FAQ

Is the quote free ?

Our quotes are free and with no obligation to buy.  Please note, however, that we can only visit outside the time we spend installing nets and that during busy periods you may need to be a little patient... To save time in preparing your quote,  we invite you to send us a sketch of your balcony (with the dimensions to be secured) along with photos of the sides, floor, ceiling and railing.  With these various elements, we will be able to assess  the work required and send you an offer, or consider other options for more information: further details or arranging a visit.   Don't forget to give us your surname, first name, full address, floor, building entry code, telephone number and e-mail.  

Will the green net reduce the brightness of my home?

Hardly at all: given the mesh size of the net, the brightness of your home should not drop by more than 1% - so the impact on light is minimal.  

The fir-green net, thanks to its metal filament, is particularly strong and will withstand wear and weather conditions as well as any appetite your favourite pet may have for it. Moreover, although it may appear more visible than the transparent net, it turns out that the green colour quickly becomes invisible to the human eye when it focuses into the distance. ProtectionChat strongly recommends its fir-green nets.

The transparent net is resistant to UV and bad weather. However, it has little resistance to sharp objects and to fangs, which is why we advise against it in places where animals may spend time (e.g. at floor level). The transparent net tends to slacken over the seasons and can be adjusted by the customer. However, care must be taken not to tighten it too much in hot weather, as it will no longer be able to tighten by itself when the temperature drops. Mesh approx. 3x3cm.
Please note that, for obvious safety reasons and except on exceptional request, ProtectionChat no longer installs transparent nets. Because of their fragility, these nets are excluded from our guarantee.

Would you like a transparent net? Read this…

Galvanised steel cable is very strong and has a surface treatment that makes it "rust-proof" for a few years; it is very resistant (up to a load of about 240 kg) but it is rather rough, which can wear the net prematurely if it is constantly exposed to strong winds.

Stainless steel cable will not change in appearance over the years.  It will withstand a load of up to 320 Kg and will be gentle on the net for many years thanks to its very smooth weave.

One of the most important and best-known characteristics of stainless steel is its resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel is composed mainly of iron and carbon, to which several other alloying elements are added, the most important being chromium. Other common alloys found in stainless steel are nickel, magnesium, molybdenum and nitrogen.

Here are its main properties:

• corrosion-resistant;
• high tensile strength;
• very durable;
• temperature-resistant;
• low maintenance;
• long service life;
• attractive appearance;
• recyclable.

Are your installations guaranteed  ?

Yes!  We guarantee our installations against any installation or manufacturing defect for 3 years.
The nets are guaranteed for normal use.  Tears caused by chewing (transparent nets) or by misuse cannot be covered by the guarantee; however, we can repair or replace them.
Travel costs are not covered by the guarantee.

How do you fix a safety frame without drilling into the walls?

Good fixing is essential for maximum safety. Our frames have stainless steel corners specially designed to bear heavy loads; this is a ProtectionChat exclusive .
It is essential that the two side walls are perfectly parallel. (see example)

To fix the frame, simply put its 4 corners under pressure by unscrewing the special feet that are supplied when you choose this option. We recommend using thin locking pliers to ensure maximum pressure.

Frames fixed without drilling are held in place by pressure against the side walls.  It is the customer's responsibility to check regularly that the pressure is still sufficient and that there is no risk of the frame moving over time.

That's normal: a net is alive... in winter it contracts, in summer or in hot weather it tends to expand.

The transparent net tends to slacken over the seasons and can be adjusted by the customer. However, care must be taken not to tighten it too much in hot weather, as it will no longer be able to tighten by itself when the temperature drops. Mesh approx. 3x3cm.

A net that is too taut makes a fantastic playground for cats... which is why you should not tighten your net too much.

We charge a flat-rate travel fee.

For the sake of transparency, it is shown separately in our quotes. The travel fee is a flat sum covering vehicle costs (maintenance, depreciation, fuel, insurance) as well as the time spent travelling (return trip) and sometimes parking fees.

Some property management agencies recommend ProtectionChat to their tenants, and we thank them warmly; some co-ownership associations have voted at their general meeting, in favour of a harmonious façade, for one type of net (green or transparent), and strongly recommend ProtectionChat to co-owners wishing to secure their windows and balconies: our installations are very discreet and respectful of the property.

As a tenant, and given the current property market, you run the risk of meeting an objection on principle... The nets we install are practically invisible: contrary to popular belief, the green net is less visible than the transparent net. The latter shines in the sun.  Our installations are easy to dismantle and it only takes a few minutes to restore everything to its original condition.

Yes. We are always happy to collect testimonials from our customers - you will find them by clicking here.  Our customers are our best advertisement and some of them vouch for the quality of our services on social media.

I wanted to know: if I move house one day, is the system easy to remove?

