Terms Of Service

Terms of Service

Breaking Grime

Last updated: 8 August 2026

Introduction

These terms cover two things: your use of our website, and the cleaning services we provide.

Part A applies to everyone who visits www.breakinggrime.com.au.

Part B applies when you engage us to carry out work. It forms the contract between us, together with your quote.

Please read Part B before your job starts. It explains what we'll do, what we need from you, what we can't be responsible for, and how we handle problems. We've written it plainly so you can actually read it.

Who we are: Breaking Grime is operated by Philip Michael Herington as a sole trader, ABN 90 692 451 971, of 16 McDougall Street, Milton QLD 4064. In these terms, "we", "us" and "our" mean Breaking Grime, and "you" and "your" mean the person or entity engaging us.

Nothing in these terms limits your rights under the Australian Consumer Law. Section B21 explains this properly, and it prevails over anything else in this document.

PART A — WEBSITE TERMS

A1. Using our website

By using our website you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't use it.

You agree not to use the website to do anything unlawful, to interfere with its operation or security, to scrape or harvest data from it, or to attempt to gain unauthorised access to any part of it.

A2. Information on the website

We try to keep the website accurate and current, but the information on it is general in nature. Prices, service descriptions, availability, timeframes and before-and-after images are indicative only. Results shown in images were achieved on particular surfaces in particular conditions and are not a promise of what will be achieved on yours.

Nothing on the website is an offer capable of acceptance. A binding agreement is formed only as described in section B1.

A3. Intellectual property

All content on the website — text, photographs, video, logos, the Breaking Grime name and branding, and the site design — is owned by us or licensed to us. You may view and print it for your own personal, non-commercial use. You may not copy, reproduce, republish or use it commercially without our written permission.

A4. Links to other sites

Our website may link to third-party sites. We don't control them and aren't responsible for their content, products or privacy practices.

A5. Availability

We don't guarantee the website will always be available, uninterrupted or error-free.

A6. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy explains how we handle your personal information, including cookies and analytics. It forms part of these terms.

PART B — SERVICE TERMS

B1. Quotes and how the agreement is formed

Quotes. We provide written quotes by email, SMS or through our job management system. A quote is valid for 30 days unless it says otherwise.

Remote quotes are estimates. Where we've quoted based on photographs, measurements, a map or your description without attending the property, the price is an estimate. We'll confirm it on arrival.

How the agreement forms. A binding agreement is formed when you accept our quote in writing (including by email, SMS or by clicking to accept in our system), or when you allow us to begin work at the property. At that point these terms apply.

Authority. By engaging us, you confirm you either own the property or have the owner's authority to have the work done. This matters if you're a tenant, a property manager, a body corporate committee member, a builder or a neighbour. If you don't have that authority, you're responsible to us for any resulting loss or claim.

Strata and common property. Where work is on common property, you confirm you have the necessary body corporate authorisation. We may ask to see it.

B2. Price, variations and additional charges

Fixed price, subject to site inspection. Our quoted price is fixed for the scope described in the quote. If, on arrival or during the work, the actual condition, size, access or surface type differs materially from what we were told or could reasonably assess, we may need to vary the price.

How variations work. We'll stop, tell you what's changed, and give you a revised price before doing the extra work. You can accept it, decline it, or ask us to complete only the original scope. If you decline and we can't sensibly complete the original scope, either of us may cancel and you'll only pay for work already properly done.

Travel. Our standard service area is South East Queensland. Properties more than 50km from the Brisbane GPO (261 Queen Street, Brisbane QLD 4000) by road attract a travel surcharge, which we'll include in your quote before you accept it.

What isn't included unless stated in your quote: moving heavy furniture or vehicles; removal of rubbish, green waste or debris beyond what our cleaning produces; repairs of any kind; sealing or coating; window interiors; and any work requiring scaffolding, an elevated work platform or a licensed trade.

GST. All prices include GST where applicable.

B3. Booking, arrival and rescheduling

Arrival windows. We book arrival windows, not exact times, because job durations vary. We'll contact you if we're running significantly late.

Weather. Pressure washing and soft washing are weather-dependent. We may reschedule for rain, high wind, extreme heat, storms or unsafe roof conditions. Rescheduling for weather or safety attracts no fee to either of us — we'll offer you the next available slot.

