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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 12:26:58 pm

Title: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 12:26:58 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: formb on June 05, 2010, 12:29:02 pm
No sounds like a cracker though, how on earth did you manage to pull off that one?
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: sherco on June 05, 2010, 12:30:56 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?
I would of kept that to myself...Now everybody will want to do it.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 12:34:30 pm
I was driving around the area last year and my mate suggested it. Some of the signs round here are unreadable because of dirt or algie etc. So  I wrote to them asking if anyone did them. I do have to send them a report first though to explain to them how I intend to do the dangourous ones. Though they're going to provide me with some special warning signs that I can atteatch to my van etc.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 12:36:06 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?
I would of kept that to myself...Now everybody will want to do it.
I got the contract for 40 mile radius of where I'm based. Theres plenty for everyone.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 05, 2010, 12:37:05 pm
i thought about that a few years back, never done anything about as i just thought the council would cover it...... gutted!!!!!! wot a prat  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 12:38:27 pm
I'm sure if you write a letter to the highways dept theres a good chance that you'll get a contract.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: richywilts on June 05, 2010, 12:42:32 pm
how do you plan to clean the signs purely with your waterfed pole system or are you considering using a pressure washer and detergent???
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 05, 2010, 12:52:09 pm
I'm sure if you write a letter to the highways dept theres a good chance that you'll get a contract.
any chance u could email me a copy of ur letter please? just so i can have a rough ideaof how u done it. im so not good at all those things  ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 05, 2010, 12:55:42 pm
this helps  ??? ??? prwindowcleaning@live.co.uk    haha didnt even get that rite LOL  ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: james44 on June 05, 2010, 02:21:45 pm
I used to do this for kent council, so how many cleans do you have to do for the £5 a sign?

A know with traffic cone some are as little as 10p a cone!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 05, 2010, 02:23:31 pm
how do you plan to clean the signs purely with your waterfed pole system or are you considering using a pressure washer and detergent???
Wfp with brush. On most of them we intend to just drive alongside and clean them through van window. I've got a very short pole for doing this.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: james44 on June 05, 2010, 02:30:52 pm
Quote
On most of them we intend to just drive alongside and clean them through van window.

If you do that they will get rid of you for sure!


Quote
how many cleans do you have to do for the £5 a sign?
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: richywilts on June 05, 2010, 02:35:11 pm
why dont u have an amber flashing light put on your van and aslong as you cone of say 20metres in front cant see there bein a problem, also could you clean at night time in early hours this may improve productivity and get more done with less problems.

i think you have done well to negotiate a 2monthly contract i cant see them needing cleaning that often,how many signs have they asked you to clean???
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: formb on June 05, 2010, 02:35:44 pm
On most of them we intend to just drive alongside and clean them through van window. I've got a very short pole for doing this.

Eh? Really?
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 05, 2010, 02:42:14 pm
u would be ok form b  ;) get on the grass with ur landy  ;)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: james44 on June 05, 2010, 02:45:31 pm
Quote
why dont u have an amber flashing light put on your van


That he will need richy i know because i have done it and will also need arrow signs or something simular, as you will be parking anywere next to traffic lights etc!

It`s not as straight forward as you think it would be!

Remember those signs are lit up at night so electrics are involved so you can`t just fire water everywere as for working hrs, can`t remember but i am sure that there is certain times in the day and night that you can carry this work out!

The times differ from area to area!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: formb on June 05, 2010, 02:51:20 pm
u would be ok form b  ;) get on the grass with ur landy  ;)
:D
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: RO-Sheen on June 05, 2010, 03:06:09 pm
Great idea, Could you send me a copy of your letter pretty please? I wont copy it but just want to see how you worded it because it obviously worked. I live in Witney Oxfordshire so way out of your area. my email is info@ro-sheen.co.uk

