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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: paul mather on July 07, 2006, 04:26:36 pm

Title: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: paul mather on July 07, 2006, 04:26:36 pm: Have been reading lots of experienced WFP users who recommend switching over from trad to WFP in stages. Just wondered which bits you would recommend I switch first.

I have a fair bit of 3 storey work (flats & hotel) which obviously would be safer with WFP but without the experience of handling a WFP would I be better starting on my 2 storey work.

Advice please
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: neil100 on July 07, 2006, 07:43:42 pm: I started wfp at the begining of this year.

Iam so glad I did. Whats all this nonsense about converting a bit at a time.I switched all my domestic work over in one go,about 450 customers. I would not do it a bit at a time.I informed every customer from Sept last year expecting to be wfp by November at the latest. I did not get my Van fitted out untill December so I waited to the new year to start.

Wfp means more money in less time. You do not get as tired and you are so much safer not climbing a ladder. So why have the equipment and not use it? Its a no brainer get them all switched over NOW.

Nel
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: windows_chepstow on July 07, 2006, 07:48:36 pm: Paul,

Do you plan to do 100% WFP, or first floor and above only; georgian and leaded excepted.
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: borg on July 07, 2006, 07:59:10 pm: i done the same as neil100 and not had any probs yet touch wood.
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: paul mather on July 08, 2006, 10:30:10 am: Tosh

Figure if I have it there may as well use it for everything tops & bottoms
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Paul Coleman on July 08, 2006, 11:09:20 am: Quote from: neil100 on July 07, 2006, 07:43:42 pm
I started wfp at the begining of this year.

Iam so glad I did. Whats all this nonsense about converting a bit at a time.I switched all my domestic work over in one go,about 450 customers. I would not do it a bit at a time.I informed every customer from Sept last year expecting to be wfp by November at the latest. I did not get my Van fitted out untill December so I waited to the new year to start.

Wfp means more money in less time. You do not get as tired and you are so much safer not climbing a ladder. So why have the equipment and not use it? Its a no brainer get them all switched over NOW.

Nel

Glad to hear you are doing OK with WFP. I did find it better to switch the work over in stages myself as I got a fair way behind. This was due to needing to re-learn my round and the extra time the WFP first cleans took me. It didn't help that the Winter was colder than we've come to expect and there were plenty of days when I had to start a bit later. Knowing what I know now, I would have started WFP towards the end of Winter. At least the days would have been lengthening and less chance of a freeze up.
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Chris Cottrell on July 08, 2006, 11:16:20 am: I Wfp'd everything from the start exept a few old dears bungalows cause I thought they might not "get it" so continued to do them trad and when I got tired of them being the only ones left trad, I took the bull by the horns and wfp'd them to my suprise they all took it in there stide without a blink of an eye , I guess you never can tell :)

So my advice start as you mean to go on

Chris
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: matt on July 08, 2006, 11:18:51 am: persoanlly i think its better to start in the winter, as in the summer the direct sunlight shows up EVERY mark / spot / dirty water run

but thats my opinion, I'll be starting to do Downstairs with WFP this winter
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: DaveBrown on July 08, 2006, 12:42:20 pm: Quote from: matt on July 08, 2006, 11:18:51 am
persoanlly i think its better to start in the winter, as in the summer the direct sunlight shows up EVERY mark / spot / dirty water run

Nice point Matt! I am about to change over and hadn't thought of that one.

Dave
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: pjulk on July 08, 2006, 01:06:19 pm: When i changed over 15 months ago i changed the whole lot in one go.
But i only had about 150 customers then.
But only lost one as she didn't like her decking getting wet.

I would not do it in bits as i found a lot of customers would ask about it or comment saying either good or there not sure they like there windows wet.
Doing it in one go gets all that out the way at the same time.

Paul
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: beefy on July 08, 2006, 02:41:59 pm: what are they like, paul i hope you asked the lass you lost what she did with her decking when it rains.
refering to post above cant you do geogian & leaded with wfp? AND i know this sounds thick but what r georgian windows
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Clear Vision on July 08, 2006, 03:49:01 pm: Im not too sure either what gorgian windows are?

I think they might be the type with little lead squares on them ???

Like on a church but without the colour?

Clear Vision
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: paul mather on July 08, 2006, 04:18:33 pm: Im not too sure either what gorgian windows are?

I think they might be the type with little lead squares on them ???

Like on a church but without the colour?

Clear Vision
Quote

You 2 are on a wind up aren't you? You can't be serious!!

Georgian windows are the ones that are made up of lots of squares with frames in between.
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Clear Vision on July 08, 2006, 04:20:43 pm: No, I'm not on a wind up :o

I know now what you mean.

We call them french windows!!!!
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: paul mather on July 08, 2006, 04:32:33 pm: Sorry clearvision thought you were pulling my leg ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Clear Vision on July 08, 2006, 04:59:23 pm: So paul am I right????

