Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M4RK on August 29, 2006, 12:30:34 pm

Title: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: M4RK on August 29, 2006, 12:30:34 pm
There seem to be  some new starters that are coming into window cleaning kitted out with a wfp set up, practically from day one.

I'm just curious as to how many people have done that and how many people have had some traditional experience before making the purchase.

Mark

Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Moderator David@stives on August 29, 2006, 01:03:23 pm
7 years trad before going wfp last year

DAVE
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: cybersye on August 29, 2006, 01:17:16 pm
3 years wfp from start ( 2 years working for someone, 1 year out on my own now)
be fare to say though about 40% of my work is trad now, I only wfp tops to conserve water and abide to h & s guidelines, wfp is a tool like any other, I would never use it exclusively, but thats just my opinion and what works best for me.
Simon
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 29, 2006, 01:35:13 pm
Thats a very good Q (honestly) and we will both be answered by the poll, I wont reply cause I dont fit any of the answers.(look at my blog) It was hard work trying to tell an aethiest how good a wfp was 5-6 years ago. 8)
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Alex Gardiner on August 29, 2006, 02:00:07 pm
I had done 16 years traditional WC before changing to WFP 5 years ago.

Alex
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Roy Harding on August 29, 2006, 02:29:08 pm
I had 19yrs experence with squeegee, then 3yrs wfp but still us the squeegee when I need to.

I have spoken to three window cleaners with over 20yrs experence in the trade, and all are now wfp, all have said the only regret they should have done it years ago.

Roy
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: pylofm on August 29, 2006, 02:30:27 pm
6 months trad in 89/90, now 3 weeks WFP..
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: sair on August 29, 2006, 03:28:11 pm
13 years trad 7 years wfp
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: poleman on August 29, 2006, 04:01:09 pm
20 years a window cleaner and 4 of them has been WFP

Andy
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: macc on August 29, 2006, 04:02:01 pm
Coming on 20 years wc now, nearly a year wfp.

Cant see how some get by with no trad experience, unfortunatly wfp cant do everything,

Macc
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Paul Coleman on August 29, 2006, 05:06:43 pm
There seem to be  some new starters that are coming into window cleaning kitted out with a wfp set up, practically from day one.

I'm just curious as to how many people have done that and how many people have had some traditional experience before making the purchase.

Mark



14 years trad before going WFP.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: AuRavelling79 on August 29, 2006, 05:57:21 pm
1997-2000 part-time (but increasing) Trad
2001-2005 (Feb) Full-time Trad
2005 (March) wfp (started changing commercial and 3 floor domestic)
Summer 2005 changed most of the rest of my domestic.
May 2006 changed last two areas of my round from Trad.
Now all wfp. (except occasional entranceways and insides of course.)
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: windows_chepstow on August 29, 2006, 06:03:27 pm
Only three years traditional and a year WFP.

I think I became a WFP window cleaner just at the right time, in that the three-years I've done using ladders taught me how to effectively use a squeegie and how to work at height safely (a fall helped me learn not to take chances too).

Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Trevor Knight on August 29, 2006, 06:13:12 pm
14 years traditional
2 years wfp

Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: pylofm on August 29, 2006, 06:15:09 pm
Some people believe that you need to 'trad' for ages to then go onto wfp...I am not so sure. I am new to window cleaning and have chosen to go wfp...for many reasons, one of them being I do not really like ladders that much.

But what is evident.....WFP is a very good tool...I also use a squeege but not much and that will be the way I work given the chance.

Trad just like wfp is just another tool to clean windows, if it were possible to use some sort of remote tool I would go for that too.

Cheers
Dave.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Pj on August 29, 2006, 07:07:48 pm
20th year w/c
1 year wfp by end of next month

Converted everyone in one go.  Wish I hadn't!  Changed a few small ones back to trad.

Pj
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: S.A.J on August 29, 2006, 07:17:50 pm
2 Years Trad 4 Years wfp
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: P®oPole™ on August 29, 2006, 09:07:00 pm
3 Years trad, nearly a year wfp
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: dai on August 29, 2006, 10:19:49 pm
12 years trad, 1 year wfp. I did work for  six months as a window cleaner back in 1959. That was before we had sqeegies. I'm 64 next month so must be one of the oldest converts on here. Dai
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Jeff Brimble on August 29, 2006, 11:09:49 pm
Duh its just sunk in I cannot see the results unless I post on the poll, so its +5 for me.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: pjulk on August 29, 2006, 11:14:18 pm
19 years traditional on and off but mainly on.
First started in 1987.

18 months WFP

Paul
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: M4RK on August 30, 2006, 07:54:08 am
I think for ground floor windows, if you are quick with a squeegy there's likely not a lot of difference in time on the ground floor windows (unless you count doing the frames), in fact dare I say squeegy is faster than wfp on ground floor, if when using the pole you rinse properly.
You also save your water doing that too.

For those that started as wfp users, do you generally use the wfp on ground floor windows or not?

What about those who have traditional experience?

Mark
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Pj on August 30, 2006, 08:36:16 am
Most I wfp top and bottom, even tthough no quicker.  I suppose once I'm out with the hoses and brush I just keep going till it's done.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: pylofm on August 30, 2006, 11:24:15 am
Hi, have started with WFP,I use it for both top&btm....seems the easist route to stay with the same equipment.

Dave.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Londoner on August 30, 2006, 02:10:16 pm
I was trad off and on part time for years. I am so old I can even remember shammy and scrim ( I'm 52 )

And WFP now 100% apart from patio doors which I still do trad because of the greasy finger marks.

I am never going to go back but I still find it a bit hard to walk away and leave the glass wet. There was something satisfying about leaving them gleaming.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Tim Morton on August 30, 2006, 06:02:46 pm
I was trad for 15yrs, just started wfp in march this year. Am about 60-70% wfp, the rest are shops that arnt suitable for wfp so still keeping the trad skills honed.


Tim
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: neil100 on August 30, 2006, 06:51:20 pm
I started Trad, thats Chamois and scrim On April 5th 1980.

Started wfp on Jan 4th 2006. Better late then never.

Still do the odd house or houses trad but the bulk of my work is now wfp.

Thats over 26yrs experince, I never thought I would of lasted this long w/c.

Nel.
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: windows_chepstow on August 30, 2006, 07:02:25 pm
How come you 'long in the tooth' guys were using chamois and scrim in the late 70's early 80's when the squeegie was invented in 1923?

At my primary school in the 70's I saw window cleaners using squeegies and I'm sure my Mum's window cleaner used a squeegie too.

So, I'm assuming, that squeegies were well known 30 years ago.

Or weren't they?
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: robbobon on August 30, 2006, 07:26:01 pm
23 yrs trad, and will do the next 23 years trad aswell, I love ladder work keeps me fit. ;)
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: Trevor Knight on August 30, 2006, 07:55:45 pm
23 yrs trad, and will do the next 23 years trad aswell, I love ladder work keeps me fit. ;)

I look forward to asking you the same question in 10 years time. If you started at 15 this would make you 61 in 23 years time and I reckon if I went into ladbrokes and asked for the odds I would get a great return  ;D ;D

Seriously though, fair play to you if your still up an down a ladder then. I am 40 this year, physically fit and put my hand up to say I love ladder work like a hole in the head since changing to WFP, and I have been up an down a ladder for 14 years.

Good luck to ya,

Best wishes,

Trev
Title: Re: Traditional Experience -wfp users.
Post by: D.Salkeld_Ltd on August 30, 2006, 08:07:18 pm

19 years Trad.  6 months WFP.

Best move I have ever made, hardest and most stressfull mind!!!!!

David