Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: steve k on February 26, 2007, 05:34:35 pm

Title: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 26, 2007, 05:34:35 pm
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1009.jpg)

first of many...front only
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1010.jpg)

opposite
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1011.jpg)

back of same
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1014.jpg)

do this one back and front then onto the one you can see behind the road sign
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1012.jpg)

back of house where I am parked
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1013.jpg)

back of house by road sign
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1015.jpg)

finished in 40 minutes...3 semis and 1 front only
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1016.jpg)

round the corner to do 2 full semis and 3 front only
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1017.jpg)

back of 2 semis that you can see
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1018.jpg)

front of 2 houses opposite
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1019.jpg)

finished here
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1020.jpg)

round the corner to a long stretch of 10 fronts and 1 full semi
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1021.jpg)

last 1 on this stretch
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1022.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1023.jpg)

round the corner to another stretch of 8 fronts, 2 full semis and 5 bungalows

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1028.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1024.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1025.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1026.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1029.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1031.jpg)

conservatories at back of last 2 bungalows
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1032.jpg)

(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1032.jpg)

finished
(http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b105/stek67/000_1034.jpg)

total of 8 full semis, 22 fronts and 5 bungalows
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: brightnclean on February 26, 2007, 06:22:23 pm
My wife said... LOOK YOU MISSED A BIT!!  Can she see some more from the inside looking out please?  ;D  ;D  :o
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: tonylee on February 26, 2007, 07:41:02 pm
top man!
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Sir Squeaky on February 26, 2007, 07:44:33 pm
Steve, has anyone questioned why you're taking photos of their house?

Might seem a bit dodgy to some people.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 26, 2007, 07:51:48 pm
Can you earn OK doing just fronts on quite a few jobs?
I tend to avoid houses where there is no back access especially now I'm on WFP.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Ian_Giles on February 26, 2007, 07:55:30 pm
Trust Squeaks to look for the negative ::)....actually, I guess he's got a point! :o


Steve,

I see you often trail your hose across the road, have you ever had a problem with vehicles splitting of damaging the hose?

I've considered doing the same (Rather than moving the van) but always worry about potential damage to my hose :-\

More great pics by the way, I'm temped to have a pop at that myself!

Ian
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: S Page on February 26, 2007, 07:57:06 pm
bl**dy h3ll, your shoes must be on fire getting round that lot so fast.

How much water are you carrying in the van?

How long's your hose? - no sn****ring you lot......
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Sir Squeaky on February 26, 2007, 08:12:04 pm
- no sblack personing you lot......
;D
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: john tomkins on February 26, 2007, 08:26:23 pm
So many double top openers above single pain of glass, don't you just luv em :o
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 26, 2007, 08:48:31 pm
sqeaky...the odd one or two who have asked about it have been told its for a photo diary I am doing...my customers know me and know I am genuine.

Shiner...I used to do all the houses you see for £6.00 front and back off ladders, climbing over garages and gates etc and it was a pretty boring and tiring couple of days... :P

I wrote to every customer telling them that I was now doing front only for £4.00 and the whole house for £8.00 if they were in to allow me free access to the back.
I gave each customer a reply slip to say:
FRONT ONLY...
WHOLE HOUSE AT NEW PRICE...
CANCEL...

I had 3 cancel and 90% took the front only at £4.00
This has made that run so much easier and more profitable in terms of time and earnings.

It is all WFP...no climbing and I do the whole run in a day and a half.

Ian, I have done this for 2 years now and have not had 1 problem from traffic on the hose.

S. Page...that is all within a few hundred yards and so much easier than doing it off ladders.

Top openers are not a problem whatsoever...IF you drop your brush head below the split when moving from top opener to top opener... ;)
If you put water in that split between the two openers...you will get runs...guaranteed.

The cleaner who did this before me charged £4.00 per whole house.
There are a team of cleaners on the estate who charge the same...£4.00 a house... ???
They are all retired and 99% pay on the day.

When I did this off ladders, I used to park up at the beginning and take 15 minutes to motivate myself...the most I ever managed in a day was 20 full semis at £6.00 a throw and I was shattered with all the climbing.... :P
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: john tomkins on February 26, 2007, 09:58:48 pm


Top openers are not a problem whatsoever...IF you drop your brush head below the split when moving from top opener to top opener... ;)
If you put water in that split between the two openers...you will get runs...guaranteed.

Agree there mate but it's when the water from the top window runs over the downstairs window thats also got the 2 openers :-\
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 26, 2007, 10:26:05 pm
I do as many tops as I can do on a run of hose before going back to first house and start on the bottoms. The tops are virtually dry by the time I get to the bottoms...certainly no dripping.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Pj on February 26, 2007, 10:41:27 pm
[quote author=steve k

Top openers are not a problem whatsoever...IF you drop your brush head below the split when moving from top opener to top opener... ;)
If you put water in that split between the two openers...you will get runs...guaranteed.


Quote

Turn off the flow, and wipe with brush!  No more problems.

Great thread, Steve, but we can all learn.  I don't get runs from these top opener splits.

Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: supernova77 on February 27, 2007, 12:06:16 am
Steve,

Incase you didn't realise... You need some more diesel for tomorrow!

 ;)

Andy
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 27, 2007, 07:30:46 am
Pj...I don`t have problem with the split...it doesn`t need to be cleaned. Someone else had the problem and I told them what I do.
Would be too time consuming to turn off and on throughout the day...but if you are happy, then great... ;D
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Clear Vision on February 27, 2007, 09:12:34 am
Steve,

First off, thanks for sharing your photos with us. some great pics there ;)

Secondly I would be very very concerned about lack of saftey measures you have in place! :o

You have your hose running 50m or more down a street and across  pavements. What about little kids running along? What about old people? Or what about anyone? You really should address that matter IMEDIATLEY!!!! (please)

You wouldn't have a leg to stand on if something happened!

