Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jonny Swirljet on September 13, 2017, 04:35:34 pm

Title: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Jonny Swirljet on September 13, 2017, 04:35:34 pm
Hi - I was hoping someone could help me out with an answer to a  question that I have please.

I mainly carry out WFP window cleaning after cleaning customers UPVC & conservatories; from this have built up a small round of clientele in my local area. Some customers have said they don't have regular window cleaner and requested future visits by me to fill the void. I've been doing this for about five years and in that time I've never been requested to apply traditional cleaning methods on any customer’s windows, which suits me. For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.  My question is a simple one which some of you old salts who cut your teeth on chamois & shim may be kind enough to answer for me please.
Question - If for arguments sake one charged £15 to clean the windows of a simple, not difficult 3 bed semi house using WFP method, how much more, if any would you charge to clean the same house using the traditional system with a ladder for the upper floor?   
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Cookie on September 13, 2017, 04:47:20 pm
Personally I wouldn't use a ladder. WFP or nothing for me.... If you explain the reasons for using WFP, particularly the H&S aspects, hopefully you'll win him round.

There is one WC in my area who claims that he's not insured to use ladders. I'm not sure whether this is true or whether he's making this up but the customers seem to accept this ...

NB: I believe some on here charge double for trad.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Dry Clean on September 13, 2017, 05:11:20 pm
Agree with Cookie, tell him you cant get insurance to work from a ladder and remind him he could also be liable for anybody
who gets injured whilst doing so, there's not much point in having a golden goose if your unable to do the work because of injury.
Its not worth the risk Jonny and only a scumbag would want you to take that risk when another safer alternative is available.

Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on September 13, 2017, 05:11:56 pm
Hi - I was hoping someone could help me out with an answer to a  question that I have please.

I mainly carry out WFP window cleaning after cleaning customers UPVC & conservatories; from this have built up a small round of clientele in my local area. Some customers have said they don't have regular window cleaner and requested future visits by me to fill the void. I've been doing this for about five years and in that time I've never been requested to apply traditional cleaning methods on any customer’s windows, which suits me. For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.  My question is a simple one which some of you old salts who cut your teeth on chamois & shim may be kind enough to answer for me please.
Question - If for arguments sake one charged £15 to clean the windows of a simple, not difficult 3 bed semi house using WFP method, how much more, if any would you charge to clean the same house using the traditional system with a ladder for the upper floor?

1.  if you fall off the ladder and snap you back how many eggs will your golden goose give you to help out with the bills when the only thing you caNn move is your eyes ?

2. after being in the cleaning trade over a 100 years we must of had 1000s of these golden gooses which all the layd was bull poo never one golden egg . even when we had 6 carpet cleaning vans out daily and had the haxfax work (all of the north east) we were under cut buy guy doing a single carpet for 8 pounds where ever it was and unseen it didn't mater that he could do half the houses because there was no power on and we could rock up with a truck mount and carry on weather there was power or not worked for them for 2 years and head office binned us because he was 1 pounds a house cheaper we were only charging 40 !

3. if hes a estate agent he will know better , if you cleaned off the ladder at one of his work jobs then hes a cowboy thats happy to breck the law and let you work uninsured as the three e.a. we work for had us sign a discloser saying if they ever seen us more then two steps up a ladder we would be sacked on the spot !

the short answer id tell him tanks but no thanks
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: paul alan on September 13, 2017, 05:12:17 pm
How much is life/spine/legs/arms worth?
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: robbo333 on September 13, 2017, 05:32:55 pm
Hi - I was hoping someone could help me out with an answer to a  question that I have please.

I mainly carry out WFP window cleaning after cleaning customers UPVC & conservatories; from this have built up a small round of clientele in my local area. Some customers have said they don't have regular window cleaner and requested future visits by me to fill the void. I've been doing this for about five years and in that time I've never been requested to apply traditional cleaning methods on any customer’s windows, which suits me. For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.  My question is a simple one which some of you old salts who cut your teeth on chamois & shim may be kind enough to answer for me please.
Question - If for arguments sake one charged £15 to clean the windows of a simple, not difficult 3 bed semi house using WFP method, how much more, if any would you charge to clean the same house using the traditional system with a ladder for the upper floor?

