How would youse do this

« **on:** August 17, 2006, 09:44:46 pm »

How would any of you attempt to clean these?
Baring in mind that you cannot gain access to the appartments

« **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2006, 09:48:00 pm »

I would use a WFP for the windows and tell them I would need to clean the ones on there balconys from the balcony , then sort out a day when you have a good chance of getting them all in.
Or just leave the balcony ones

« **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2006, 09:54:27 pm »

As john says just leave the balcony ones price for everything else.

« **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:03:20 pm »

The job would be for a management company. Gaining access to the appartments would be a nightmare as there are 59 in total.

« **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:06:27 pm »

I wouldnt bother with that kind of nonsense work.

« **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:23:52 pm »

How much of a gap between the balcony rail and the window? Looks narrow.

« **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:30:11 pm »

Rope access

« **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:31:22 pm »

I'm with Ronaldo.
I just wouldn't bother with it.

Why take on complicated stuff?
There's plenty of easy work out there.

« **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:34:43 pm »

why take it on

££££££££££££££££ thats why, theres a price for everything and big money could be made from that job.

Cherry picker.

« **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:50:15 pm »

Thats what I like to hear Propole. I would look at it the same way more difficult=moremoney.
I have access to a pole system but I was thinking of hiring some sort of lifting device

Cheers
neil

« **Reply #10 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:50:40 pm »

As Malcolm G said, there isn't the space to work. There is a flower pot on the 3rd floor and that seems to fill the gap. Leave the job and shoot the architect. Dai

« **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2006, 10:53:26 pm »

watz the point do somthing easier

« **Reply #12 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:09:08 pm »

I dont like repeating myself but rope access is the answer

« **Reply #13 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:26:25 pm »

The centre of the picture shows a patio door with about 2 foot balcony, over to the left there is the same effect but no door

« **Reply #14 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:28:22 pm »

you would get to most of the balcony windows upto the "flower pot" flat with a longer enough pole and stand WELL BACK

the top 1 you would have to just let the pure water run down the windows hoping it cleans a bit of the dirt off

« **Reply #15 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:35:51 pm »

did anybody say rope access ;Dalthough that looks like a gutter at the top which means a slanted roof so more difficult and thats a hell of an overhang on the right of the picture

« **Reply #16 on:** August 18, 2006, 06:32:59 am »

Quote from: nr_neil on August 17, 2006, 09:44:46 pm

How would any of you attempt to clean these?
Baring in mind that you cannot gain access to the appartments

Straight forward!

I have a couple like this on the seafront, the way we work is simple.

I quote for the building and included as part of my terms and conditions is that I would notify the management company 1 week in advance of the cleaning date. They would inturn, notify the tennants of our date for cleaning the windows.

If, when we arrive, they are in, we knock and clean the balcony windows. If they are out, TOUGH! we will just clean the outside balcony glass. We do make this a first call job to give them every change of being in so we start at 8am.

Whatever we clean is irrelevant to the cost as I price for the buliding and thats the job lot!

Remember guys, when you price work we are not magicians, we cannot wave some magic wand and everything falls into place. When you talk to these companies ask how they expect you to manage this problem? You will soon see they are just as keen to get a solution as you are and normally will work to help you and not exepect Paul Daniels to turn up!

Best wishes,

Trev

« **Reply #17 on:** August 18, 2006, 07:01:15 am »

Excellent replies from Trevor and Propole, there is always a solution to every job if, as mr Propole surmised the money is right. Not every job is straight forward and a challenge is good at times, keeps you on your toes. The management company of this building are not idiots i imagine and they must know the balconies pose a problem. As Trevor said let the tenants know you are going to hit the job early and clean whoever is in at the time. If some tenants dont want to play ball, then they are unlucky.
Just because a job involves a little bit of thought and problems to overcome doesnt make it worth overlooking.Imagine the amount of shiners who have had that attititude with this job probably already,
the management company are probably over the the moon to have you quote for the job as they will probably have been put off by the doom mongers!

« **Reply #18 on:** August 18, 2006, 07:56:19 am »

Quote from: ProPole on August 17, 2006, 10:34:43 pm

why take it on ££££££££££££££££ thats why, theres a price for everything and big money could be made from that job.

Cherry picker.

Cherry picker?
More money wasted, more bother.....

You got to be desperate for work.