Yes - dismantling an installation is relatively simple.  If there are no holes, you simply take down the frames and other items. The tools that may be needed are: pliers, screwdriver, wire cutters.  If it is an installation with drilled holes, the supports (profiles, hooks, wall plugs) will need to be removed and the holes then filled with filler.  ProtectionChat can take care of removing nets, frames and other safety equipment; we also handle waste disposal (recycling or other). This service is chargeable.

• CatMan is the founder of ProtectionChat (2006); CatMan is a McGyver of cat safety. When he is not busy installing nets, he designs and creates new safety solutions. We owe him the safety frames, the goal frames (which look more like hockey goals), the self-supporting "Catios" and 3D structures that make it possible to secure places that are difficult to protect.  CatMan creates cat protection without drilling holes.
• SuperMario has been the administrator since 2016; Mario is a biologist by training, and he is passionate and fascinating when he talks to you about the animal kingdom.
• Badoo is our workshop manager - he carefully puts CatMan's ideas into practice and takes part in many installations.
• Seymur is one of the friendly driving forces of ProtectionChat.ch
• Bek!m is head of operations - he supervises many sites and organises logistics as well as installations.
• Tiger is one of Protection Chat's mascots.  You can meet him if you visit our workshops, right in the heart of Geneva.

Roxane lives part-time with CatMan and comes to purr beside him when he is updating the website or answering your questions or quote requests.

This fact sheet summarises the main legal provisions in force concerning cats. The general provisions of the Animal Protection Ordinance also apply to cats: it is therefore forbidden to neglect, abandon, mistreat or cruelly kill cats.

Cats in Swiss law (PDF)

If you move house, it is possible to resize a frame: for this, both the height AND the width must be smaller than the previous measurements.  This service is only available if the frames are dropped off at and collected from our Geneva workshop.  Allow approx. 50% of the value of a new frame, min. Fr. 100.- excl. VAT per frame.

That's possible... however, we believe that price should not be the only deciding factor and we invite you to ask yourself the right questions:  

1. Will the work be of good quality ? with a nice finish?  (*)
2. How durable will the installation be?
3. What guarantee is offered?
4. Who is the installer ? a genuine company listed in the Commercial Register? What are its references ?
5. Will I get an invoice ? are VAT and social charges paid ?

Have you received a competing offer? we will gladly help you make sense of it... contact us by clicking here.

Our installations are guaranteed for "parts and labour" against any manufacturing or installation defect.  If there is a problem, we do our best to intervene as quickly as possible.  Please send us an email with a few photos (close-ups and an overall view) so that we can schedule our intervention under the guarantee as soon as possible.  The guarantee period is stated in the quote.

Please note: transparent nets, which we only install in exceptional cases, are not covered by the guarantee.

Quote validity:
Our quotes are valid for 2 months from the date of issue.

Payment terms:
In order to keep our prices as fair as possible, we offer the following payment options:

• Payment in advance: e-banking - NB: the full amount must reach us no later than 72 hours before work begins.
• Cash payment: (in cash) as soon as the nets have been installed.
• Payment by bank card: (in advance) subject to bank and processing fees of 4.5%

Invoice:
The receipted invoice is handed over on the spot or sent by email.

Receipt of the quote:
Please confirm that you have received the quote.

To place an order: please preferably click on the link in the quote to confirm your choices or alternatively reply to the quote email, specifying:

1. the package(s) chosen (e.g. balcony, window, etc.).
2. any option(s) chosen (according to what is offered above, for example: stainless steel cable)
3. the chosen payment method: in advance or in cash.
4. Your preferences regarding the time of installation: as far as possible, we will try to offer you a date that meets your expectations.

Preparing the work area
To protect the health of our staff, the balcony must be free of bird droppings.
To allow us to work efficiently and above all to limit the risk of damage and other problems, we ask our customers to kindly clear the access and the work area, i.e. at least 1 metre away from the elements to which we will attach the net.

With or without drilling:
Unless otherwise stated in the quote (for example: "balcony without drilling"), our installations involve small holes, most of which have a diameter of ø 5 mm. They are very easy to fill.

Defects
No one is immune from defects. Our teams nevertheless do everything they can to avoid causing damage when installing the nets. If you notice a defect or a problem, please report it to us in writing with photos (before and after) within 48 hours of the handover of the installation.  After this period, we are unfortunately unable to consider any claims.

The General Terms and Conditions of Sale set out on this page form an integral part of the work contract.

In some cases, we prepare quotes remotely.  You must fill in the contact form for us to process your request.  Then, please read the "quote" page, where you will find the information we need to prepare the quote.

Please note: we prefer to receive all the information in one go by email, as this makes it easier to follow up on files.

If the files are too large, you can send them in several batches.  You can also use grosfichiers.com or wetransfer.com, or WhatsApp. 

We are here to listen if you would like to discuss a protection project for your beloved felines.  If you are a DIY enthusiast, feel free to make an appointment for a chat over coffee at our workshop. 

With nearly 20 years of experience, we will gladly advise you on developing your projects, even if you do not use our services.  Free of charge and with no obligation to buy.