Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Bungle on November 10, 2022, 07:27:44 pm

Title: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Bungle on November 10, 2022, 07:27:44 pm
£60 to sweep a chimney or flue in half an hour using a gutter vac. Booked up until mid December. Only work in the same area on the day. They must be rolling on it!
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: zesty on November 10, 2022, 07:31:06 pm
£60 to sweep a chimney or flue in half an hour using a gutter vac. Booked up until mid December. Only work in the same area on the day. They must be rolling on it!

I seriously considered it.

I was chatting to a chimney sweep at a customers house a couple of years ago, I said, ‘you must make good money!’

He looked at me and smiled, then made some excuse, I said ‘you’re like us window cleaners, you don’t want to let on how much you can earn’

Would be a good add on, especially as it’s winter work and in the dry!
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Smudger on November 10, 2022, 07:51:08 pm
Sure you can afford to buy the hoover bags ??
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Bungle on November 10, 2022, 08:13:01 pm
A secretive lot by the looks of it. I wonder why? https://ukchimneysweeps.activeboard.com/

How busy would they be in the warmer months though?
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: NWH on November 10, 2022, 08:14:13 pm
Mine charges 45 but he’s at the house half an hour but we only burn clean timber and he says it’s one of the cleanest he does,time he gets packed up and onto the next I don’t reckon they’ll be much in it over what we do.
The good thing for them is you need an insurance ticket every year so they are not a luxury.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: NWH on November 10, 2022, 08:14:56 pm
In the warmer months they are still flat out.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Splash & dash on November 10, 2022, 08:56:03 pm
Trust me it’s a horrible job I used to fit multi fuel stoves and service them , ie changing door rope , glass or what ever needs doing , you cannot get the smell out of your skin , also on bad chimney s you can get sulphur burns , I would never go back to it .
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: JandS on November 10, 2022, 08:59:12 pm
Bit more to it than just sweeping a chimney....you have to know how different constructions work....what to do when things go wrong...how to rectify mistakes.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Bungle on November 10, 2022, 09:08:43 pm
Bit more to it than just sweeping a chimney....you have to know how different constructions work....what to do when things go wrong...how to rectify mistakes.

 ??? You just wave a pole around with a brush on the end. A bit like what we do.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: NWH on November 10, 2022, 09:40:51 pm
Yeah and that’s not as easy as it looks either.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: DJW on November 10, 2022, 10:13:18 pm
Got to be cleaned by December 25th.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: AuRavelling79 on November 10, 2022, 10:35:33 pm
Bit more to it than just sweeping a chimney....you have to know how different constructions work....what to do when things go wrong...how to rectify mistakes.

And you need to make sure you have scrubbed up for doing a 'Chim Chim Cheree' gig for good luck at weddings.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: G Griffin on November 11, 2022, 08:59:02 am
I was going to get my 12 year old lad into it but he's too old, apparently.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Mike Halliday on November 11, 2022, 11:04:58 am
The guy who does mine takes is here an hour and lives 20miles away he does my sons and it takes about the same amount of time

People see 30mins and think they do 16 a day but even it the travel by F1 car they still only do 5 or 6 unless the work silly hours
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: dazmond on November 11, 2022, 07:42:59 pm
Most of us who have a decent,profitable, stress free window cleaning round  wouldn't even think about chimney sweeping....but give it a go if you think you'd like it!

Rather you than me mate! ;D
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Steve H on November 11, 2022, 08:31:21 pm
Yeah, i agree with Dazmond. You can spread yourself too thin as they say, end up just being a jack of all trades. Ive learned to stick to 2 or 3 things your good at and build up those areas of the business. To keep introducing new things, usually means your not concentrating on the areas your good at or that work well for your business. That approach doesnt work for most businesses IMO.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: G Griffin on November 13, 2022, 09:55:15 am
Most of us who have a decent,profitable, stress free window cleaning round  wouldn't even think about chimney sweeping....but give it a go if you think you'd like it!

Rather you than me mate! ;D
I think it would soot me.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: DJW on November 13, 2022, 05:09:27 pm
Sweeping statement.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Stoots on November 13, 2022, 05:27:56 pm
Theres probbaly loads of oppotunitys we are missing out on by being too busy and involved in window cleaning to be able to see what else is out there.

I had the idea of Upvc spraying a while ago and it keeps coming back to me. I had a quote of £1200 to do my 3 bed semi and the estimate it could be done in 1 to 2 days. Its low cost entry, minimal equpiment, only downside is its very weather dependant almost a seasonal business.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Ched on November 13, 2022, 05:41:03 pm
Theres probbaly loads of oppotunitys we are missing out on by being too busy and involved in window cleaning to be able to see what else is out there.

I had the idea of Upvc spraying a while ago and it keeps coming back to me. I had a quote of £1200 to do my 3 bed semi and the estimate it could be done in 1 to 2 days. Its low cost entry, minimal equpiment, only downside is its very weather dependant almost a seasonal business.
Don't get your gutters done as with the expansion and contraction due to changes in temp the bits that the brackets cover moves. A neighbour had theirs done and in warm weather you can see the white strips next to the brackets whereas the rest is dark grey, looks terrible.
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: Splash & dash on November 13, 2022, 07:15:33 pm
Theres probbaly loads of oppotunitys we are missing out on by being too busy and involved in window cleaning to be able to see what else is out there.

I had the idea of Upvc spraying a while ago and it keeps coming back to me. I had a quote of £1200 to do my 3 bed semi and the estimate it could be done in 1 to 2 days. Its low cost entry, minimal equpiment, only downside is its very weather dependant almost a seasonal business.


Again it’s not as simple as it looks you have to know what you are doing , it’s not an easy job , I have a few customers that have had it done looks a right mess , to do it properly  is like spraying a car preparation is key ones look at it and think it’s easy money but it’s not .
Title: Re: I'm Going To Become a Chimney Sweep
Post by: johnny bravo on November 19, 2022, 04:09:29 pm
north east      a chimney sweep cost a customer of mine £25      yes you heard right £25.    i was taken back at that price.       I said thats a good price.      i couldnt believe it

Are you prepared  to repair any damage ic caused on chimney if anything comes loose.    mesh cover etc

its not just a case of using a Wet & dry vac
you will need rods etc  and watch a few videos on chimney sweeping
My Dad used to do this over Ireland where everyone had a coal fire .     well in demand .     i wish i went with him just to see how he operated ,