Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jonathan Spencer on September 02, 2010, 06:58:36 am
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What should I be looking to purchasing to do conservsatory roofs without WFP? I have had 4 enquires in the last week.
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Id make up a harris pole, you can do it for about £30 and plug it into their water supply depending on if they have one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q8HhgHcz0M
Doing a conserv roof can be hard enough wfp, but doing it trad would be a nightmate i imagine, ive never done it any other way.
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Id make up a harris pole, you can do it for about £30 and plug it into their water supply depending on if they have one.
Doing a conserv roof can be hard enough wfp, but doing it trad would be a nightmate i imagine, ive never done it any other way.
I never take much notice of the WFP threads/posts. What is a Harris pole? I would not attempt it Trad was looking at the Unger hi/flo thingy but read that it is too heavy.
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You just need a hosepipe and a cheap scrubbing brush fixed to something like a wooden batten thats long enough to reach to the farthest corners.
Thats how we used to do them. Buy a pump up 5L garden spray to wet everything first with soapy water.
Actually WFP using DI water is rubbish for doing conservatory roofs, you need a much faster flow of water to wash off the debris.
I use an old wfp pole and brush but its plumbed to fit on the end of a hose. Its like a pressure washer Most window cleaners on here will have an old pole and brush kicking around if you ask.
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Id make up a harris pole, you can do it for about £30 and plug it into their water supply depending on if they have one.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q8HhgHcz0M
Doing a conserv roof can be hard enough wfp, but doing it trad would be a nightmate i imagine, ive never done it any other way.
You can buy a caravan brush for about a tenner and you attach a hose to the end.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-CARAVAN-LUXURY-EXTENDING-WASH-BRUSH-/170510700580?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item27b33ad024
I use this before I went over to WFP.
Matt
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Cheers for the help lads. Think I might go with the caravan brush. Is it best to use TFR?
Then got to work out how to price it up then. The area I work in is not the most of affluent.
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John I charge £5 per full poly panel and £3 for the triangles in the corners.
problem with conny roofs is they nearly always take longer than you think.
TFR yes just have a bucket, I put about an inch of TFR in the bucket then add water until the bucket is half full, then I dip the brush and apply it on the conny roof, just be careful not to leave the TFR on too long as it dries out quite quickly. leave it on for about 5-10mins then attach the brush to the hose then scrub away.
Matt
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Agree with all of the above - it boils down to a brush that can reach, some soap and plenty of water.
My only slight disagreement is that TFR can be a problem if it dries.
Fairy liquid does the job for me. I take a bottle with a stiff mix of fairy and water, labelled "Roof clean" for perceived value reasons. After a first rough clean with a brush, I dip the brush into the liquid and scrub. Then it just rinses off.
Vin
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You could always try to clean the conny roofs with one of those pump action containers with a lanse the ones that poffessional gardens use but instead of weed killer in it, use just plain water and you might be surprise of it blasts muck off. So you not using any wfp!!
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I used to do them with a truck cleaning extendable brush from screwfix with loads of fairy, then rinse it off with the brush and sqeegey it dry with an extension pole ( like a harris decorating pole from b & Q)
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TFR works well but fairy is just as good and cheaper.
In my opinion you need a garden spray and give the roof a good long soaking with the soapy water. Most of the work is then done for you.
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i usually give a quick jet over with customers hose first to soak it ,then place a small ladder against the gutter and climb up , scrub the panels using a pole with a 10"swivel mop,with a pulex microtiger sleeve . down below i have a full bucket of water/washing up liquid mix ,i then swing the pole down into the bucket and then back up onto the roof (all while standing on the ladder )
then using the customers hosepipe wash off and move along to the next place
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Which harris pole should I be looking at getting?
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What sort of length pole should I being looking at? Had a few enquiries and thinking about doing this on a rainy day.
Also how to you advertise this?
What about the finails(sp)?
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What sort of length pole should I being looking at? Had a few enquiries and thinking about doing this on a rainy day.
Also how to you advertise this?
What about the finails(sp)?
Bump. Could do with the answers to a few questions if somone would it for me.
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If it's any help, I use a 6m pole most of the time. It usually only needs extending to 4m but the extra 2m is useful sometimes. I 'advertised' it by just putting it on my business card / windows cleaned tickets. Had customers ask me after that who said they didn't know I did that sort of thing.
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If it's any help, I use a 6m pole most of the time. It usually only needs extending to 4m but the extra 2m is useful sometimes. I 'advertised' it by just putting it on my business card / windows cleaned tickets. Had customers ask me after that who said they didn't know I did that sort of thing.
Where the hell do I get a 6m pole from? I am going to do it using a hose of the water supply.
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Jonathan, you can buy a 5 metre Harris Decorating Pole from B&Q for about £15.
That length should cover most conservatory roofs, but you would need to convert the thread to take a brush.
Your other option is to get a truck washing pole and brush which just connects straight to a garden hose.
Not sure how long they are but you should be able to get one in Argos, Halfords or a DIY shop.
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Jonathan, you can buy a 5 metre Harris Decorating Pole from B&Q for about £15.
That length should cover most conservatory roofs, but you would need to convert the thread to take a brush.
Your other option is to get a truck washing pole and brush which just connects straight to a garden hose.
Not sure how long they are but you should be able to get one in Argos, Halfords or a DIY shop.
The longest I have seen is a 3m one to a garden hose.
I would not know where to start to convert the thread.
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This one here is 3.3 mtrs (10 foot) long.
http://www.roadking.co.uk/wash-brushes/33m-deluxe-truck-wash-brush.html
It depends on the size of the conservatory you are quoting for and if there is awkward access to cover the whole roof etc.
Only you will know if a 10ft pole is long enough for the jobs you are quoting for.
Failing that you could buy a WFP pole with brush and hose with a hoselock connection for a garden hose and go from there.
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If it's any help, I use a 6m pole most of the time. It usually only needs extending to 4m but the extra 2m is useful sometimes. I 'advertised' it by just putting it on my business card / windows cleaned tickets. Had customers ask me after that who said they didn't know I did that sort of thing.
Where the hell do I get a 6m pole from? I am going to do it using a hose of the water supply.
Anywhere that sells window cleaning gear will have poles. Unger, ettore, pulex all do them. They aren't very expensive.
The harris poles are also used a lot, but I have no experience of them.
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Sorry, Never done one before that is why I am so many questions. A customer of mine said I can practice on his so thats how I will start. Will get the 3.3M one first and just try with fairy. Should give me an idea on time so how much I should charge. Suppose I will not know until I try.
I expect it is just like cleaning the windows in that you get a better judge of pricing with experience. I know I made some right gaffs when I first started.
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Could I use the same brush to do faschias?
Also want to try some of this stuff but not paying that much postage.
http://www.polarbrite.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_39&products_id=214