Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: simon knight on December 13, 2007, 03:07:30 pm
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Big Victorian house with concrete ledges. So I'm doing the downstairs bay. One foot on me pointers the other on the ledge....CRACK!! Half the bloody ledge shears off.
I'm OK and the lady of the house didn't seem too fussed.
But what has got me thinking is that I often sit on ledges 3 floors up. What if the same thing happened. I'd be brown bread :'(
Do any of you others sit on ledges?
This is more for trad guys and girls.
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I often sit on ledges 3 floors up.
Id be interested to see that.
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But what has got me thinking is that I often sit on ledges 3 floors up. What if the same thing happened. I'd be brown bread :'(
Do any of you others sit on ledges?
I can't think of any ledges I've sat on to clean a window; they'd have to be big window sills.
Anyway, don't groan, but if you have lots of three story work you really gotta get yourself a pole. Now I'm not talking for a safety angle, that's just a fringe benefit as far as I'm concerned.
You'll find that by using a pole for three-story work will at least HALF the time taken to clean those high windows, and it's far easier than humping a huge and heavy set of ladders around.
I'm also surprised your customer was so nice. Getting that sill fixed isn't going to be cheap.
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Tosh, when you say get a pole I take it you mean wfp?
wfp just isn't an option where I operate.
The husband has yet to see the sill when he gets home...perhaps he might have something to say!
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Could be expensive. Why was your foot on it?
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Oh just the usual reason...easier than moving my pointer a foot to the left I suppose.
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if you was sat on the ledge you would be dead, does that not tell you something???
Y cant you use WFP round there???
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if you was sat on the ledge you would be dead, does that not tell you something???
Y cant you use WFP round there???
Oh yes...NO MORE SITTING ON LEDGES FOR ME.
Can't use wfp as no parking to be had.
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back pack??
I just think some people dont value life(i was with no fear when i was 18)
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Can't use wfp as no parking to be had.
simon, i think you answered this before but you must park your vehicle somewhere near the job. There isn't anywhere a ladder + vehicle can go where a pole + vehicle can't.
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if you was sat on the ledge you would be dead, does that not tell you something???
Y cant you use WFP round there???
Oh yes...NO MORE SITTING ON LEDGES FOR ME.
Can't use wfp as no parking to be had.
Backpack on sack trolley. Or just barrels on a trolly with pump box. Done deal.
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No joke i know a bloke that walks on those sills 3 floors up from window to window,and by this i mean he cleans 1 window and then steps round on to the next 1.
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he must be mad NWH ;D
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Can't use wfp as no parking to be had.
simon, i think you answered this before but you must park your vehicle somewhere near the job. There isn't anywhere a ladder + vehicle can go where a pole + vehicle can't.
Mark I know you mean well but I've lived in Putney for 20 years and there's dozens of w/cs because it's a very high population area...and in all my 20 years I've never once seen wfp being used.
A backpack would be fine if it'd go the entire day without a re-fill...which it wouldn't.
Sorry but for me wfp sadly just isn't an option....Ho Hum.
On the plus side because there are grillions of houses within a 1 mile radius of where I live I can pick and choose which I do....and after todays experience no more 2nd floor windows....believe me today's experience brought home how reckless I've been.
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No joke i know a bloke that walks on those sills 3 floors up from window to window,and by this i mean he cleans 1 window and then steps round on to the next 1.
I use to do that too, just to save climbing up & down the ladder ;D Thankfully I saw the light and went WFP :)
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Wow, you were probably lucky that it happened in one way. At least it wasn't 3 floors up and has made you aware of what might have happened.
I have 3 houses that have awkward windows to clean upstairs. Saw some other window cleaners doing a similar house and they were clambering all over the ledges to get it done quickly. I want to get home in one piece, so I will stay with my slow and steady method. ;D
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Wow, you were probably lucky that it happened in one way. At least it wasn't 3 floors up and has made you aware of what might have happened.
Exactly that!
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simon is that not a market then?? no WFp youll be the first sell it well and youll be on a winner!!
