Tag Archives: Insurance

Ladder work requires workers comp insurance

Why Workers’ Compensation Insurance Matters When Hiring a Window Cleaning Company

When homeowners compare window cleaning companies, price is often the first thing they notice. But one of the most important questions you can ask has nothing to do with the upfront cost.

Does the company carry workers’ compensation insurance?

It may not be the most exciting topic, but it can make a huge difference if something goes wrong.

What Is Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

Workers’ compensation insurance provides medical coverage and lost wages for employees who are injured while working. Window cleaning is a physically demanding profession that involves ladders, roofs, uneven terrain, and working at height. Even with proper training and safety procedures, accidents can happen.

When a company carries workers’ compensation insurance, an employee who is injured on your property is covered through the company’s insurance policy.

Why It Matters to Colorado Homeowners

If a window cleaner is injured while working on your property and the company does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, the situation can quickly become much more serious.

Imagine you have hired a window cleaner to clean your windows and while cleaning a window on a roof, they have a misstep getting to the ladder and fall to the ground, breaking a leg. You find out that window cleaner could not afford workers comp insurance, but says that since he is the owner, he isn’t required to have it. That is true for an owner operator. However, he doesn’t carry any other health insurance and now has to cover the cost of his broken leg. He discovers that is also unaffordable, so his best option is to file a claim on your homeowners insurance policy for his broken leg.

In Colorado, an injured worker may seek compensation through the homeowner’s insurance if they are injured while performing work on the property and they do not carry workers’ compensation coverage. These claims do happen and can result in higher insurance premiums, legal expenses, or significant financial consequences depending on the circumstances.

Workers’ compensation insurance is designed to protect both the worker and the homeowner by providing a dedicated source of benefits for work-related injuries. When a professional window cleaning company carries the proper coverage, injuries are generally handled through the company’s workers’ compensation policy rather than involving the homeowner’s insurance.

Hiring a properly insured company helps reduce these risks and provides peace of mind that everyone is protected.

Why Don’t All Window Cleaning Companies Carry It?

The simple answer is cost.

Workers’ compensation insurance is one of the largest insurance expenses for a window cleaning business because the work involves climbing ladders and working at heights. Premiums can be substantial, especially for companies with employees.

Because of this, many smaller companies choose business structures that avoid hiring employees altogether. Some operate strictly as owner operators, while others rely on independent subcontractors instead of employees. If you find this is the case, you will almost always find that they do not have workers comp insurance.

While many owner-operated businesses provide excellent service, it’s still important to understand who is actually performing the work at your home and whether they are properly insured. It only takes one mistake and the cost is substantially more than the cost of coverage, but you may be the one paying it.

New Companies Often Present Greater Risk

Many new window cleaning businesses begin with limited financial resources. Purchasing liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, equipment, and workers’ compensation insurance can be expensive, making it tempting to postpone certain coverages.

At the same time, newer companies typically have less experience working safely around ladders, steep terrain, difficult access, and unique home designs. Like any skilled trade, experience plays a significant role in recognizing hazards and preventing accidents.

That combination of less experience and limited insurance coverage can create additional risk for both the worker and the homeowner.

Ask Before You Hire

Before hiring any window cleaning company, it’s worth asking a few simple questions:

  • Do you carry workers’ compensation insurance?
  • Are the people working at my home employees or subcontractors?
  • Can you provide proof of insurance?
  • Do you also carry general liability insurance?

A reputable company should be happy to answer these questions and provide documentation if requested.

Peace of Mind Is Worth It

Choosing the lowest price isn’t always the least expensive decision in the long run.

When inviting people onto your property to perform work, you want to know they are experienced, properly insured, and committed to safety is one of the best investments you can make.

A professional window cleaning company invests in employee training, safe work practices, quality equipment, general liability insurance, commercial auto insurance, and workers’ compensation coverage. While those investments may increase operating costs, they also help ensure that if an accident occurs, everyone involved is protected.

Before hiring any contractor to work on your property, ask for proof of workers’ compensation insurance. A few extra dollars spent on a properly insured company today could save you from a costly insurance claim tomorrow.

Which is Why We Always Carry Full Coverage Worker’s Comp Insurance

At Peak Window Cleaning, we believe that protecting our customers begins with protecting our team. That’s why we carry comprehensive insurance coverage, including workers’ compensation, general liability, commercial auto, and other business insurance designed to safeguard both our employees and our clients.

Insurance is only part of the equation. We also invest in ongoing safety training, modern equipment, and established procedures that help our technicians recognize hazards, work efficiently, and reduce the risk of accidents. Safety isn’t something we think about only after an incident happens, it’s built into every job we perform.

When you hire a professional window cleaning company, you’re not just paying for clean windows. You’re investing in experience, accountability, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing the company working on your home is committed to doing the job safely and responsibly.