I think you've answered your own question...
and everyone else has answered it for you.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 13, 2017, 06:21:07 pm
Johnny, you said ...

For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.

If I might add my twopenneth to the other posters.

After explaining to said gent that you will not climb a ladder for very good safety reasons I am sure he will understand. If he doesn't then tell him  "to do one" in the vernacular.



Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: dazmond on September 13, 2017, 06:21:56 pm
Hi - I was hoping someone could help me out with an answer to a  question that I have please.

I mainly carry out WFP window cleaning after cleaning customers UPVC & conservatories; from this have built up a small round of clientele in my local area. Some customers have said they don't have regular window cleaner and requested future visits by me to fill the void. I've been doing this for about five years and in that time I've never been requested to apply traditional cleaning methods on any customer’s windows, which suits me. For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.  My question is a simple one which some of you old salts who cut your teeth on chamois & shim may be kind enough to answer for me please.
Question - If for arguments sake one charged £15 to clean the windows of a simple, not difficult 3 bed semi house using WFP method, how much more, if any would you charge to clean the same house using the traditional system with a ladder for the upper floor?

i just wouldnt bother mate.why does he want you to go up  ladders and clean the old fashioned way? ::)roll

i lost a few when i first switched to wfp because i wouldnt clean them from a ladder.sod em.

you cant please everyone.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: lal on September 13, 2017, 07:08:00 pm

  Just tell him you stopped using ladders for safety reasons years ago, because there is a safer alternative WFP.
  If he is not happy for you to use WFP, tell him sorry but i can't help you, simples
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: combat1 on September 13, 2017, 07:09:55 pm
Use a trad pole and ettore backflip.
Problem sorted safely.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: paul alan on September 13, 2017, 07:25:59 pm
Use a trad pole and ettore backflip.
Problem sorted safely.
Much safer than doing a backflip off a ladder!
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: KS Cleaning on September 13, 2017, 07:39:48 pm
Use a trad pole and ettore backflip.
Problem sorted safely.
He hasn't got any traditional work experience,  no way will he be able to do upstairs windows to a suitable standard with a backflip.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: combat1 on September 13, 2017, 08:16:46 pm
Cut the top edge, wipe the blade every second pull, not exactly rocket science and easily learnt.
Still do it now and again .
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Og on September 13, 2017, 08:58:07 pm
 Vertigo.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: KS Cleaning on September 13, 2017, 10:52:43 pm
Cut the top edge, wipe the blade every second pull, not exactly rocket science and easily learnt.
Still do it now and again .
I am well aware it's not rocket science, I am also well aware that people without any trad skills find it difficult enough to do downstairs windows with a mop and squeegee in hand, never mind upstairs windows with a backflip on the end of a pole.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 13, 2017, 11:08:15 pm
Not aimed at the OP but some people do make an easy job unnecessarily hard.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Spruce on September 14, 2017, 09:25:07 am
Hi - I was hoping someone could help me out with an answer to a  question that I have please.

I mainly carry out WFP window cleaning after cleaning customers UPVC & conservatories; from this have built up a small round of clientele in my local area. Some customers have said they don't have regular window cleaner and requested future visits by me to fill the void. I've been doing this for about five years and in that time I've never been requested to apply traditional cleaning methods on any customer’s windows, which suits me. For some reason a customer who I don't wish to disgruntle and who is incidentally, a manager of a local estate in my area and thus I consider him a bit of a golden goose if you see what I mean, has requested the aforementioned. Because I've never been involved in traditional window cleaning, although I feel confident enough to carry it out, I am reluctant to do so mainly because I abhor working at height on a ladder, why look for trouble when you can be safe and sound on terra firma, especially; if like me you are in your twilight years.  My question is a simple one which some of you old salts who cut your teeth on chamois & shim may be kind enough to answer for me please.
Question - If for arguments sake one charged £15 to clean the windows of a simple, not difficult 3 bed semi house using WFP method, how much more, if any would you charge to clean the same house using the traditional system with a ladder for the upper floor?