Water restrictions. If water restrictions, a water carrier's directions or a council requirement prevent or limit the work, we'll reschedule without penalty. Some cleaning is exempt from restrictions on health and safety grounds; we'll advise where we can.

B4. Cancellation, rescheduling and non-access

We keep a tight schedule and a cancelled job usually can't be refilled at short notice. Our cancellation fees are:

"Cannot access or start work" includes: nobody present where access requires it, gates or side access locked, an unsecured dog on the property, no usable water supply, vehicles not moved, the area not cleared as required by section B5, or the site being unsafe.

These fees are a genuine pre-estimate of our loss — the time held, the travel, and the slot we couldn't fill. If you cancel because of something we've done wrong, no fee applies.

We won't charge a fee where you cancel because of a genuine emergency, illness or bereavement. Just tell us.

If we cancel. If we cancel or reschedule for any reason other than weather, safety or circumstances outside our control, you pay nothing and we'll prioritise rebooking you.

B5. What we need from you before we arrive

Please make sure, before we start:

• Water. A working outdoor tap with adequate flow and pressure is available and we may use it. Our equipment is petrol-powered so we don't need your electricity. You bear the cost of water used, which for a typical residential job is minor.
• Access. Gates, side access and the work area are unlocked and clear, and any codes or keys have been provided.
• Windows and doors in and adjacent to the work area are fully closed and latched, including louvres, security screens, vents, skylights and pet doors.
• Pets are secured indoors or off the property, and any droppings have been removed.
• Vehicles, boats, trailers and machinery are moved out of the work area and overspray range.
• Outdoor furniture, potted plants, ornaments, toys, rugs, cushions, artwork, solar lights, cables and anything else moveable or fragile are removed from the area. If you'd like us to move items, ask us first — we may agree, but we do so at your risk unless we've agreed otherwise in writing.
• Delicate plants you're particularly concerned about are covered, moved or pointed out to us.
• Disclosure. You've told us about anything relevant, including known leaks, water ingress, previous flooding, loose or damaged tiles, brittle roofing, rotten timber, failed sealant, damaged flashing, recent painting or rendering, electrical faults, unsafe structures, damaged fencing, tank water systems that need isolating, and — critically — any asbestos-containing materials or lead paint.

If these things aren't done, we may be unable to start (see B4), or we may proceed with your agreement on the basis that we're not responsible for damage that would have been avoided.

B6. Asbestos-containing materials

We do not, under any circumstances, pressure wash, soft wash or otherwise water-blast material we know or suspect to contain asbestos. High-pressure water cleaning of asbestos-containing material is prohibited under Queensland work health and safety law because it releases fibres. This isn't a policy we can be talked out of.

Asbestos cement was widely used in Australian homes and structures built or renovated before 1990 — in fibro wall cladding and eaves, corrugated roofing, fencing, garage and shed walls, and around wet areas.

Accordingly:

• You must tell us if the property was built or renovated before 1990, and whether any asbestos-containing material is present or suspected. If you don't know, say so.
• If we identify or reasonably suspect asbestos-containing material on arrival or during the work, we will stop work on that material immediately and tell you. We'll complete the rest of the job if it's safe to do so.
• We'll charge for work properly completed. If the affected material is most of the job and we've already attended, our non-access fee under B4 applies.
• We may recommend you arrange a licensed asbestos assessor. We are not qualified to identify asbestos definitively and any view we express is a precaution, not an assessment.
• You are responsible for any loss, cost or claim arising from your failure to disclose asbestos-containing material you knew or ought reasonably to have known about.

B7. Lead paint and older coatings

Paint applied before 1978 may contain lead, and paint from before 1997 may contain lead at lower levels. Pressure washing lead paint can spread contaminated flakes and dust across soil and surrounding areas.

You must tell us if the property was built or last painted before 1997. Where lead paint is present or suspected, we may decline the work, or may only proceed using low-pressure methods with containment and with your written acknowledgement. The same disclosure responsibility in B6 applies.

B8. Roof and height work

We carry out roof and elevated work up to two storeys. We will not work above two storeys, and we won't work at height where conditions are unsafe.

Roofs are inherently fragile and roof cleaning carries risks that no operator can eliminate:

• Old, brittle, cracked or previously damaged tiles can break under any foot traffic, including careful traffic. We take reasonable care, but some breakage on aged tile roofs is normal and not a fault in our work.
• Ridge capping, mortar bedding and pointing on older roofs is often already deteriorated and can dislodge during cleaning.
• Water can enter through pre-existing gaps, failed flashing, perished sealant, damaged sarking, blocked or corroded valleys, or missing tiles. Cleaning a roof frequently reveals defects that were already there.
• Aged Colorbond, Zincalume and painted metal roofing may already be oxidised, chalked or corroded beneath the grime; cleaning can make this visible.