Why insurance is important in window cleaning

The Importance of Insurance in Window Cleaning

When you hire a window cleaning company, you’re not just paying for shiny glass, you’re trusting someone with one of the most expensive things in your home or business. Windows today are far more complex with many different types of glass and coatings, and the risks involved are real.

That’s why full insurance coverage isn’t optional. It protects the window cleaner, and it protects you, the home or business owner.

Let’s see why it matters.

General Liability Insurance: Protecting Your Property

General liability insurance covers accidental property damage or bodily injury caused during the job.

Even experienced technicians can have accidents. A ladder can shift. A tool can fall. Without liability coverage, the homeowner may be forced to file a claim on their own policy, or worse, pay out of pocket.

Proper liability insurance ensures:

  • Accidental property damage is covered.
  • Medical costs are handled if someone is injured.
  • The homeowner isn’t pulled into a legal or financial mess.

Errors & Omissions (E&O) or Care, Custody & Control: When the Glass Itself Is Damaged

This is where things get serious.

Professional window cleaners are expected to understand different types of glass and how they respond to cleaning methods. Not all glass is created equal.

For example:

  • Tempered glass can have fabrication debris that makes it prone to scratching.
  • Low-E coated glass requires specific tools and techniques.
  • Older glass can be fragile or uneven.
  • Construction debris removal requires specialized knowledge and care.

A trained professional should know:

  • When a scraper is safe to use and when it is not.
  • How to test glass before cleaning.
  • How to identify manufacturer defects that could lead to scratching.
  • How to adjust technique based on the surface.

If someone lacks that knowledge and scratches multiple panes, the cost can be staggering. One large piece of glass can cost thousands of dollars to replace, often more than a window cleaner earns in an entire week. Damage to several panes can quickly climb into five figures.

Here’s the critical issue:

If the company does not carry proper Errors & Omissions or Care, Custody & Control coverage, their insurance company may deny the claim because the glass was “being worked on by a professional” at the time of damage.

That can leave:

  • The window cleaner unable to afford the repair.
  • The homeowner stuck with thousands of dollars in replacement costs.
  • A stressful legal dispute over who is responsible.

This type of coverage specifically protects against damage to the property being serviced. Without it, you are exposed.

Workers’ Compensation: Protecting You From Injury Claims

Window cleaning involves ladders, roofs, and physical labor. Falls and injuries can happen.

If a company does not carry workers’ compensation insurance and a worker is injured on your property, the injured employee may pursue compensation through your homeowner’s insurance.

Workers’ comp ensures:

  • The employee’s medical bills are covered.
  • Lost wages are covered.
  • The homeowner is protected from liability claims.

Professional tip: Not many window cleaners have this insurance because it is really expensive! They get around it by paying their technicians as contractors instead of employees. Always ask if they have Workers Comp insurance for your own protection. 

Commercial Auto Insurance: Covering Business Vehicle Risk

If a company drives from job to job, they need commercial auto insurance, not just personal auto coverage. In fact, if they don’t have commercial auto and the insurance company finds out they were actually using the vehicle for business, they will deny the claim. That creates major financial exposure.

Commercial auto protects:

  • Damage caused by company vehicles.
  • Injuries related to vehicle accidents.
  • The company’s ability to handle claims properly.

The Reality: Not All Insurance Is Equal

Some companies carry minimal coverage. Some carry policies that exclude key protections. Some carry none at all.

If a claim is filed and coverage is inadequate, the insurance company will deny it. They are contractually obligated to follow the policy, not to “do the right thing.”

That denial can mean:

  • Thousands of dollars in unrecovered damage.
  • Lengthy disputes.
  • Homeowners left paying for repairs.

Windows are one of the most expensive exterior components of a home. Replacing custom or large-pane glass is not cheap. And most small operators cannot afford to personally cover large-scale glass replacement.

It’s Up to the Homeowner to Verify Protection

Before hiring a window cleaning company, ask for:

  • A current certificate of insurance.
  • Proof of general liability.
  • Confirmation of Care, Custody & Control or E&O coverage.
  • Proof of workers’ compensation.
  • Proof of commercial auto insurance.

A professional company will provide it without hesitation.

If a company avoids the question or minimizes the importance of insurance, that’s a red flag. 

That is why we include it with every estimate. We want you to know, we are fully covered, for both your and our peace of mind. 

The Bottom Line

A professional window cleaner isn’t just responsible for making your glass sparkle — they are responsible for understanding the materials they are working on and protecting them properly.

Full insurance coverage protects:

  • Your property.
  • The technicians.
  • The company.
  • Your financial security.

When comparing quotes, remember: lower prices often reflect lower overhead, and insurance is one of the largest overhead expenses in this industry.

The cheapest bid can quickly become the most expensive mistake if something goes wrong.

Peace of mind is worth protecting.