Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Ian101 on October 05, 2010, 04:48:46 pm

Title: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Ian101 on October 05, 2010, 04:48:46 pm
Pulled up at a house today and just got ladders set up for 1st window within in seconds  another window cleaner turned up to do next door house (couldnt had been timed better) except he was WFP thought this will be interesting but no worries as him and his missus were very chatty ... anyways he done the back of his house before I had even done the second front window ..... now Im not the fastest but defo not slow neither ... then he had the front done within minutes.

Not wanting to start wfp v trad argument but flipping heck apart from the safety angle with WFP it will save me loads of time or at least increase my rate by nearly double I rekon. DEFO going WFP early next year  :)

Guys name is Mathew Maxwell and his lovely missus is called Emma told them about this forum and rekon he may join. Had a good chat and showed me all around his Brodex system ... was good to see a friendly rival window cleaner for a change instead of all the stares or just a grunt when i stop and say hello  :D
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 05, 2010, 05:06:42 pm
Pulled up at a house today and just got ladders set up for 1st window within in seconds  another window cleaner turned up to do next door house (couldnt had been timed better) except he was WFP thought this will be interesting but no worries as him and his missus were very chatty ... anyways he done the back of his house before I had even done the second front window ..... now Im not the fastest but defo not slow neither ... then he had the front done within minutes.

Not wanting to start wfp v trad argument but flipping heck apart from the safety angle with WFP it will save me loads of time or at least increase my rate by nearly double I rekon. DEFO going WFP early next year  :)

Guys name is Mathew Maxwell and his lovely missus is called Emma told them about this forum and rekon he may join. Had a good chat and showed me all around his Brodex system ... was good to see a friendly rival window cleaner for a change instead of all the stares or just a grunt when i stop and say hello  :D

Oh yes, the "on the glass" time drops dramatically job for job once you've got to doing maintenance cleans.  However it needs to because there is a lot more financial outlay and there can be a lot more out of hours time devoted to work.  However, even allowing for the hidden stuff, it is still a much better earner using WFP.  My turnover has gone up by much more than my outgoings.
The faster speed of getting through individual jobs becomes much more pronounced on the larger ones.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Jack Wallace on October 05, 2010, 05:36:34 pm
Pulled up at a house today and just got ladders set up for 1st window within in seconds  another window cleaner turned up to do next door house (couldnt had been timed better) except he was WFP thought this will be interesting but no worries as him and his missus were very chatty ... anyways he done the back of his house before I had even done the second front window ..... now Im not the fastest but defo not slow neither ... then he had the front done within minutes.

Not wanting to start wfp v trad argument but flipping heck apart from the safety angle with WFP it will save me loads of time or at least increase my rate by nearly double I rekon. DEFO going WFP early next year  :)

Guys name is Mathew Maxwell and his lovely missus is called Emma told them about this forum and rekon he may join. Had a good chat and showed me all around his Brodex system ... was good to see a friendly rival window cleaner for a change instead of all the stares or just a grunt when i stop and say hello  :D

Oh yes, the "on the glass" time drops dramatically job for job once you've got to doing maintenance cleans.  However it needs to because there is a lot more financial outlay  and there can be a lot more out of hours time devoted to work.  However, even allowing for the hidden stuff, it is still a much better earner using WFP.  My turnover has gone up by much more than my outgoings.
The faster speed of getting through individual jobs becomes much more pronounced on the larger ones.
Your not wrong!  one of my lads was complaining today his water kept shutting off. So I had to replace his battery @ 65 quid.  :(

Never had that when we used old rags and a bucket of dirty water  ;)
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: LWC on October 05, 2010, 05:43:54 pm
Everyone knows WFP is far superior to trad.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: windiewasher on October 05, 2010, 06:13:37 pm
done 6 houses in 50 mins yesterday all on the same road and that includes set up and put away!
average of £8 a house!
loved every minute of it!
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Llaaww on October 05, 2010, 07:43:13 pm
Pulled up at a house today and just got ladders set up for 1st window within in seconds  another window cleaner turned up to do next door house (couldnt had been timed better) except he was WFP thought this will be interesting but no worries as him and his missus were very chatty ... anyways he done the back of his house before I had even done the second front window ..... now Im not the fastest but defo not slow neither ... then he had the front done within minutes.

