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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Lee Burbidge on March 30, 2018, 10:31:11 pm

Title: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 30, 2018, 10:31:11 pm
Pop over to Clean It Up's, Window Cleaning Magazine section tomorrow and catch up with ep 3  of US VS UK Window Cleaning.

Tomorrow the US team quote houses in Nottingham and discover that Robin Hood was not the only 'robber' from the city, or so it would seem to our American visitors.

Out to view on Saturdays here: http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?board=52.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Bungle on March 30, 2018, 11:17:19 pm
How come 3 yanks got flown over and when they were on top of the building waiting to abseil they were told they couldn't go over the side. A bit of a p1553r eh?
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 08:27:20 am
How come 3 yanks got flown over and when they were on top of the building waiting to abseil they were told they couldn't go over the side. A bit of a p1553r eh?
So, the US Team that consisted of Jamie, Josh, and Corey ( Lake Tahoe Window Cleaning) and Carrie ( Window Ninja) arrived in the UK to work with much more than rope access window cleaners. Not being able to rope access demonstrated what would be a raft of discoveries throughout the whole series surrounding the differences between US and UK window cleaning.

In some states of the US the rules are just as tight as the UK regards rope access, however, the US has not got ALL building owners and facility management companies bought on NO TICKET, NO DROP, yet like we do here in the UK.

It is important to note OSHA ( same as our HSE) has strict guidelines for everyone choosing to clean windows via rope access.

Here in the UK IRATA has successfully positioned themselves as the ticket you need, although SPRAT is making a bid for a similar position.

You watched the first episode https://youtu.be/9O0xBly8pyY Rope Access. Did you watch the second, Monster water fed pole in London? That is here https://youtu.be/XnLHMQcNSfk

Episode 3 will be ready to view today in our Clean It Up section here http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?board=52.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on March 31, 2018, 09:55:35 am
wow big deal i wouldn't of be able to get to sleep without knowing this bull
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 10:19:28 am
wow big deal i wouldn't of be able to get to sleep without knowing this bull

I guess you sleep tightly at night :)
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Simon Trapani on March 31, 2018, 10:29:30 am
I thought it was great Lee. Some really interesting videos.

I didn't know you had your own section. I've just spent the last hour looking through videos!
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Pete Thompson on March 31, 2018, 11:40:58 am
I wonder what would have happened if you told them in advance (which I’m sure you knew) that they wouldn’t be abseiling.

I doubt they would’ve come.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 11:44:06 am
I thought it was great Lee. Some really interesting videos.

I didn't know you had your own section. I've just spent the last hour looking through videos!

Haha sorry Simon, yes the Window Cleaning Magazine can be found in Clean It Up here http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?board=52.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 11:55:20 am
I wonder what would have happened if you told them in advance (which I’m sure you knew) that they wouldn’t be abseiling.

I doubt they would’ve come.

Hello Peter, it was not that sort of trip buddy - they would have arrived in the UK for the filming even if they knew. We had 3 companies lined up for this project and good old Tom ( one-man band in Nottingham).....  The rope access part was just a 5th of what we had planned in the UK.

We found out pretty late in the day that UK rules prevented the Lake Tahoe crew dropping off the side of the building - at first, it was a disaster since I really wanted the footage of  Jamie and her crew repelling in the UK, we had to roll with it and re-think the scenes. I decided to keep this from them and asked the UK rope access team not to let on purely from a creative point of view in regards to my rethink ideas.

We got the reaction on camera we were looking for and at the same time, the 'genuine surprise' framed the key points we were making between rope access rules and regs in the UK compared to the US.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Stoots on March 31, 2018, 12:01:00 pm
It was quite interesting to learn they do a lot of really high work traditionally off ladders. Seems they dont trust the water fed pole to do a good job.


Some of the work on their website you see them cleaning trad not only scares me to death with the height they are on ladders but I can't believe they dont use the wfp on some of it.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 01:06:44 pm
Episode 3 of US VS UK is ready to watch, follow the Clean It Up link below:
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212076.new#new
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: John Mart on March 31, 2018, 01:43:33 pm
Yawn.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 02:55:42 pm
Yawn.

Typing out a sound you make when you're bored or tired?  You probably wasted more time typing that out than thinking this topic is not for you :)

But you engaged so that's good.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on March 31, 2018, 02:58:18 pm
Wow 100 dollars!!! That’s a great price even if it’s one off jobs- not sure how it works in America, do they do yearly cleans instead of monthly?
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 03:16:12 pm
Wow 100 dollars!!! That’s a great price even if it’s one off jobs- not sure how it works in America, do they do yearly cleans instead of monthly?