I carry 4 traffic cones with me and 1 large unger metal folding sign, and a couple of double sided plastic caution signs.

I don't use them all at once but I ALWAYS have at least 1 or even 2 present on every job!

Don't take that the wrong way but please take at least some steps to ensuring everyones saftey.

P.S you have some nice jobs there ;)

Matthew
Clear Vision
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 27, 2007, 12:19:35 pm
well, the way I see it is that if the hose was bigger in diameter and low visibility and used in a high pedestrianised area then it would pose a HIGH risk.
As it is 1/2" hose in bright, highly visible blue and used in low traffic areas with minimum amount of hose laid across pavement...then I have minimised risks and it is now a LOW risk...the fact that not 1 person has considered it a hazard or had any mishap with the way I use the hose would also appear to justify the risk as LOW risk.

I understand why people are so safety concious these days but it has to be measured against what is practically feasible. In a domestic environment, I would argue that moving and carrying a warning sign every 2 minutes is impractical in a low risk area of work of short duration.

Thanks though ;)
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Clear Vision on February 27, 2007, 05:24:55 pm
Oh well that's up to you how you run your business. You can never predict how many people could walk round a corner or when they will!

My friend is a policeman and told me that under NO circumstances are you allowed to run hose like that across a public/main road!!!

Yes you can, but you have to set up roadwork signs or any relevant safety related equipment that's necessary.

I wasn't annoyed with you but your last post really wound me up! >:(

Why should I go to the expense of purchasing warning signs for my business and take precautions to ensure a safe (as possible) working environment and you seem to think it's OK not to?

Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: JM123 on February 27, 2007, 05:34:11 pm
I'm not trying to start one here but I lay my hose across the road all the time, cops drive over it every day ???

Better to have a sign or 2 out though, for your own peace of mind
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 27, 2007, 05:37:34 pm
I'm not trying to start one here but I lay my hose across the road all the time, cops drive over it every day ???

Better to have a sign or 2 out though, for your own peace of mind

I sometimes lay my hose across the road too but I lay rubber matting on it.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Clear Vision on February 27, 2007, 05:40:27 pm
Well maybe my friend (the policeman) has got it wrong? After all he is only 23 an new to the job!

Better put a couple of signs up anyway
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: JM123 on February 27, 2007, 05:42:10 pm
definitely matthew, take no chances.  I'm not knocking anyone who doesn't put signs up but its a claim culture now.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Clear Vision on February 27, 2007, 05:47:28 pm
definitely matthew, take no chances.  I'm not knocking anyone who doesn't put signs up but its a claim culture now.

I don't really mean to knock anyone who doesn't put up signs. I know it's coming across that way. I'm an awful man to speak then think.

Steve,

just ignore me.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 27, 2007, 06:11:58 pm
clear vision...how can the way I assess the risks in MY work environment  wind you up... ???

If you want to put signs up and feel the risk justifies this...then great...where I work in these pictures and the method I employ of laying hose has been correctly assessed for possible risks and I have decided it is LOW risk.

It is me who is responsible for risk assessment and if I am called to task, I will explain the reasoning and point out that in 2 years of such practice, there has not been 1 incident compromising a persons safety.

You assess risks on your workplace and I assess risks on mine...we cannot possibly pass constructive comment on eachothers reasoning if we do not actually work in that place... ;)
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: JM123 on February 27, 2007, 06:17:14 pm
steve is your hose the rubber blue hose?  If so I can do you a very special price on it (last forever though doesn't it)
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: cybersye on February 27, 2007, 07:30:41 pm
Steve, I aint trying to wind you up, do you wait til there is an accident before you change your risk assessment? like jm123 says "we live in a claim culture". I see abandoned traffic cones all over the place, grab yerself a couple n chuck em in the back of the van, better safe than sorry. I guess you got a 250 ltr tank in your van? does it last you all day? I ask because I've the same and sometimes I have to be a bit more organised with my round to make it last a full day.
Simon
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 27, 2007, 08:20:33 pm
we`ll have to agree to differ...I personally think a traffic cone on the pavement is more of a risk than 1/2" hose... ;D
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Clive McDonald on February 27, 2007, 08:51:34 pm
I did wonder about it going across the road Steve, more from the point of it being damaged. I get irritated when someone drives over mine (mini bore) on a drive.Could it damage pump etc with back pressure?
Today's diary was less apirational than some of the others but still informative. It showed you in the light of say a football team that can still dig out a result when it has too.
You'd didn't finish your landline point in the other reply. Are you still getting a business line, or are you finding the mobile adequate?
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: cybersye on February 27, 2007, 10:52:05 pm
we`ll have to agree to differ...I personally think a traffic cone on the pavement is more of a risk than 1/2" hose... ;D

fair enough
I'll come find your hose while your working and trip over it
whats claims directs number? ;D
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: steve k on February 28, 2007, 06:57:27 am
curious...I have the business landline in now on divert to my mobile...it is for my yellow pages ad really which has gone in this year.
Every customer I presently clean have my home landline number.

yes...pretty boring run of work...but easy enough and pays.
Title: Re: photo day 3
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 28, 2007, 07:22:52 am
I did wonder about it going across the road Steve, more from the point of it being damaged. I get irritated when someone drives over mine (mini bore) on a drive.Could it damage pump etc with back pressure?
Today's diary was less apirational than some of the others but still informative. It showed you in the light of say a football team that can still dig out a result when it has too.
You'd didn't finish your landline point in the other reply. Are you still getting a business line, or are you finding the mobile adequate?

I had someone park on my hose recently on their driveway.  Completely stopped the flow.