Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: chrismroberts on December 09, 2006, 08:03:01 pm
-
Hi guys,
I'm thinking of moving my round to WFP next year, mainly to increase speed and make extra money.
However, I've just had a look at my list of customers, and about 40% are houses with leaded windows (the new style, glued on type) on some, if not all of the house... so, just out of interest, does using WFP on leadeds actually save any time, or does it take longer? And does it do a good job? Are there any problems with residue from the leadings running and staining the window?
-
Cant comment on 'fake' leaded windows, but on leaded glass, we've found wfp to be a god send, made for them !
We have a couple of large houses, all leaded glass, now do them in a fraction of the time it used to take.
-
You mean the little tiny panes of glass all held together with the leadings? Theyre a nightmare arent they?! I have one house like that, just the front. Takes me forever! And I'm always scared the window is gonna fall apart under the pressure! :P
-
only prob ive had is if it isnt stuck on properly it sometimes start to peel at edges, but not a major prob.
Leaded glass is so easy with wfp
-
I know the type of windows you mean. We do 100's of properties with them.
All I can say is that if you aren't around twice as fast doing them with WFP then you are doing something wrong. The first and second cleans on these is critical because they will most probably have been "ragged" before so spending time on the initial couple of cleans (Although you should still be faster than trad) is time well spent.
Rich.
-
Twice as fast?! Wow... well, I'll keep you posted!
Do you ever get any problems with the leadings running, if you know what I mean? I've seen it on a few houses, where it looks like dye from the leadings has run down the window and stained the glass. I don't know why it is, maybe the rain or something.
-
Twice as fast?! Wow... well, I'll keep you posted!
Yeah, please do.
Twice as fast. ;D
I can do leaded quicker than squeegee panes. ;)
-
Aye... watch this space! :)
My main problem with doing leadeds is that my arm aches after a coupla panes lol.
-
Twice as fast?! Wow... well, I'll keep you posted!
Yeah, please do.
Twice as fast. ;D
I can do leaded quicker than squeegee panes. ;)
::)
-
Fantastic, as already pointed out dont brush hard but they are now my best earners.
-
wfp is the best 4 leaded. better clean than damp scrim dry scrim .
-
wfp is the best 4 leaded. better clean than damp scrim dry scrim .
dead right also on georgian
brett
-
Just about the biggest single bonus I got from WFP was the ability to do leaded. Before it was my pet hate. Now I don't even think about it but it does mean a lot of customers are available to me that I would have been reluctant to take on before.
Interestingly, I have picked up quite a few new customers this summer in quite a small area and they have all got leaded.
I think one or more of the other window cleaners around here is saying no to leaded windows. If I could find out who it is he could pass on my number - if he is the sort that would do that.
-
I think that residue that sometimes you see running off the lead is a chemical reaction between the lead & something in the air, probably oxygen. It tends to happen mainly on newly installed windows.
If you look closely at brand new leaded windows you will notice the lead has a shiny finish, but after a few months it has a matt, dull appearance.
I have had one customer politely enquire about this a couple of months ago as it is a problem when using WFP on newly installed leaded windows, but the problem is only short lived, just ask them to be patient & wait until the lead has oxidised
-
Yes there is something on the lead when its new
-
Twice as fast?! Wow... well, I'll keep you posted!
Yeah, please do.
Twice as fast. ;D
I can do leaded quicker than squeegee panes. ;)
Even on a very hot day Squeaky?
What precise method do you use for old leaded windows? I always found them a struggle - especially on the hottest days. Hopefully I won't have to use trad again on them but it would be handy to know a quick way of doing them if I'm ever forced back to trad (future drought orders etc).
-
The topic wasn't about old leaded windows.
I can't do them that quick.
But then you can't wfp them either because of leaks.
Method for leaded?
Mist with window spray, buff with microfibre.
At the moment everything's greasy, so mist as usual, but I use my wrung-out wet micro, then buff with the dry.
This saves getting my dry cloth greasy.
Even then it doesn't take much different to a squeegee window.
Just harder work! :-\
-
Yep, WFP is the bees knees on leaded ;)
Far quicker than Trad.
Squeaks does do them quick with his method, and because of the lead o the glass it will dtrect from any possible smears he may leave.
That isn't a slight on Roger by the way, prior to WFP I did them the identical way, but I also knew full well that in the right light and angle you would see the buff marks from the scrim or microfibre.
The method Squeaks uses IS quick, but it's bloody hard work :-\
You wouldn't want several biggish leaded accounts to do in a row, you'd be exhausted by the time you were done :'(
Old leaded doesn't always leak either, and when it does it is often just a little dribble on the inside, it isn't as if most of the windows will leak like a sieve!
But you do have to watch what you are doing carefully.
Ian
-
The 'stick on' leaded windows are a nightmare with cloths because the cloth snags at the crossovers and pulls the lead off.
No such problem now with wfp and much faster too with great results.
Filllllll
-
I think that residue that sometimes you see running off the lead is a chemical reaction between the lead & somethong in the air, probably oxygen. It tends to happen mainly on newly installed windows.
If you look closely at brand new leaded windows you will notice the lead has a shiny finish, but after a few months it has a matt, dull appearance.
I have had one customer politely enquire about this a couple of months ago as it is a problem when using WFP on newly installed leaded windows, but the problem is only short lived, just ask them to be patient & wait until the lead has oxidised
I think that residue that sometimes you see running off the lead is a chemical reaction between the lead & somethong in the air probably
;D
-
Its all very scientific... oxidisation and thongs in the air! :P
I have noticed recently, with the sun being quite low, that its impossible not to leave buff marks on the window using scrims. I havent had any complaints yet... most of my customers are just glad theyre cleaner than they were before I cleaned them!
Really looking forward to giving WFP a go, especially on leadeds. I'm visiting a mate in Yorkshire at the weekend, and somebody he knows has a WFP round and has kindly agreed to take me along for the day on Monday... so fingers crossed! :)
-
hi Chris have you started on the new work you have just bought
i have spoken to matt about the rest of the work i use wfp
so if we are in the same area you can come along and try it out
as for leaded windows i find its alot quicker , martin
-
Great stuff, good to hear from you! Are you buying the rest of his work?
Not started yet, no. Will be the end of this week I'm hoping! I gave them all the time slot "the first couple of weeks in December", so that should be OK :S
Youre WFP? That'd be brilliant actually, yeh :) I'm in Deeside. Whereabouts are you?
-
hi chris i,m from llay i,ve just in the last 3 months bought some work from by you in the shotton and qferry area weathers been a pain as you know, that why i asked if you had started the new work i,ve fallen behind just hope we get some better weather ,martin
-
You're kidding... Queensferry?! Will no doubt see you out and about!
Yeh the weathers been really horrible. I'm catching up on my work (about 3 days behind) before I start Matt's!
-
I have quite a few leaded houses, and find WFP BRILLIANT for them.
Far, far easier and quicker than hand-bashing.
I also do a small hotel with many real old-leaded-windows. It used to take two of us two hours to hand-bash the exterior.
I can do it by myself in about 1 hour 20 minutes and still charge the same money. Some windows leak, some quite badly; but overall I think the job is better done by WFP than by hand. It's really fragile glass.
It's my best account and a nice little earner for the time it takes.
The only downside is that we have to handbash the interior every-other-month! >:(