I hope you don't mind - somebody asked the exact same question over on the YouTube channel, so I copied and pasted my answer here for you... hope that's ok?

"So, yes... most properties would be once per year. But everything is done, inside and out, tracks, screens ...... even paint flecks are removed, its that detailed and expected."

The same person also said that 'the US must have a lot of customers'.... so I messaged him this...

"Yes. In the UK once you have a residential customer set up - unless you mess up big time in some way, that is a regular income. The benefit to the UK window cleaner is once you have reached the desired number of customers, that's it - you may never market again.

In the US you have to market constantly, every year.... it helps that you build service and trust and that it is this type of US customer, that becomes a 'returning' customer.

With a 'returning' customer there is no hard sell required ( in fact 'up sale' is the order of the day), you did that on the first clean and proved your service.

The UK customer base once set up - you may never speak to that customer again. But you keep turning up every month, unannounced when you feel like and get paid on top with NO SALES required."
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 03:28:38 pm
It was quite interesting to learn they do a lot of really high work traditionally off ladders. Seems they dont trust the water fed pole to do a good job.


Some of the work on their website you see them cleaning trad not only scares me to death with the height they are on ladders but I can't believe they dont use the wfp on some of it.

Hi Adam, sorry I missed your post earlier. Yes, the Lake Tahoe crew are firm believers of traditional work and the lack of trust with the water fed pole is specific to the Alpine landscape they work in. Even when using a water fed pole, first cleans will always be nose to glass.

Yes, they do work at frightening heights in difficult terrain, some houses are surrounded by mountain boulders and steep slopes.

We use extension ladders in the UK, they use 'stack' ladders. Stack ladders are  6ft sections that you build to the height you want, great for internal works and tight spaces, but they are used for everything out there.

I am hoping to film their work so that window cleaners understand better the difficulties they find in an alpine landscape using water fed poles and how they tackle this.
 

Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on March 31, 2018, 04:01:20 pm
Wow 100 dollars!!! That’s a great price even if it’s one off jobs- not sure how it works in America, do they do yearly cleans instead of monthly?

I hope you don't mind - somebody asked the exact same question over on the YouTube channel, so I copied and pasted my answer here for you... hope that's ok?

"So, yes... most properties would be once per year. But everything is done, inside and out, tracks, screens ...... even paint flecks are removed, its that detailed and expected."

The same person also said that 'the US must have a lot of customers'.... so I messaged him this...

"Yes. In the UK once you have a residential customer set up - unless you mess up big time in some way, that is a regular income. The benefit to the UK window cleaner is once you have reached the desired number of customers, that's it - you may never market again.

In the US you have to market constantly, every year.... it helps that you build service and trust and that it is this type of US customer, that becomes a 'returning' customer.

With a 'returning' customer there is no hard sell required ( in fact 'up sale' is the order of the day), you did that on the first clean and proved your service.

The UK customer base once set up - you may never speak to that customer again. But you keep turning up every month, unannounced when you feel like and get paid on top with NO SALES required."

Cheers lee! I do find this quite interesting 👍
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on March 31, 2018, 04:30:08 pm
Wow 100 dollars!!! That’s a great price even if it’s one off jobs- not sure how it works in America, do they do yearly cleans instead of monthly?

I hope you don't mind - somebody asked the exact same question over on the YouTube channel, so I copied and pasted my answer here for you... hope that's ok?

"So, yes... most properties would be once per year. But everything is done, inside and out, tracks, screens ...... even paint flecks are removed, its that detailed and expected."

The same person also said that 'the US must have a lot of customers'.... so I messaged him this...

"Yes. In the UK once you have a residential customer set up - unless you mess up big time in some way, that is a regular income. The benefit to the UK window cleaner is once you have reached the desired number of customers, that's it - you may never market again.

In the US you have to market constantly, every year.... it helps that you build service and trust and that it is this type of US customer, that becomes a 'returning' customer.

With a 'returning' customer there is no hard sell required ( in fact 'up sale' is the order of the day), you did that on the first clean and proved your service.

The UK customer base once set up - you may never speak to that customer again. But you keep turning up every month, unannounced when you feel like and get paid on top with NO SALES required."