1.  if you fall off the ladder and snap you back how many eggs will your golden goose give you to help out with the bills when the only thing you caNn move is your eyes ?

2. after being in the cleaning trade over a 100 years we must of had 1000s of these golden gooses which all the layd was bull poo never one golden egg . even when we had 6 carpet cleaning vans out daily and had the haxfax work (all of the north east) we were under cut buy guy doing a single carpet for 8 pounds where ever it was and unseen it didn't mater that he could do half the houses because there was no power on and we could rock up with a truck mount and carry on weather there was power or not worked for them for 2 years and head office binned us because he was 1 pounds a house cheaper we were only charging 40 !

3. if hes a estate agent he will know better , if you cleaned off the ladder at one of his work jobs then hes a cowboy thats happy to breck the law and let you work uninsured as the three e.a. we work for had us sign a discloser saying if they ever seen us more then two steps up a ladder we would be sacked on the spot !

the short answer id tell him tanks but no thanks

Susan, I fully agree with the contents of your reply. You've hit the nail right on the head albeit a bit bluntly.  ;D
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Splash & dash on September 14, 2017, 04:19:12 pm
All the above comments are very valid, we would explain to the customer that we would not do it on safety grounds and that he would also be liable for asking/expecting us to carry out work in this manner , only trad work we do these days is insides of commercial customers if it's high stuff we use a back flip on a pole but generally not intrested in this type of work as people don't want to pay what it would cost . Plenty of exterior pole work out there so we wouldn't be intrested in Evan quoting for this type of work
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Dave66 on September 14, 2017, 11:39:13 pm
Clean windows are clean windows.....some people!!  ::)roll
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: kikjason on September 15, 2017, 06:36:37 am
He probably won't be in when you clean. So Iwon't no I'd you trad them or wfp
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Stoots on September 15, 2017, 07:42:59 am
Quite simply you just say no.

I don't do ladder work, I might trad at ground level if the money was good enough but I dont do ladders. End of discussion.

I was asked just yesterday by a walk up. She wanted trad as the last windy used wfp but wasn't doing a good job. After I had explained that he was just rubbish and wfp is better for a host of reasons she agreed to let me do it my way.

There's always the highway for mr goose
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 15, 2017, 08:03:56 am
Just get a ladder out and trad his windows ffs.

Your not climbing mount Everest, your going up a couple of steps to clean a few windows.
It's hilarious the way some are acting like doing 1 house the good ol' fashioned way is like some sort of death sentence. As long as your cautious and use the correct methods then you'll be fine.

10 years ago most people here were cleaning Windows this way every single day without a second thought, including myself. Wfp has made everyone soft and lazy, they just use health and safety as a lame excuse.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: dazmond on September 15, 2017, 09:03:22 am
Just get a ladder out and trad his windows ffs.

Your not climbing mount Everest, your going up a couple of steps to clean a few windows.
It's hilarious the way some are acting like doing 1 house the good ol' fashioned way is like some sort of death sentence. As long as your cautious and use the correct methods then you'll be fine.

10 years ago most people here were cleaning Windows this way every single day without a second thought, including myself. Wfp has made everyone soft and lazy, they just use health and safety as a lame excuse.

i agree....to a point.i spent 17 years on the ladders but im not letting a customer dictate what method i use to clean their windows.like you say i cant be bothered climbing up to an upper window to clean it when i dont need to anymore esp as ive spend ££££££s on my van and WFP system. ;D
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: nathankaye on September 15, 2017, 09:27:04 am
Just get a ladder out and trad his windows ffs.

Your not climbing mount Everest, your going up a couple of steps to clean a few windows.
It's hilarious the way some are acting like doing 1 house the good ol' fashioned way is like some sort of death sentence. As long as your cautious and use the correct methods then you'll be fine.

10 years ago most people here were cleaning Windows this way every single day without a second thought, including myself. Wfp has made everyone soft and lazy, they just use health and safety as a lame excuse.

As someone once said of me on here, its going back 3 steps to take just one step forward.

Its like getting the old antique tools out the garage to do some wood work instead of using the power tools. Or getting the soap n scrubbing board out instead of using a washing machine. Or using, dare i say a pen n paper to send a letter rather than a text!!