Not wanting to start wfp v trad argument but flipping heck apart from the safety angle with WFP it will save me loads of time or at least increase my rate by nearly double I rekon. DEFO going WFP early next year  :)

Guys name is Mathew Maxwell and his lovely missus is called Emma told them about this forum and rekon he may join. Had a good chat and showed me all around his Brodex system ... was good to see a friendly rival window cleaner for a change instead of all the stares or just a grunt when i stop and say hello  :D

If you are thinking of going wfp don't wait until next year, do it tomorow. You will not regret it. A simple off the peg setup will pay for itself in no time at all. If you are going to go ahead best advice would be to get a carbon pole. The carbon poles put fibreglass back in the stone age. ( in the same way wfp does for trad)

Always nice to see a friendly face :)


Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: windowswashed on October 05, 2010, 08:09:44 pm
I've done 2 houses faster wfp than 2 trad cleaners doing one house opposite before ;D
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: taylored on October 05, 2010, 08:27:40 pm
just got going wfp  ;D ;D ;D do it dont wait, faster,safer,cleaner. 3 days in im looking forward to the next day and the day after that ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: birdymiller on October 05, 2010, 08:37:27 pm
Ive done 3 houses trad whilst a wfp guy did the front of one house. :o
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: clearlyclean on October 05, 2010, 08:49:26 pm
Great not going up ladders and one of my customers was well chuffed because I told her that there was no detergent only pure water,she has awkward bay windows and slippery stone slabs,Less time up a ladder the more money in your pocket and if you fall off a ladder takes a while to get back up to speed  :(
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: dave0123 on October 05, 2010, 10:14:24 pm
To be fair I'd go back and take a look at the windows tomrrow! See what the qualility of the windows are!!




Dave!
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Sean Dyer on October 05, 2010, 10:34:53 pm
ive been doing all wfp this week 1st time ever usually have alot of trad work, and its great , plus custy said windows are great ! happy days

only thing is back pack is a nightmare filling, carrying etc looking forward to getting a van asap
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: SB Cleaning on October 05, 2010, 11:17:59 pm
I clean a small 3 bed semi detached house.

Pull up outside the drive, use 12m of hose pulled out in a straight line to reach the back of the house (open gate first)

Back windows:
1st floor: bedroom/ bath room windows = 2 large pane of glass
Ground floor: kitchen window/ French doors = 3 large panes of glass

Side windows:
1st floor stair, hall window = 1 medium pane of glass
Ground floor: Backdoor window/ WC window = 2 panes of glass

Front windows:
1st floor: 2 x bedrooms = 2 large panes of glass
Ground floor: Front door/ living room = 4 panes of glass

Total: 11 windows & 14 panes of glass Time actual cleaning less than 60 seconds when rushed, usually takes between 1-2 minutes.

Total time to completing the job, from pull up to drive off, 7-8 minutes

(The bedroom window above the front door makes this job very awkward if done trad, that one window would take 2 minutes)

7-8 mins :o thats going some mate!!!

I been going about 3-4 months now takes me about 25 mins to do a house that size :-[

Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Ste M on October 06, 2010, 12:22:50 am
yes got to agree with you here, i can fly round houses with good access, i usually do all the tops first now to save on putting my pole up and down and causing unneccesery wear on the pole, i then fly round the ground floor no problem, my hourly rate and houses per hour have nearly doubled since i have gone wfp from a van
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Londoner on October 06, 2010, 07:44:15 am
I clean a small 3 bed semi detached house.

Pull up outside the drive, use 12m of hose pulled out in a straight line to reach the back of the house (open gate first)

Back windows:
1st floor: bedroom/ bath room windows = 2 large pane of glass
Ground floor: kitchen window/ French doors = 3 large panes of glass

Side windows:
1st floor stair, hall window = 1 medium pane of glass
Ground floor: Backdoor window/ WC window = 2 panes of glass

Front windows:
1st floor: 2 x bedrooms = 2 large panes of glass
Ground floor: Front door/ living room = 4 panes of glass

Total: 11 windows & 14 panes of glass Time actual cleaning less than 60 seconds when rushed, usually takes between 1-2 minutes.

Total time to completing the job, from pull up to drive off, 7-8 minutes

(The bedroom window above the front door makes this job very awkward if done trad, that one window would take 2 minutes)

7-8 mins :o thats going some mate!!!

I been going about 3-4 months now takes me about 25 mins to do a house that size :-[



Don't worry about that. Its a very fine line between being quick and splash and dash. Take your time, do them to YOUR satifaction. Its not a race. 
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: EVER CLEAN on October 06, 2010, 09:04:17 am
Everyone knows WFP is far superior to trad.

DONT TALK S**T
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: G Griffin on October 06, 2010, 09:14:24 am
I agree being quick is about having a technique, slash & dash  is working without any thought.

 I agree. I don`t think anyone should do this.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: tom2009 on October 06, 2010, 09:32:01 am
I clean a small 3 bed semi detached house.