Cheers lee! I do find this quite interesting 👍

No problem .... anytime :)
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 01, 2018, 07:15:45 pm
Nottingham is not the only place US VS UK was filmed, here is a 20-second trailer of the US team in Sheffield, South Yorkshire

https://youtu.be/zfGX-lPfJPo
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 02, 2018, 01:18:20 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 02, 2018, 02:05:08 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓

Yeah, that is the impression I get. In next weeks film I ask Jamie if she would like Brit homes to work on instead, her response was 'no', they like the adrenaline. It's worth pointing out that Josh is well known in the BMX'ing scene over there, and so this thrill-seeking is what these kids love doing.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: dazmond on April 02, 2018, 02:52:36 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓

Yeah, that is the impression I get. In next weeks film I ask Jamie if she would like Brit homes to work on instead, her response was 'no', they like the adrenaline. It's worth pointing out that Josh is well known in the BMX'ing scene over there, and so this thrill-seeking is what these kids love doing.

they wont when they get into their mid forties or fifties though lee! ;D
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 02, 2018, 02:58:56 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓

Yeah, that is the impression I get. In next weeks film I ask Jamie if she would like Brit homes to work on instead, her response was 'no', they like the adrenaline. It's worth pointing out that Josh is well known in the BMX'ing scene over there, and so this thrill-seeking is what these kids love doing.

I bet it would be great window cleaning in California! Maybe you should take some Windy’s over to Nevada next time to see how they cope  ;D
Is Jamie into ballet by any chance?
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 02, 2018, 03:28:28 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓

Yeah, that is the impression I get. In next weeks film I ask Jamie if she would like Brit homes to work on instead, her response was 'no', they like the adrenaline. It's worth pointing out that Josh is well known in the BMX'ing scene over there, and so this thrill-seeking is what these kids love doing.

I bet it would be great window cleaning in California! Maybe you should take some Windy’s over to Nevada next time to see how they cope  ;D
Is Jamie into ballet by any chance?

That is an idea being bounded about at the moment, taking rope access out of the equation, I heard high alpine work can be extreme and not for the weak. And so filming Brits trying out this type of work would make good TV!

Ballet? Why do you ask lol
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 02, 2018, 03:43:55 pm
Just been on lake tahoes Facebook & website, they got over 2300 likes!! doesn’t say anything about yearly cleans though on their website- they offer weekly , bi weekly & monthly . I wouldn’t like to use ladders that high though , looks like a lot of work 😓

Yeah, that is the impression I get. In next weeks film I ask Jamie if she would like Brit homes to work on instead, her response was 'no', they like the adrenaline. It's worth pointing out that Josh is well known in the BMX'ing scene over there, and so this thrill-seeking is what these kids love doing.

I bet it would be great window cleaning in California! Maybe you should take some Windy’s over to Nevada next time to see how they cope  ;D
Is Jamie into ballet by any chance?

That is an idea being bounded about at the moment, taking rope access out of the equation, I heard high alpine work can be extreme and not for the weak. And so filming Brits trying out this type of work would make good TV!

Ballet? Why do you ask lol

(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1522680188_8B6FF7FC-33ED-4FCC-98F9-BAC946516858.png)

Just wondering lol  :)
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: harv deek on April 03, 2018, 02:23:01 pm
id be a tad angry that you got them over here  and no ladderwork or abseiling

  id duff you up  on film if i was them
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 03, 2018, 02:35:37 pm
id be a tad angry that you got them over here  and no ladderwork or abseiling

  id duff you up  on film if i was them

No need for violence on here pal now why don’t you clear off before I duff YOU up
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: harv deek on April 03, 2018, 05:45:33 pm
 remember glaswegian george
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 03, 2018, 06:23:48 pm
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 03, 2018, 06:36:20 pm
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)

Rrrrr, I see now. No, they are not into ballet. If I remember right it was a friend of Lake Tahoe. They would get people to wear hoodies with different backgrounds and in different situations and take great artistic pictures.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 03, 2018, 06:42:01 pm
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)

Rrrrr, I see now. No, they are not into ballet. If I remember right it was a friend of Lake Tahoe. They would get people to wear hoodies with different backgrounds and in different situations and take great artistic pictures.

Great advertising for their business! You gotta think outside the box to get results  :)
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 03, 2018, 10:29:29 pm
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)



Rrrrr, I see now. No, they are not into ballet. If I remember right it was a friend of Lake Tahoe. They would get people to wear hoodies with different backgrounds and in different situations and take great artistic pictures.