We'll inspect and tell you what we see before starting where we reasonably can. If we consider a roof too unsafe or too fragile to clean, we'll decline the work and explain why. We are not responsible for pre-existing defects, or for damage or water ingress that results from them. Section B10 sets out the full position.

B9. Chemicals, soft washing and run-off

Many jobs — particularly roofs, render, painted surfaces and organic growth — are done by soft washing, which uses a cleaning solution at low pressure rather than high-pressure water. This is usually the safer method and often the only appropriate one.

You should know:

• We use commercial cleaning products including sodium hypochlorite based solutions, surfactants and detergents, applied at appropriate dilutions.
• Plants and lawn. We wet down and rinse vegetation as a precaution, but chemical treatment can still stress, mark or kill plants, especially in hot weather or where a plant is already unwell. Ferns, orchids, succulents, seedlings, newly planted areas and some natives are especially vulnerable. We are not responsible for plant damage where we've taken these reasonable precautions, and we don't accept responsibility for plants you haven't identified as valuable or sensitive.
• People and pets should stay out of the work area during treatment and until surfaces have dried. Do not let pets drink from puddles or wet surfaces. Tell us in advance if anyone at the property has a respiratory condition or chemical sensitivity, or if there are chickens, fish ponds, aquaculture or beehives on the property.
• Tank water. If the property collects roof water into a tank, you must tell us. It's your responsibility to isolate or divert the downpipes before treatment, and to have the tank checked afterwards if you're concerned. We are not responsible for tank water contamination where you haven't disclosed the system.
• Fabric, metal and colour. Cleaning solutions can bleach or mark fabric, shade sails, awnings, artificial turf, powder coating, anodised aluminium, unsealed timber and some stone. Cover or remove what you can, and point out what you can't.
• Run-off. We manage run-off responsibly and comply with our environmental obligations. Where a site requires containment or specific disposal arrangements — as some commercial and industrial sites do — that must be discussed and quoted before work begins.
• Safety Data Sheets for the products we use are available on request.

B10. Condition of surfaces and what we can't be responsible for

Exterior cleaning removes what's on top of a surface. It reveals the surface underneath, and that surface is often not in the condition the owner assumed.

We are not responsible for the following, and they are not defects in our work:

• Damage arising from any pre-existing defect, deterioration, damage or poor workmanship;
• Failure, lifting, flaking, peeling, blistering or removal of paint, render, coatings or sealants that were already oxidised, chalky, unsound, aged or poorly applied;
• Loosening or loss of mortar, pointing, grout, bedding or ridge capping that was already deteriorated;
• Cracked, chipped, brittle or previously damaged roof tiles, pavers, bricks, render or concrete;
• Water ingress through pre-existing gaps, failed flashing, perished or missing sealant, damaged sarking, deteriorated window and door seals, or defective plumbing and guttering;
• Timber furring, raising of grain, splintering, or movement of decking, fencing and other timber, which is a normal consequence of wetting timber;
• Damage to, or loosening of, anything that was already loose, rusted, rotten, corroded, unsecured or unsafe;
• Damage to fixtures, fittings, lighting, cameras, cabling, insect screens, solar equipment or electrical items that were not weather-sealed, not properly installed, or not identified to us;
• Damage caused by your failure to close windows and doors, secure pets, move items, or disclose a hazard as required by B5;
• Damage to items we moved at your request;
• The condition of any surface becoming visible once the dirt is removed;
• Any consequence of us following your specific instruction, where we've advised against it and you've asked us to proceed anyway.

What cleaning cannot fix. Cleaning removes dirt, mould, mildew, lichen, algae, moss and surface staining. It does not remove or repair:

• Etching, pitting, scaling or acid damage in concrete or stone;
• Rust staining, tannin staining, mineral or efflorescence staining that has penetrated the surface;
• Oil, paint, adhesive, tyre marks, battery acid or chemical stains that have soaked in;
• UV fading, oxidation, chalking or discolouration of the surface itself;
• Uneven weathering, patchiness or "shadowing" where objects have sat on a surface for a long time, or where part of a surface has been previously cleaned;
• Any structural or material defect.