Cheers mate and well done!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: tomy jackson on June 05, 2010, 03:42:17 pm
i think hes takeing micky pull up and wash thowe cab window  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: afssm123 on June 05, 2010, 03:59:14 pm
Hi. Could I have a copy of the letter too. mightyhatter@yahoo.co.uk thanks
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: niceandclean on June 05, 2010, 04:02:48 pm
On the A14 i have seen many times,  the Incident Unit vans ( which i am sure are managed by the Highways Agency) cleaning the signs with a WFP.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: forestwindows on June 05, 2010, 04:34:34 pm
any chance of a copy of the letter drevitt@ntlworld.com thanks mate sounds brilliant idea.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: richywilts on June 05, 2010, 05:30:57 pm
could you send me a copy of letter too please to richardwiltshire36@yahoo.co.uk

cheers good luck with it hope you do really well, n anyone who wants to clean cheshire,wirral or merseyside ya gota cum thru me first ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: dmlservices on June 05, 2010, 05:44:02 pm
this is a wind up lads, no way would they pay to have them cleaned every 2 mths, and have you any idea how many signs are in a 40 mile radius of where he lives?

nice try ;D ;D ;D

daz
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: dmlservices on June 05, 2010, 05:51:31 pm
how do you plan to clean the signs purely with your waterfed pole system or are you considering using a pressure washer and detergent???
Wfp with brush. On most of them we intend to just drive alongside and clean them through van window. I've got a very short pole for doing this.


did you by any chance do the spec savers advert on tv , where a pole was used to paint over a sign on a bus, from a moving vehicle ;D


daz
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: richywilts on June 05, 2010, 07:55:41 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?

when u say £5 per sign is that over the course of the contract say 12 months as it seems a lot of money for each clean and as people think its a wind up i think this could be what u meant so say for example 400 road signs cleaned 6 times a year at £5 brings in £2000 extra per annum
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: NJWindowCleaning on June 05, 2010, 08:24:20 pm
Wouldnt be to bad to do, but wouldnt it best to do during the night when less traffic around??
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: prestige cleaners on June 05, 2010, 09:56:49 pm
ive been meaning to ask about that for years, might get off my backside now! cheers dude
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 05, 2010, 10:15:28 pm
Wouldnt be to bad to do, but wouldnt it best to do during the night when less traffic around??
that works 4me like workin nites  ;)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: noizeo on June 05, 2010, 10:56:53 pm
hi mate can i have a copy please mate of letter?

clear2view@hotmail.com

many thanks
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 06, 2010, 10:36:33 am
Great idea, Could you send me a copy of your letter pretty please? I wont copy it but just want to see how you worded it because it obviously worked. I live in Witney Oxfordshire so way out of your area. my email is info@ro-sheen.co.uk

Cheers mate and well done!
Can't send you a copy it was done on my other pc which had a virus on so I lost some stuff including that letter. My other stuff was backed up on a copy cd.
Basicly all I did was login to their website. Look for contact us page and then wrote a letter saying who I was and what my business was all about. My public liability, risk assesment, and health and saftey certificate. Then just asked if anyone ever cleaned them. Within 1 week I had a phone call from their human resouces dept then a month later called me into their offices in Birmingham. I'm starting the work tomorrow.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 06, 2010, 10:39:38 am
this is a wind up lads, no way would they pay to have them cleaned every 2 mths, and have you any idea how many signs are in a 40 mile radius of where he lives?

nice try ;D ;D ;D

daz
Believe what you like mate. I thrive on proving people like you wrong. So when I get time I'll ask my worker to take some pictures of me in action cleaning signs. Jealousy get you knowhere mate. ::)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: trevor perry on June 06, 2010, 10:51:13 am
how are they going to monitor which signs you have cleaned, surely you will be given specific roads to do on certain days and then they will have to do spot checks to see the work is carried out, also with the amount of signs there will be this would be very costly and i am sure it would have to go out to tender before the work was awarded to any company, but if you have got the work well done
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 06, 2010, 10:57:12 am
Its called trust mate. The HA is part of the Govenment so money isn't an issue. As most of their income will come from road tax and fines etc.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: james44 on June 06, 2010, 11:05:20 am
Quote
i am sure it would have to go out to tender before the work was awarded to any company,

Yep that`s what i had to do!


