Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Chris Cottrell on December 06, 2007, 09:02:36 pm

Title: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 06, 2007, 09:02:36 pm
I dont really need to know what you would price for this job but it would be ok if you gave me your thoughts, but I am really looking for you opinions on how long this may take to clean, I have a wall washer and the clean patch you can see took me around 5 mins to achieve and came off surprisingly easy

Take a look at the Vid

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=fNeWPeXo65w
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 07, 2007, 07:44:16 pm
anyone want to hazard a guess at how long it will take?
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Tim Rose on December 07, 2007, 08:02:52 pm
Sorry mate, but I have never done any pw myself, but I can't see any clean patch as you call it. Anyway how are you going to get up the side of the ruddy great walls? Barge and pole are words that come to mind.
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 07, 2007, 08:07:30 pm
The "clean patch "is to the right of the first top window & all areas of this are easily within reach with the 7.4m telescopic p/w lance ,even the really high section cos I can stand on the flat roof below it
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Tim Rose on December 07, 2007, 08:49:01 pm
The "clean patch "is to the right of the first top window & all areas of this are easily within reach with the 7.4m telescopic p/w lance ,even the really high section cos I can stand on the flat roof below it
oh right, yes looks a lot darker thant the rest. I guess that is the clean bit.  Looks fine.
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 07, 2007, 09:02:25 pm
Ben there defo is good money to be made in this , that is after all why I do it, & I dont think there is a need to treat the brick afterwards
I did think about charging a day rate but the custy will want to know how many days its going to cost him so hence the Q. how long
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: ronnie paton on December 08, 2007, 08:44:45 am
chris are you just usening a lance there?? (no chemicals)

Its come up good and you defo can tell a difference
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: LWC on December 08, 2007, 08:51:45 am
how long did that little bit you did take you?
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 09:43:48 am
Ronnie that patch was just the lance & water no chemicals @ approx 2000psi the machine was on max just test the job

LWC that test was only 3 strips down the wall and took about 5 mins (shocking really)
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Rob_Mac on December 08, 2007, 10:10:27 am
Chris

What are your thoughts on the price

Rob ;D
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 10:17:27 am
Rob

I'm thinking along the lines of charging a day rate the customer has allready done the rest of the house with a cherry picker and a P/washer (hired) so they are aware of the possible cost involved the reason that this piece was not done was cos there is a archway through to this courtyard and the picker couldnt get in there

So still this begs the Q. how long

They also are looking for 2 prices 1. for the high bits only & 2. all that you see in the courtyard
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Rob_Mac on December 08, 2007, 01:00:17 pm
We do a lot of pressure washing of many different surfaces, at up to 22 metres, so far.

I am very busy and we have a full workload on all fronts.

I am in a position to walk away from a price if it is not agreed - that makes all the difference.

It is very difficult without seeing the job in person to estimate how long it will take.

I would not go on a day rate but would use a rate of £500.00 per day over a two day period - charging £1000.00 for the job but trying to finish in one day.

I would be very surprised if it took any longer than one day - possibly going back the next day to snag when you can see it dry.

You are offering to give them back the original standard of external finish that the house has not seen for quite some considerable time. They will be happy with the work as it can only look better.

You can't take the p*ss as he seems to know the score.

Good luck - and if you were thinking higher you can come and price up a couple of Sainsburys for me next year!!!


Rob ;D
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Richy L on December 08, 2007, 03:01:14 pm
I have done this typr of thing a few times before. That will take about a day to do, but a turbo(spinner) alnce is what you really need to clean them fast and well. Do yo have one?
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 03:04:06 pm
I have done this typr of thing a few times before. That will take about a day to do, but a turbo(spinner) alnce is what you really need to clean them fast and well. Do yo have one?

I have the wall washer as on Northern Tools website & its quick to achieve a good result too
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 03:18:02 pm
This is the Wall washer

http://www.northerntooluk.com/products.asp?partno=1576231E
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Richy L on December 08, 2007, 03:23:31 pm
my machine is a 3500psi, so i guess i couldnt use one of those.
But when i use a spinner on waless it can bring them to that standard in a couple of minutes. Ive seen those wall washers before but i thought they were just for floors. i guess not though
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 03:27:58 pm
Well you could use one Richy just dont turn the pressure up to max, Mine did come with a quick release coupling which made it a bit floppy on the end of the lance so I replaced it for a 22mm threaded coupling
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: ronnie paton on December 08, 2007, 03:30:02 pm
does that fit on extension pressure lance?? is it heavy??
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 04:00:47 pm
does that fit on extension pressure lance?? is it heavy??

Yes its only a 22mm female threaded on the pole & ive never weighed it but its not overly heavy I lift it off the wall to move it up and position it for the next drop
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 08, 2007, 10:11:59 pm
There might be another concern with this task and thats the Elec wires that go to the house
Does anyone think that they can be isolated b4 they get to the house, maybe E-on are worth a call

Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: TVCS on December 08, 2007, 11:26:07 pm
I would have thought 2 days would be enough. 

the last job we did with windows like that were a pain.  blanking them all off took longer than the p/washing.

Good luck with ti.  Post some before and afters.
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: Chris Cottrell on December 09, 2007, 09:01:56 am
TVCS what do you mean by blanking them off?
Title: Re: One for you P/washing gurus .... Quote
Post by: TVCS on December 09, 2007, 08:07:32 pm
they were wooden and the owner was paranoid about damage so they had to be blanked out with some thick plastic sheets.  The time to do this was a pain in the b um.  Some were very old and leaky windows .