Pull up outside the drive, use 12m of hose pulled out in a straight line to reach the back of the house (open gate first)

Back windows:
1st floor: bedroom/ bath room windows = 2 large pane of glass
Ground floor: kitchen window/ French doors = 3 large panes of glass

Side windows:
1st floor stair, hall window = 1 medium pane of glass
Ground floor: Backdoor window/ WC window = 2 panes of glass

Front windows:
1st floor: 2 x bedrooms = 2 large panes of glass
Ground floor: Front door/ living room = 4 panes of glass

Total: 11 windows & 14 panes of glass Time actual cleaning less than 60 seconds when rushed, usually takes between 1-2 minutes.

Total time to completing the job, from pull up to drive off, 7-8 minutes

(The bedroom window above the front door makes this job very awkward if done trad, that one window would take 2 minutes)

7-8 mins :o thats going some mate!!!

I been going about 3-4 months now takes me about 25 mins to do a house that size :-[


same here. Perhaps quicker on the easy access modern cubes.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Pj on October 06, 2010, 09:45:13 am
Sorry to go slightly off topic here - but -

 Ewan says,  "Prioritise: Glass 1st, sills 2nd, side of frames 3rd, top of frames 4th"


No No No No No nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: AuRavelling79 on October 06, 2010, 11:09:44 am
Sorry to go slightly off topic here - but -

 Ewan says,  "Prioritise: Glass 1st, sills 2nd, side of frames 3rd, top of frames 4th"


No No No No No nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!


Agree with PJ there ... please explain Ewan because to my mind doing the top frame last will bring down any muck.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 06, 2010, 11:19:36 am
Sorry to go slightly off topic here - but -

 Ewan says,  "Prioritise: Glass 1st, sills 2nd, side of frames 3rd, top of frames 4th"


No No No No No nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!


Agree with PJ there ... please explain Ewan because to my mind doing the top frame last will bring down any muck.

Trying to read Ewan's post in context with a previous post of his, I don't think he is referring to the chronological order of an individual clean.  I think that he's saying that the further down his list something appears, the more likely it is that you can leave it if in a hurry.  If I'm right, the only issue I would have is that I would promote the sills to being equal first with the glass.
Did I understand you correctly Ewan?
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: SB Cleaning on October 06, 2010, 12:53:45 pm
Sorry to go slightly off topic here - but -

 Ewan says,  "Prioritise: Glass 1st, sills 2nd, side of frames 3rd, top of frames 4th"


No No No No No nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!


Agree with PJ there ... please explain Ewan because to my mind doing the top frame last will bring down any muck.
I am  quite new and i have been doing top of the frame first, then sides of frame, glass then cills i am yet to get a complaint :)
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: mlscontractcleaner on October 06, 2010, 01:31:39 pm
So why isn't it first on the list ???
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: gewindows on October 06, 2010, 02:03:46 pm
Sorry to go slightly off topic here - but -

 Ewan says,  "Prioritise: Glass 1st, sills 2nd, side of frames 3rd, top of frames 4th"


No No No No No nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!


Have to agree with PJ Im afraid.
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: SB Cleaning on October 06, 2010, 03:42:27 pm
Customer may not be completely satisfied if the top of her frames were perfectly clean, glass is cleaned but the results are not that great.

Priority list is for the customer.
Eh  ???
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: andyM on October 06, 2010, 05:38:39 pm
I agree Ewan, I think prioritising as you have outlined sounds like a good strategy for increasing work speed and turnover.
This is something I will give more thought to.
I usually give equal attention to all parts of the frame and sill and have always prioritised the finish of the glass. With exception to frosted bathroom windows which just get a quick scrub and rinse with brush on (other windows I rinse off the glass).
I would usually clean a property of the size you mention in around 8 to 10 minutes with full attention to all of the frames, sills and glass.
I reckon by prioritising and cycling the cleaning of parts of the frame as you have mentioned I could reduce this by a fair bit where possible.
If I could even manage a 25% to 50% time saving on that I would be well happy.
 
   
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: A & J Owen Window Cleaning on October 06, 2010, 05:51:19 pm
It's not quicker when an idiot customer refuses to pay until you've redone it trad.

Think he's on the 'bye bye' list.

Apparently, he can just jetwash his windows and he'd get the same result.

Idiot wouldn't even wait till it was dry  ;D
Title: Re: Race today WFP v Trad me and another windie
Post by: clearlyclean on October 06, 2010, 06:09:58 pm
I just go at my own pace and try to do the job I'm paid to do,if a customer is not happy with the windows I will do them again and if they want them done trad then i charge more to get the ladder and ladder stopper out as long as i get my 5 pound hour ;D ;D you cant stop progress and WFP is progress.