We'll tell you before or during the job if we think a stain won't come out. Where we've advised this and you've asked us to proceed anyway, the job is complete when the achievable clean has been achieved.

B11. Our workmanship guarantee

We stand behind our work. If within 30 days of completion you're not satisfied that an area we cleaned was properly cleaned, tell us and we'll return and re-clean it at no charge.

To make a claim, contact us within 30 days of completion with a description and photographs of the concern.

The guarantee covers areas we cleaned that weren't cleaned to a reasonable standard. It doesn't cover:

• Regrowth of mould, algae, lichen or moss, or the return of dirt. In the South East Queensland climate, shaded, damp and south-facing surfaces can show regrowth within months. That's the climate, not the clean.
• Anything listed in B10 as not removable by cleaning.
• New staining, marking or soiling occurring after we left.
• Areas we advised couldn't be improved further.
• Work you've asked us to do in a way we advised against.

This guarantee is in addition to your Australian Consumer Law rights, not a substitute for them. See B21.

B12. Payment

When payment is due. Payment is due on completion of the work at the property, or within 7 days of the date of our invoice, whichever applies to your job. There's no deposit.

How to pay. Bank transfer, card, or any other method shown on the invoice. Card payments may attract the payment processor's surcharge, which we'll disclose before you pay.

Commercial, strata and agency accounts. Where the person who books isn't the person paying, both the booking party and the property owner may be responsible for payment unless we've agreed otherwise in writing.

Late payment. If an invoice isn't paid by the due date:

• We'll send you a reminder.
• Interest accrues at 10% per annum, calculated daily on the outstanding balance, starting 7 days after the due date. We won't charge interest without first giving you notice that the invoice is overdue.
• If the account remains unpaid 30 days after the due date, we may refer it for collection. You are responsible for our reasonable costs of recovery actually incurred, including debt collection agency fees and legal costs.
• We may decline to book further work while an account is outstanding.

Disputed invoices. If you dispute part of an invoice, pay the undisputed portion by the due date and tell us in writing what's in dispute within 7 days. We won't charge interest or start recovery on a genuinely disputed amount while we're working through it with you.

B13. Cooling-off rights for unsolicited agreements

If we approached you — at your door, over the phone, or in a public place — and you agreed to work as a result of that approach, the agreement may be an unsolicited consumer agreement under the Australian Consumer Law. If so, you have important extra rights:

• You may terminate the agreement within 10 business days, without penalty and without giving a reason. The period starts the first business day after you received the written agreement (or, if it was made by phone, the first business day after the agreement was made).
• We must not begin work during the 10 business day period, unless the agreement is worth more than $500 and you've asked us to and specific conditions are met.
• We must not accept or require any payment during the 10 business day period.
• If you terminate within the cooling-off period, we must refund anything you've paid.

How to terminate: tell us in writing — email contact@breakinggrime.com.au, post to 16 McDougall Street, Milton QLD 4064, or use the termination notice we gave you with your agreement. We'll confirm receipt.

Where these rules apply, we'll give you a written agreement at the time containing everything the law requires, including a clear notice of your termination rights. We'll only contact you within the hours the law permits, and we'll leave immediately if you ask us to.

If you contacted us, these unsolicited agreement rules don't apply, and there's no general cooling-off period — though our cancellation terms in B4 still give you a way out.

B14. Subcontractors and employees

We may carry out work through employees or subcontractors. Where we do, we remain responsible to you under these terms for the work, and we require anyone we engage to be appropriately trained, licensed and insured, and to keep your information confidential.

B15. Insurance

We hold public liability insurance to the value of $20 million. A certificate of currency is available on request, and we're happy to provide one to a body corporate, property manager or commercial client before work starts.

B16. Safety and our right to stop work

We may pause, refuse or stop work at any time, without liability, if we reasonably consider the site or task unsafe. This includes unsafe roof conditions, fragile or brittle surfaces, unsafe access, exposed or damaged electrical installations, aggressive animals, abusive or threatening behaviour, suspected asbestos or lead, or weather.

If we stop for safety, we'll explain why. You'll pay for work properly completed to that point. If we stop because of something you failed to disclose or prepare, our B4 fees may apply.

We won't tolerate abusive, threatening or discriminatory behaviour toward us or anyone working with us, and we may leave the site immediately if it occurs.