A person spends hard earnt cash to invest in a safer way to clean at heights and then being told dont be silly, get up the ladders and clean my windows because i dont trust your new wavy stick to clean me windows!!  Erm No sorry mate, im not jumping through hoops just to get some money from you sir, to grace my table with food for the day
😂
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 15, 2017, 10:31:22 am
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Stoots on September 15, 2017, 10:57:43 am
I think you are 100% correct Chris. A lot of use are too lazy/can't be bothered to get the ladders off and trad a house.

I'm one of them. And proud of it  ;D

Don't do ladders. Dont do ladders.
Mr customer can like it or lump it.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 15, 2017, 11:25:00 am
I think you are 100% correct Chris. A lot of use are too lazy/can't be bothered to get the ladders off and trad a house.

I'm one of them. And proud of it  ;D

Don't do ladders. Dont do ladders.
Mr customer can like it or lump it.


At least your honest ;D
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: nathankaye on September 15, 2017, 11:47:38 am
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

Dont mind doing trad work, as you say its utilise your skills.......but using a ladder work doesnt involve skill. Especially if its a tall block of flats, how many storeys is that chris?? I would factor in a cherry picker into the costs rather than ladder and show im serious about the health and safety factor.

Haha its like we pimp ourselves out, if the price is right i will climb some ladders and let go when i get high enough and wash windows 😂😂
Crazy
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: AuRavelling79 on September 15, 2017, 01:32:33 pm
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

So a crap management company with a block of flats with crap windows. What a bunch of cowboys. Scrabbling about trying to find a mug who'll climb a ladder for them on the cheap instead of using a cherry picker.

Don't conflate trad skills with climbing a ladder.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 15, 2017, 05:14:18 pm
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

So a crap management company with a block of flats with crap windows. What a bunch of cowboys. Scrabbling about trying to find a mug who'll climb a ladder for them on the cheap instead of using a cherry picker.

Don't conflate trad skills with climbing a ladder.

Wrong wrong and err, wrong.
The tenants requested the management company to find someone willing to do the windows by hand as they were sick of leaking windows.
The flats are only 3 floors, ground 1st and 2nd, I actually pole the 2nd floor as that's beyond the reach of ladders, and trad ground and first floor.
You would tell them you need a cherry picker to clean the 1st floor by hand? Pathetic.
Fyi the management company is very good, invoices always paid within days and requested a full rams from me.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: nathankaye on September 15, 2017, 06:16:39 pm
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

So a crap management company with a block of flats with crap windows. What a bunch of cowboys. Scrabbling about trying to find a mug who'll climb a ladder for them on the cheap instead of using a cherry picker.

Don't conflate trad skills with climbing a ladder.

Wrong wrong and err, wrong.
The tenants requested the management company to find someone willing to do the windows by hand as they were sick of leaking windows.
The flats are only 3 floors, ground 1st and 2nd, I actually pole the 2nd floor as that's beyond the reach of ladders, and trad ground and first floor.
You would tell them you need a cherry picker to clean the 1st floor by hand? Pathetic.
Fyi the management company is very good, invoices always paid within days and requested a full rams from me.

You didnt specify how many floors the block of flats was and so we assumed a large block of flats. Ground floor walking round mopping n blading wouldnt take too long.   2nd floor is poled...wagtail??
So only first floor is using ladders.......
Still seems like a lot of faff for my liking.

Are you a one man team or do you get help in on this job to speed things up??

But also the above post might still be right!!  If windows are leaking when wfp is used then what are they like whennwe get a good heavy downpour like weve had over last couple of days??

But then your obviously happy to do this and thats all that counts, but for some myself included i wouldnt want it, regardless of price
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: dazmond on September 15, 2017, 06:23:28 pm
so for the 1% that want us to trad their windows off ladders we ll give them your number then chris! ;D

luckily for me i dont need to bother with customers like that.plenty of WFP work about. 8)
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 15, 2017, 09:48:39 pm
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

So a crap management company with a block of flats with crap windows. What a bunch of cowboys. Scrabbling about trying to find a mug who'll climb a ladder for them on the cheap instead of using a cherry picker.