Great advertising for their business! You gotta think outside the box to get results  :)

Hey Shrek, check out the new POV films here http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212106.0

First POV film is good old Martyn from Birmingham, rocking a brass Ettore squeegee, this is the squeegee that started my business back in 2000.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: John Mart on April 04, 2018, 06:11:45 am
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)

Rrrrr, I see now. No, they are not into ballet. If I remember right it was a friend of Lake Tahoe. They would get people to wear hoodies with different backgrounds and in different situations and take great artistic pictures.
Soft porn you mean.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 04, 2018, 08:16:16 am
remember glaswegian george

Remember big knockers Nicola (see profile picture)



Rrrrr, I see now. No, they are not into ballet. If I remember right it was a friend of Lake Tahoe. They would get people to wear hoodies with different backgrounds and in different situations and take great artistic pictures.

Great advertising for their business! You gotta think outside the box to get results  :)

Hey Shrek, check out the new POV films here http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212106.0

First POV film is good old Martyn from Birmingham, rocking a brass Ettore squeegee, this is the squeegee that started my business back in 2000.

Awesome
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 07, 2018, 01:35:04 pm
US VS UK Window Cleaning – Episode 4 – Ladders & squeegee is ready to view now.

To watch it, follow this link to the Window Cleaning magazine section of Clean It Up
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212138.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 07, 2018, 02:00:35 pm
Also, we have a new film coming out called Window Cleaning in Chelsea - Mark from Race Team, London, and his all-female crew, tackle an upmarket hotel in the affluent area of Chelsea. Avoiding expensive cars in the narrow street, we get to see this job completed and go behind the scenes to find out what the hotel manager thinks.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 07, 2018, 09:13:44 pm
Legend POV style

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212142.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Shrek on April 07, 2018, 09:32:33 pm
Lee - i don’t do that much trad , maybe a handful of internal jobs per month. In your opinion, what is the the best squeegee to use which minimises detailing?
I currently just use an unger standard squeegee but I always have a lot of detailing to do!
Cheers 👍
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: G Griffin on April 09, 2018, 12:15:02 am
Americans are not into ballet
They're into wrestling and hot dogs.  And invading other countries to introduce them to the joys of wrestling and hot dogs whilst relieving them of their oil.
God bless America.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: NWH on April 09, 2018, 04:06:22 pm
Tbh I thought there actual window cleaning skills were quiet poor,the best one I’ve seen on YouTube is Luke the window cleaner with his Mrs,she can clean windows. Americans love there cloths and most seem to dislike WFP.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 14, 2018, 09:34:53 am
Lee - i don’t do that much trad , maybe a handful of internal jobs per month. In your opinion, what is the the best squeegee to use which minimises detailing?
I currently just use an unger standard squeegee but I always have a lot of detailing to do!
Cheers 👍

You can dog-ear a channel to min detailing or you can buy products like the  Unger S-Plus or Liquidator 2.0. The Legend is more a storefront 'big glass all day' squeegee. With its tapered ends, it fits snug into corners.

With practice and the right soap to water ratio, you can perform min detail type work with a regular channel. As always it is to try and error to what or which product gives you the outcome you want or are happy with.

Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 14, 2018, 09:36:51 am
So, episode 5 - commercial work in Sheffield is ready to view in the Magazine section of Clean It Up - follow the link if you cannot find the section -

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212194.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Lee Burbidge on April 21, 2018, 12:34:04 pm
Episode 6 and final episode of the series - Squeegee & water fed pole.

Ready to view follow the Clean It Up link here

http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=212263.0
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: NWH on April 21, 2018, 12:43:21 pm
Every house is like a 1 off no thanks,the savvy ones do mainly shops it’s less hassle for them and they can still earn good money. I bet there’s a lot more competition over there for shops and restaurants.
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: Susan Dean (1stclean) on April 21, 2018, 05:40:32 pm
Every house is like a 1 off no thanks,the savvy ones do mainly shops it’s less hassle for them and they can still earn good money. I bet there’s a lot more competition over there for shops and restaurants.

tell me about it let alone the $300 dollar month it cost  for insurance  yet alone heath care ($67 a month ) over heads are high  out there
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: NWH on April 21, 2018, 07:00:40 pm
The way they we’re  working on those ex council-council houses they’d need to charge a lot the rate they work,IMO the way they cleaned traditionally they looked in experienced I’d give the blond one a job though 😂
Title: Re: American window cleaners quote houses in Nottingham
Post by: RichA on April 24, 2018, 02:59:08 pm
Big difference between the way we work in the U.K. compared to the US.  They don’t clean monthly or 8 weekly over there and the screens must be a complete nightmare.