ways you got lucky.
It's more about us letting them know than anything else, some customers will get upset if you didn't tell them by
the time they see the damage, it's a whole lot better to tell on yourself instantly.

Anyhow, it'll be all right, peace out.

No I do, but don't want any claims that might jeopardize it if I can pay for it myself, they will probably allow one incident. But If they are paying out claims to often for the amount of biz. a part timer has, I would think they would drop that policy fast. That is all.

That or they'll raise your premium so high you won't be able to afford it anymore.

 

we broke a $1700 door with a trimmer but thats what insurance is for we told the customer and called insurance company right away no problems at all

 

I shot a rock through a glass storm door with my mower. It was cheaper/faster/easier to replace the entire door than it was to replace the glass. I did it myself in 30 minutes (not counting the trip to the builders supply). The customer was happy I ruined the door, since the old one was awful.