« **Reply #19 on:** August 18, 2006, 08:23:27 am »

Oh no, I can't escape it, I have tried but I just can't. I have to agree with squeaky

If you price a cherry picker into this contract I doubt very much that you would remain competitive as the cost of the Picker for the morning/day would push you out of the running.

Trev

« **Reply #20 on:** August 18, 2006, 09:22:58 am »

If your going to get into this type of work for which there is going to be high reward as not many can even contemplate taking it on then go and invest in the right kit and do the job properley.
Heres the link where my brother bought his trailer mounted lift from if it helps you.

www.towableaccess.co.uk

« **Reply #21 on:** August 18, 2006, 12:24:16 pm »

It would probably mean each customer would be paying about £30 for 3 or 4 windows.

Somehow I don't think they'll jump at that.....

ps. Don't worry Trev, I'm sure I'll say something soon that you can disagree with again.

« **Reply #22 on:** August 18, 2006, 05:11:04 pm »

hi all why dont you just arrange to do it on saturday or a sunday and price accordingly

« **Reply #23 on:** August 18, 2006, 05:39:54 pm »

I do a couple like these, if they are not in tough like Trev says but i will clean the tops of the doors best i can with a long gooseneck, 1/2 a clean is better than no clean.

It looks like a very lucrative job, i would not hesitate to quote for it.

Dave

« **Reply #24 on:** August 18, 2006, 05:42:24 pm »

I have one of these and i have told them that the best way is with a cherry picker.

« **Reply #25 on:** August 18, 2006, 06:47:01 pm »

If you use a cherry picker how are you going to get to the doors on the balcony, climb out of the picker.
Like I said if they are in clean them from there flats, if not leave just them

« **Reply #26 on:** August 18, 2006, 07:15:03 pm »

Quote from: Chris A on August 17, 2006, 11:09:08 pm

I dont like repeating myself but rope access is the answer

I agree with Chris.

I'm not IRATA trained, but I know I could abseil down to each of those verandas; using Wor Lass as a 'Belay Monkey', as long as there was a safe tying off point somewhere on the roof.

But if I did that 'untrained', I would probably be classed as a cowboy.

But Chris's method is probably the simplest.

« **Reply #27 on:** August 18, 2006, 07:21:31 pm »

Quote from: Squeaky Clean. on August 18, 2006, 07:56:19 am

Quote from: ProPole on August 17, 2006, 10:34:43 pm
why take it on ££££££££££££££££ thats why, theres a price for everything and big money could be made from that job.

Cherry picker.
Cherry picker?
More money wasted, more bother.....

You got to be desperate for work.

Roger you obiously dont know what your talking about mate, this probably goes into the four figure sum region, how can you knock that.

It looks like theres a gap of about 6-8" between the rails you could easily slip a 4ft down there, back pack in the picker, or do what trevor said but sometimes you wont be able to get away with this.

« **Reply #28 on:** August 18, 2006, 08:40:19 pm »

how do you absail a roofed roof - its not flat!

JohnL

« **Reply #29 on:** August 19, 2006, 10:20:13 am »

I dont know why this is such a problem. It seems getting the balconies done which are causing concern so Trevor has the right idea - read his thread and the important bit

- If, when we arrive, they are in, we knock and clean the balcony windows. If they are out, TOUGH!

Its the managed compromise between getting the overall job done, safety and cost. Any other solution is just hedging the ecomics of the job.

A no brainer!

JohnL

« **Reply #30 on:** August 19, 2006, 01:15:25 pm »

JohnL sometimes this is just not possible, they want all the windows cleaned or someone else gets the job, I have a job which has 987 windows if i dont clean every single pane I dont get paid which means gaing acsess to certain parts of the building.

« **Reply #31 on:** August 19, 2006, 04:02:34 pm »

Whoever gets the job will have the same problem , so just let them know in advance that there could be a problem doing all the balconys, but you will try

« **Reply #32 on:** August 19, 2006, 11:43:13 pm »

This sort of job is a matter of percentages. from what I can see the balconies are the minor part of the total no of windows which need cleaning and I am sure the management of this building would go along with the understanding that a weeks notice to gain access is well within any limits or constraints, and if the tenants dont wish to cooperate then thats there problem.

I think any management unit not allowing leeway on a large unit contract needs a good talking to

JohnL