Don't conflate trad skills with climbing a ladder.

Wrong wrong and err, wrong.
The tenants requested the management company to find someone willing to do the windows by hand as they were sick of leaking windows.
The flats are only 3 floors, ground 1st and 2nd, I actually pole the 2nd floor as that's beyond the reach of ladders, and trad ground and first floor.
You would tell them you need a cherry picker to clean the 1st floor by hand? Pathetic.
Fyi the management company is very good, invoices always paid within days and requested a full rams from me.

You didnt specify how many floors the block of flats was and so we assumed a large block of flats. Ground floor walking round mopping n blading wouldnt take too long.   2nd floor is poled...wagtail??
So only first floor is using ladders.......
Still seems like a lot of faff for my liking.

Are you a one man team or do you get help in on this job to speed things up??

But also the above post might still be right!!  If windows are leaking when wfp is used then what are they like whennwe get a good heavy downpour like weve had over last couple of days??

But then your obviously happy to do this and thats all that counts, but for some myself included i wouldnt want it, regardless of price

Where did I say a large block of flats?
I said a block of flats, you assumed wrong.

By pole the top floor I mean wfp, you numpty :P

And you say you wouldn't do it regardless of price...
So you would say no to £500 plus for a days work on the condition you have to use ladder for a few windows? I'm sure your doing so well for yourself that you would happily turn this work down Nathan/dazmond..
Stick to your £10 jobs with your professional, expensive 🤣🤣🤣 systems boys.

Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: nathankaye on September 15, 2017, 11:39:14 pm
Chris you cant take the P with us bud when your wfp the top windows anyway because of height restrictions numpty...you might as well wfp all of them or is it ok for the management team to accept complaints from only a third of its tennents.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: chris turner on September 16, 2017, 10:25:42 am
Chris you cant take the P with us bud when your wfp the top windows anyway because of height restrictions numpty...you might as well wfp all of them or is it ok for the management team to accept complaints from only a third of its tennents.

Yep the top floor tenants had to accept wfp or an increase in fees to cover the cost of a cherry picker.
Also a cherry picker would ruin the well maintained lawn around the flats so it was a no no.

My insurance covers me to work up to a height of 5 meters from a ladder and up to that height I feel completely safe. All HSE guidelines are followed, rams are in place so there is no problem, and I get paid handsomely. 

If I employed it would be a different story, I certainly wouldn't risk my own employees safety or run the risk of being sued if an accident did occur. I am happy to do it myself because I feel comfortable and able to do it, with enough experience and know how of working safely from a ladder.

You can sit here all day Nathan and quote 'hse' and 'working at height' but life is full of risk and reward.
You risk your health everyday you go out and eat that dog sh!t you call food, or stick alcohol in your liver, yet you won't go up and down ladder for a few hours because of 'health and safety'. Please.


Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: dazmond on September 16, 2017, 10:34:35 am
I spend 4 hours every 8 weeks up a ladder tradding a block of flats. When the management company had the contract up for tender they specifically requested someone who was willing to do the work by hand, as the windows are oldish wood frames that leak and look terrible when cleaned with wfp.
I was happy to do it, put in my price, got the job which is now one of my best commercial jobs when you factor in the twice yearly gutter cleaning.

Sometimes you have to accommodate the customers needs rather then having a one dimensional ' I spent £££ on these tools so I will only use these tools' attitude.
A skilled window cleaner will have multiple tools and multiple ways of achieving results, and should utilise those in the right situations.
Customer offers money to clean windows trad, I will use my trad skills to ensure customer parts ways with said money, if Bruce's price is right.

So a crap management company with a block of flats with crap windows. What a bunch of cowboys. Scrabbling about trying to find a mug who'll climb a ladder for them on the cheap instead of using a cherry picker.

Don't conflate trad skills with climbing a ladder.

Wrong wrong and err, wrong.
The tenants requested the management company to find someone willing to do the windows by hand as they were sick of leaking windows.
The flats are only 3 floors, ground 1st and 2nd, I actually pole the 2nd floor as that's beyond the reach of ladders, and trad ground and first floor.
You would tell them you need a cherry picker to clean the 1st floor by hand? Pathetic.
Fyi the management company is very good, invoices always paid within days and requested a full rams from me.