B17. Your responsibility to us

You're responsible for loss, damage, cost or claim we suffer that's caused by:

• your breach of these terms;
• your failure to disclose a hazard or defect you knew or ought reasonably to have known about, including asbestos or lead paint;
• your not having authority to engage us for the property; or
• an unsafe condition at the property that you created or were aware of.

This doesn't apply to the extent the loss was caused by our own negligence or breach, and it doesn't apply to anything the Australian Consumer Law says can't be shifted to you.

B18. Things outside our control

Neither of us is responsible for failing to perform because of something genuinely outside our reasonable control — severe weather, flood, storm, fire, water restrictions, government direction, equipment failure that couldn't reasonably have been prevented, serious illness, accident or supply failure. We'll tell you as soon as we can and reschedule.

B19. Our liability

Subject to B21 (which prevails over this section):

• We're not liable for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profit, loss of rent, loss of opportunity or loss of business, however caused.
• We're not liable for any loss listed in B10 as outside our responsibility.
• Where the law permits us to limit our liability, our total liability arising out of a job is limited, at our option, to re-supplying the services or paying the cost of having them re-supplied by someone else.
• Where the law does not permit that limitation, our liability is limited to the extent the law allows.
• Our liability is reduced to the extent your own act, omission or non-disclosure contributed to the loss.
• Any claim must be notified to us in writing within 30 days of you becoming aware of it, so we have a fair chance to inspect and respond. This doesn't affect statutory rights that operate for longer periods.

For commercial and business customers, our total liability for any job is capped at the amount you paid us for that job, except where the law prevents that cap.

B20. Complaints and disputes

Talk to us first. If something's gone wrong, contact us before doing anything else. Email contact@breakinggrime.com.au or call +61 493 009 674. Most problems are fixable and we'd rather fix them.

Please include what happened, when, and photographs if you have them. We'll acknowledge within 2 business days and give you a written response within 10 business days. Where a site visit helps, we'll arrange one.

If we can't resolve it. Either of us may then take the matter further. Options include:

• Queensland Office of Fair Trading — free conciliation for consumer disputes: 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or qld.gov.au/fairtrading
• Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) — for minor civil disputes: qcat.qld.gov.au
• Court proceedings.

Nothing in this section prevents either of us from seeking urgent relief, or from going to a tribunal or court. It just asks that you give us a fair chance to fix it first.

B21. Australian Consumer Law

This section overrides anything else in these terms.

Our services come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the Australian Consumer Law. Among other things, we guarantee that our services will be:

• provided with due care and skill;
• fit for any particular purpose you told us about and relied on us for; and
• supplied within a reasonable time.

If we fail to meet a consumer guarantee, you have rights. For a minor problem, we can choose to fix it. For a major problem — one where the service is substantially unfit for its purpose, or where you wouldn't have engaged us had you known — you can cancel the contract and get a refund, or keep the contract and seek compensation for the difference in value. You're also entitled to compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage caused by our failure.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy you have under the Australian Consumer Law or any other law that can't be excluded. Where a term of this agreement would do so, it doesn't apply. Where the law allows us to limit our liability rather than exclude it, our liability is limited as set out in B19.

B22. Privacy

We handle your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these terms. That policy explains what we collect, how we use before-and-after photographs, and how to access, correct or complain about your information.

B23. General

Governing law. These terms are governed by the law of Queensland, and both of us submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals of Queensland.

Changes to these terms. We may update these terms from time to time. The version on our website when your agreement is formed is the version that applies to your job. Changes don't apply retrospectively to work already booked.

Severability. If any part of these terms is found to be unenforceable, that part is severed and the rest continues to apply.

No waiver. If we don't enforce a right straight away, that doesn't mean we've given it up.

Entire agreement. Your quote and these terms are the whole agreement between us. Where they conflict, the quote prevails for scope and price, and these terms prevail for everything else.

Assignment. You can't transfer this agreement without our consent. We may transfer it if we sell or restructure the business, and we'll tell you if we do.

Notices. Notices may be given by email to the address each of us has provided, or by post to the addresses above. Email notices are taken to be received on the business day sent, unless we're told delivery failed.

B24. Contact

Breaking Grime ABN 90 692 451 971 16 McDougall Street, Milton QLD 4064 Email: contact@breakinggrime.com.au Phone: +61 493 009 674 Web: www.breakinggrime.com.au