I'll get you back ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: robbie14000 on July 08, 2006, 05:12:04 pm: Hi all , We clean various pubs that have georgian and they come out fine.
Give it a try- you do need to give them longer and rinse well but still saves a lot of time.
Regards Rob - Clearshine - Harrogate
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: macc on July 08, 2006, 07:08:54 pm: Quote from: matt on July 08, 2006, 11:18:51 am
persoanlly i think its better to start in the winter, as in the summer the direct sunlight shows up EVERY mark / spot / dirty water run

but thats my opinion, I'll be starting to do Downstairs with WFP this winter

Totally agree. I switched in Dec, all prods sorted as the evening stayed lighter. ;D

Macc
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: matt on July 08, 2006, 08:15:48 pm: Quote from: macc on July 08, 2006, 07:08:54 pm
Quote from: matt on July 08, 2006, 11:18:51 am
persoanlly i think its better to start in the winter, as in the summer the direct sunlight shows up EVERY mark / spot / dirty water run

but thats my opinion, I'll be starting to do Downstairs with WFP this winter

Totally agree. I switched in Dec, all prods sorted as the evening stayed lighter. ;D

Macc

another good reason for a winter change, it gets dark early, people dont see the windows as they are in work

Oh and it rains a bit more, thus people will just think its the rain ;)

winter start is the way to go ;)
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: ronaldo on July 08, 2006, 08:18:36 pm: All of it !! ;)
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: jeff1 on July 10, 2006, 09:33:24 am: Some good tips on this thread, for us guy's who are going to change to WFP,
good advice from matt, about starting in the winter, one thing I know about the winter, is the ladder is bloody freezing, even with gloves on?
I for one will be glad of the change over, but have to wait a while, until the builders have sent me there final bills. :'(
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: Londoner on July 10, 2006, 06:30:34 pm: I had never thought about the summer v winter question but I can see its right.

I would still say start on a few practice customers to shake out all the bugs and leaks and to learn how to handle the gear and what pressure to use etc.

Also first cleans take longer so you will need to pace yourself. I think you need to make your own decisions about how you change over but if you are like me after two days I was ready to chuck it over the nearest fence.

I had technical problems, not serious but enough to cause me grief. Also I had muscle strain where my neck and shoulders join. Later my hands seized up because I was gripping the pole too hard.

Nothing serious but it all piles in on top of you. Also I was spending a lot of time talking to customers about the new system so I felt under pressure to do a good job first time.
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: matt on July 10, 2006, 07:52:26 pm: Quote from: jeff1 on July 10, 2006, 09:33:24 am
Some good tips on this thread, for us guy's who are going to change to WFP,
good advice from matt, about starting in the winter, one thing I know about the winter, is the ladder is bloody freezing, even with gloves on?
I for one will be glad of the change over, but have to wait a while, until the builders have sent me there final bills. :'(

cheers Jeff

as you know i use a unger pole, i did a comercail job last winter, i forgot to put the pole in the garage (it was left ontop of my car) and i picked it up, it was so cold, it took skin off my hand :(, so a little more advice folks, NEVER leave your poles ontop of the car
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: master cleaner on July 11, 2006, 12:02:28 am: Hi Paul
i have got about 300 fortnightly customers and 100 monthly customers and me and my son turned them all to wfp at one time , after about a week you will be so frustrated you might think it is the worst mistake you have ever made but as you get better you get faster microbore is essential and a flow control valve from gardiners wil save you some serious water and frustration.
you will possibly get some complaints at the beginning if you havent given them an explanation letter(if you need one let me know ) also if you havent cleaned the top frame before going wfp it will take you longer so it is better to get the complaints and the hassle out of the way all at once rather than making it last for months, i didnt lose a single customer and i put that down to telling them exactly what to expect and i told them that i might not get them perfect for about 3 cleans but if they bared with me i would clean there frames for free.

i have only got 1 customer out of them all that after 9 months still doesnt like her windows left wet , you cant please them all

gary
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: JM123 on July 11, 2006, 12:23:20 am: i have only got 1 customer out of them all that after 9 months still doesnt like her windows left wet , you cant please them all

gary

Ask her what she does when it rains
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: paul mather on July 11, 2006, 08:36:05 pm: thanks Gary,
I was going to put a letter together explaining what WFP was all about (nothing too technical) & more importantly how it would affect them. I have talked to a few of my customers about it & none of them had ever heard of it. One of them who is now retired but from an engineering background was absolutely fascinated with my explanation & asked if I had any brochures he could look at!! Told him I may well be giving him a call over the wekend to help me set it up.
Thought I may take the opportunity to rise my prices and put on the letter what their new price would be. Good or bad idea? (Some prices have not gone up in 4 - 5 years!)
Title: Re: WFP just bought, which bits of my round do I convert first
Post by: master cleaner on July 11, 2006, 10:57:00 pm: hi paul i waited 5 months before putting my prices up to let them get used to it , you will make some mistakes and if you have put your prices up as well you might lose some , i would wait until you get ok at it before putting up the prices,then when they realise how good it is give them a letter like i did i put my prices up between £1-£150 per month and lost 3 out of 400.

gary