Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: cat9921 on June 05, 2008, 04:46:12 pm
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Well Actually I started it last week...
I Recieved a phone call off a company that wanted to sub contract me for homebase.. I read all about builders cleans, But thought it cannot be that bad ::)
Last week I started, cleaned all the frames and windows, But noticed that the windows had marks on them from glue and paint and stencils >:(
Well I get my first call....
We are not happy about the windows they still have marks on them....
Yes I was just asked to clean them not get off the paint and whatever else was on the glass
Well what we could get off >:(
So the next 2 days I spent trying to get what was on the glass off.. I used a scraper that helped a bit but still did not get off the marks >:(
There was some windows that my tools actualy stuck to the windows :o ..
Had another call today.. Still not happy.. To be honest the windows do not look like they have been cleaned :'(
Did my best, But I will never touch a builders clean Now..
So one of you lucky lads will be getting a call to go and clean them ;)
All the best :D
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I did a school not so long back it took 2 1/2 days solid graft it was a mare of a job today i was offered 24 new builds turned down not for me
Dean
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Well Actually I started it last week...
I Recieved a phone call off a company that wanted to sub contract me for homebase.. I read all about builders cleans, But thought it cannot be that bad ::)
Last week I started, cleaned all the frames and windows, But noticed that the windows had marks on them from glue and paint and stencils >:(
Well I get my first call....
We are not happy about the windows they still have marks on them....
Yes I was just asked to clean them not get off the paint and whatever else was on the glass
Well what we could get off >:(
So the next 2 days I spent trying to get what was on the glass off.. I used a scraper that helped a bit but still did not get off the marks >:(
There was some windows that my tools actualy stuck to the windows :o ..
Had another call today.. Still not happy.. To be honest the windows do not look like they have been cleaned :'(
Did my best, But I will never touch a builders clean Now..
So one of you lucky lads will be getting a call to go and clean them ;)
All the best :D
Welcome to the: I'll never touch a builders clean again" club ;D
You did get paid, didn't you?
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I was going to say i told you so but i won`t lol. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I have just completed a builders clean on a block of flats, to say the job was a nightmare is an understatment instead of a couple of days it took 12 was not happy at all even though we was on day rates.
If ever you do this check first the state and plastics on the window ect.
We worked nuts off to get this done as work was stacking up again.
There are many things that can and will go wrong on builders cleans make sure the price is right or walk away.
Ian
p.s just because I like a challenge I have just taken on 2 more jobs a block of houses, then an estate (things I do to get big houses these days is mad).
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I was going to say i told you so but i won`t lol. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
:P
No you're right NWH should of listened to you m8.
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You did get paid, didn't you?
They might refuse on the grounds of not being happy with the work... :'(
Will let you know
As Ian said there was other things that made the job hard too much to post but things like putting up 8 foot signs in front of the windows.
Its been a hard day Does anyone know the phone number of the samaritans ;)
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Also beware as prices have been reduced, still waiting to see if we continue as sparkles reduced by more than half. Hvae refused to accept & they say they will get someone else. One job is 6 to 10 hours plus travelling. Guess what price they have offered.
Its a large 6 bed house in the midlands by a major builder.
At least 2 bathrooms it might be 3 + downstairs loo.
Gary
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Also beware as prices have been reduced, still waiting to see if we continue as sparkles reduced by more than half. Hvae refused to accept & they say they will get someone else. One job is 6 to 10 hours plus travelling. Guess what price they have offered.
Its a large 6 bed house in the midlands by a major builder.
At least 2 bathrooms it might be 3 + downstairs loo.
Gary
Gary, I feel for you m8, they will find no others will touch it because the job is crappy, I will do anything for a fee but work for peanuts never I am not a monkey.
Ian
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You did get paid, didn't you?
They might refuse on the grounds of not being happy with the work... :'(
Will let you know
As Ian said there was other things that made the job hard too much to post but things like putting up 8 foot signs in front of the windows.
Its been a hard day Does anyone know the phone number of the samaritans ;)
Be aware Cat...they can't just say: We're not happy therefore we're paying you nothing! You've done lots of hard graft so worse case scenario they have to pay you a % of what was agreed.