Quote
surely you will be given specific roads to do on certain days and then they will have to do spot checks to see the work is carried out,

Yep and as i have said there are times when you can and can`t do them!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: paul rulton on June 06, 2010, 11:13:16 am
Klean07, good luck 4 2moro m8  ;)  im lookin in 2my area 2moro if i get time  ;)
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 06, 2010, 06:46:13 pm
Thanks for all the positive replies its appreciated. As for the doubters that have had their say. Your quite entitled to voice your opinion that's what the forums here for. I've been wc for 23 years so I have no reason to lie. Fact is I'm always looking at other ideas that I could put into practice using wfp because sometimes just cleaning windows gets a little boring. So isn't it a good thing to do other things from time to time?
Rant over!!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Smudgeoff Cleaning Services on June 06, 2010, 07:12:52 pm
Hi Klean07,

Please may you send me a copy of the letter as I am a bit tom and Mick .
My email -  smudgeoff@gmail.com

Thank-you very much

Darren
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Smudgeoff Cleaning Services on June 06, 2010, 07:21:39 pm
Ahh just looked at the rest of the threads and my luck is out.

What is the web address mate...
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: richywilts on June 06, 2010, 07:43:04 pm
Thanks for all the positive replies its appreciated. As for the doubters that have had their say. Your quite entitled to voice your opinion that's what the forums here for. I've been wc for 23 years so I have no reason to lie. Fact is I'm always looking at other ideas that I could put into practice using wfp because sometimes just cleaning windows gets a little boring. So isn't it a good thing to do other things from time to time?
Rant over!!

can u clear up whether it is £5 per sign per clean please so we know what to price at if we get the work in our given areas cheers richy
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 06, 2010, 07:52:18 pm
Ahh just looked at the rest of the threads and my luck is out.

What is the web address mate...
http://www.highways.gov.uk/
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Smudgeoff Cleaning Services on June 06, 2010, 08:27:54 pm
cheers mate  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: dmlservices on June 06, 2010, 10:34:55 pm
this is a wind up lads, no way would they pay to have them cleaned every 2 mths, and have you any idea how many signs are in a 40 mile radius of where he lives?

nice try ;D ;D ;D

daz
Believe what you like mate. I thrive on proving people like you wrong. So when I get time I'll ask my worker to take some pictures of me in action cleaning signs. Jealousy get you knowhere mate. ::)


i ain't jealous mate , just seems to good to be true, 40 mile radius would see you cleaning signs by me , when these are cleaned by a large national , who also clean the bus shelter.

daz
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: John Walker on June 06, 2010, 11:32:19 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?

when u say £5 per sign is that over the course of the contract say 12 months as it seems a lot of money for each clean and as people think its a wind up i think this could be what u meant so say for example 400 road signs cleaned 6 times a year at £5 brings in £2000 extra per annum

On the other hand - if it is £5 per clean - I make that £12,000 p.a !!!!!
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: John Walker on June 06, 2010, 11:33:14 pm
Thanks for all the positive replies its appreciated. As for the doubters that have had their say. Your quite entitled to voice your opinion that's what the forums here for. I've been wc for 23 years so I have no reason to lie. Fact is I'm always looking at other ideas that I could put into practice using wfp because sometimes just cleaning windows gets a little boring. So isn't it a good thing to do other things from time to time?
Rant over!!

can u clear up whether it is £5 per sign per clean please so we know what to price at if we get the work in our given areas cheers richy

Ditto - this makes a massive difference.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: John Walker on June 06, 2010, 11:34:49 pm
I've just won a contract with the Highways agency to clean all the road signs in my area excluding motorways and dual carriage ways of course. It works out to about £5 per sign every two months.
Does anyone else do this kind of work?

Well done and good luck   :)    - just goes to show - there's always something else in the pipeline if we take the trouble to look for it.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: Klean07 on June 07, 2010, 08:36:28 am
Thanks for all the positive replies its appreciated. As for the doubters that have had their say. Your quite entitled to voice your opinion that's what the forums here for. I've been wc for 23 years so I have no reason to lie. Fact is I'm always looking at other ideas that I could put into practice using wfp because sometimes just cleaning windows gets a little boring. So isn't it a good thing to do other things from time to time?
Rant over!!

can u clear up whether it is £5 per sign per clean please so we know what to price at if we get the work in our given areas cheers richy
It works out to £20 per square mile. Also its just the main roads that have to be done every two months. Side roads etc every 6 months.
Hope this clears things for you mate.
Title: Re: Cleaning road signs.
Post by: poles apart on June 07, 2010, 03:04:12 pm
I asked our local council years ago about doing this and they laughed! Said they do it themselves but most around me are unreadable!
Rod