You didnt specify how many floors the block of flats was and so we assumed a large block of flats. Ground floor walking round mopping n blading wouldnt take too long.   2nd floor is poled...wagtail??
So only first floor is using ladders.......
Still seems like a lot of faff for my liking.

Are you a one man team or do you get help in on this job to speed things up??

But also the above post might still be right!!  If windows are leaking when wfp is used then what are they like whennwe get a good heavy downpour like weve had over last couple of days??

But then your obviously happy to do this and thats all that counts, but for some myself included i wouldnt want it, regardless of price

Where did I say a large block of flats?
I said a block of flats, you assumed wrong.

By pole the top floor I mean wfp, you numpty :P

And you say you wouldn't do it regardless of price...
So you would say no to £500 plus for a days work on the condition you have to use ladder for a few windows? I'm sure your doing so well for yourself that you would happily turn this work down Nathan/dazmond..
Stick to your £10 jobs with your professional, expensive 🤣🤣🤣 systems boys.

yep i would turn the work down chris.i dont want management company jobs esp if it means using ladders but we re all different.im not slagging you off.its entirely up to you but its a defo no from me.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on September 16, 2017, 11:33:28 am
Chris you cant take the P with us bud when your wfp the top windows anyway because of height restrictions numpty...you might as well wfp all of them or is it ok for the management team to accept complaints from only a third of its tennents.

Yep the top floor tenants had to accept wfp or an increase in fees to cover the cost of a cherry picker.
Also a cherry picker would ruin the well maintained lawn around the flats so it was a no no.

My insurance covers me to work up to a height of 5 meters from a ladder and up to that height I feel completely safe. All HSE guidelines are followed, rams are in place so there is no problem, and I get paid handsomely. 

If I employed it would be a different story, I certainly wouldn't risk my own employees safety or run the risk of being sued if an accident did occur. I am happy to do it myself because I feel comfortable and able to do it, with enough experience and know how of working safely from a ladder.

You can sit here all day Nathan and quote 'hse' and 'working at height' but life is full of risk and reward.
You risk your health everyday you go out and eat that dog sh!t you call food, or stick alcohol in your liver, yet you won't go up and down ladder for a few hours because of 'health and safety'. Please.

have they let you put tie hocks in the walls as this would the first thing on the risk assment ?
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Stoots on September 16, 2017, 11:50:40 am
I'll be honest. I say I don't do ladders but my interest would perk up for 500 quid.

I would go from no chance to I'll have a look
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: dazmond on September 16, 2017, 12:56:45 pm
I once had an old school mate offer me £500 if I would "follow" a van in my car for a few hours the next day.easy money but I refused.he was obviously up to something dodgy  and I didn't want to have any part in it.same with ladder work.

It's not always about the money.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: nathankaye on September 16, 2017, 01:17:45 pm
Chris im not attacking you mate and the amount of alcohol i consume is no where near threatning..... (in a month i might have 2 or 3 bottles of ale.........im not a big drinker at all  but one post of having a pint on a summers day or with a carvery makes people jump to conclusions.........)

All im saying is that since going onto wfp im not happy to go back to using ladders  regardless of the amount of money they flash hence my comment about pimping out!😂😂
Sky engineers need to fix ladders to the house as well as wearing harnesses to fit a dish to a house.
Ive witness an electrician on step ladders using a drill fall off from a small height n crack his head open.......a day in A&E.
A fellow shiner slipped of ladders and smash his tibia bone and another smashed his foot in, hence now he works with wfp.
So i know people who are friends have nasty accidents with ladders.   

But if your happy to do so thats fine. Im just expressing my reasons why i wouldnt.
Title: Re: Pole - Trad - Trad - Pole
Post by: Johnny B on September 16, 2017, 01:39:54 pm
He probably won't be in when you clean. So Iwon't no I'd you trad them or wfp

One day he will be. Why not just be honest and give the true reason that you will be using wfp.

John.