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We worked cleaning the Sainsburys store at Putney in November.
When Simon says there is no parking - there is no parking!. It is an absolute nightmare
I have never been anywhere where we couldn't get a van in to do the pressure washing but when we worked there on the front of the store they had to buy the parking on the front of the store for two days.
We did not enjoy Putney and what a nightmare to get to!!!!!
Rob ;D
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We worked cleaning the Sainsburys store at Putney in November.
When Simon says there is no parking - there is no parking!. It is an absolute nightmare
I have never been anywhere where we couldn't get a van in to do the pressure washing but when we worked there on the front of the store they had to buy the parking on the front of the store for two days.
We did not enjoy Putney and what a nightmare to get to!!!!!
Rob ;D
Cheers Rob, at last somebody who has had 1st hand experience of the area where I work...and these guys keep saying I should get wfp ::)...like you they need to see the parking situation to believe it!!!
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Looking at it I thought yes he can get a trolley but then you've got the problem of where your going to leave the van so you can go back to it to fill up
The traffic wardens were like hawks!!!!!!!
When I said that they bought the parking they actually paid for every parking slot at the front of the store for a two day period. Probably only 10 slots but x 10 slots @ about £2.00 per hour. Very expensive!!!
I don't envy your parking predicament but there is some money to be made down there
Rob ;D
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Actually it's now £2.20 ph and there's a limit on the number of hours you can park...2 hours I think.
I'm fairly lucky in that I can walk to Putney in 20 minutes with ladders, bucket and rucksack....and there I stay for the day...earn me dosh and wander back home (stopping in The Arab Boy for a swift couple of pints ;D).
There is money to be made here but it's hard graft and you need to know the area.
Good weekend Rob
Simon
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cant you park on peoples drives mate surely with the big houses there or flats you can park, i work putney but only on saturdays about 3 times per year but very profitable!
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There is as good as no off-street parking, which is why 95% of roadside available is for residents only (they have to buy the permit and display it in their windscreen) and the very few parking meters are snapped up in minutes.
Think of the heart of the West End....That's Putney as far as parking goes >:(
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just an idea but couldnt you ask a resident of a block of flats or large house if you could 'rent' a parking space in the car park or drive, there must be an elderly lady or gent with a space going begging!
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Not a bad idea...I'll ask around.
Cheers
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good luck mate
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Hi Simon,
You got me thinking now ???
I like a challenge ;)
So...........
How could we design a compact, cart mounted 100 - 120ltr WFP system for you to take out to do tops only WFP.
My thoughts are something on these lines:
A 4 wheeled horticultural cart (maybe motorized ;))
With a 100ltr tank, pump and hose reel.
Also have a Backpack ( for narrow access places) mounted on top with a transfer submersible pump in the tank.
A compact rack with a pole holder on for your poles.
Does this IDEA have any potential or is it a non runner ???
David
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Hi Simon,
You got me thinking now ???
I like a challenge ;)
So...........
How could we design a compact, cart mounted 100 - 120ltr WFP system for you to take out to do tops only WFP.
My thoughts are something on these lines:
A 4 wheeled horticultural cart (maybe motorized ;))
With a 100ltr tank, pump and hose reel.
Also have a Backpack ( for narrow access places) mounted on top with a transfer submersible pump in the tank.
A compact rack with a pole holder on for your poles.
Does this IDEA have any potential or is it a non runner ???
David
I suppose it could be done WFP by filling loads of containers with pure water, getting there really early before parking restrictions start, and placing them strategically around your jobs. You could then drive away to an area where you could park and ride back on a bicycle that you keep in the back of the van. Personally though, I would rather use a ladder than mess about like that. Alternatively, you could take a hosereel and a DI vessel and hook them up to taps (if available). A bit expensive on resin as London has hard water. Again, probably easier to use a ladder. Another possibility that might be a runner. Buy a trailer system, get there early and park up, then remove the number plate from the trailer. They can't give parking tickets if there is no number plate. It might not prevent it being removed though.