I am right here guys aren't I?
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You did get paid, didn't you?
They might refuse on the grounds of not being happy with the work... :'(
Will let you know
As Ian said there was other things that made the job hard too much to post but things like putting up 8 foot signs in front of the windows.
Its been a hard day Does anyone know the phone number of the samaritans ;)
Be aware Cat...they can't just say: We're not happy therefore we're paying you nothing! You've done lots of hard graft so worse case scenario they have to pay you a % of what was agreed.
I am right here guys aren't I?
They can try not paying, if they do send them a court date
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Builders cleans.
Consider how long its going to take.
Consider how many bodies to complete it.
Consider how much materials.
Get your figures together.
Then double everything.
Then add a contingency sum.
That way you won't be as far out as you thought, you'll still be out, but not by as much.
In other words, I agree, they're c**p.
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having read all the above i shall avoid builders cleans like the plague..sod that ;)
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Stick to what you know and are good at.
Builders cleans are a specialised part of window cleaning and should be left to the professionals in that field.
For any builders clean i tell them £300 a day, take it or leave it, most of them leave it, so suits me fine.
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For any builders clean i tell them £300 a day, take it or leave it, most of them leave it, so suits me fine.
good shout ;)
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Stick to what you know and are good at.
Builders cleans are a specialised part of window cleaning and should be left to the professionals in that field.
For any builders clean i tell them £300 a day, take it or leave it, most of them leave it, so suits me fine.
I think our prices are going up
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Stick to what you know and are good at.
Builders cleans are a specialised part of window cleaning and should be left to the professionals in that field.
For any builders clean i tell them £300 a day, take it or leave it, most of them leave it, so suits me fine.
is that all?
for a builders clean?
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Would you charge more ?
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Would you charge more ?
To right,you might aswell crack on with other stuff.
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Gary evans said
Guess what price they have offered.
They telling you the price's something wrong here you tell them what you want not the other way round
Cat9921 said
We are not happy about the windows they still have marks on them....
Yes I was just asked to clean them not get off the paint and whatever else was on the glass
First thing you should have got straight first what they wanted.
Builders cleans are never a normal glass wash its always remove whatever is on the glass and frames, paint, silicon, cement, glue, plastic film etc.
Had another call today.. Still not happy.. To be honest the windows do not look like they have been cleaned Cry
Did my best, But I will never touch a builders clean Now..
They can be hard work and once you have done a few it gets easier.
I love builders cleans and i do quite a few every month as im in one place and i get good money
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I charged more than £300 per day for builders cleans and for me it was not worth the hassle and the aching limbs stick to normal window cleaning for me
Dean
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I like builders cleans but i have learnt never to give a price before i do the job i just do the job and then give the price, this method requires trust for both parties. You should also be on good money for these.
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Sorry about delay, new jobs yesterday & no internet at home (long storey)
WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED £35.00 FOR HANDOVER SPARKLE CLEANS THIS CAN BE DEPENDENT ON CONDITION 6 TO 10 HOURS WORK + TRAVELLING. THEY WERE LOW ANYWAY NOW THEY ARE RIDICULOUS.
The speck for these is realy strict anyway, but, if somebody goes in to do snags your back to re-clean standard.
You can guess the answer.
We are looking at other areas, luckily we dont do much, so not to much to replace.
Gary
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I have just completed a builders clean on a block of flats, to say the job was a nightmare is an understatment instead of a couple of days it took 12 was not happy at all even though we was on day rates.
If ever you do this check first the state and plastics on the window ect.
We worked nuts off to get this done as work was stacking up again.
There are many things that can and will go wrong on builders cleans make sure the price is right or walk away.
Ian
p.s just because I like a challenge I have just taken on 2 more jobs a block of houses, then an estate (things I do to get big houses these days is mad).
I was Ian a F*!king nightmare lol
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I have just completed a builders clean on a block of flats, to say the job was a nightmare is an understatment instead of a couple of days it took 12 was not happy at all even though we was on day rates.
If ever you do this check first the state and plastics on the window ect.
We worked nuts off to get this done as work was stacking up again.
There are many things that can and will go wrong on builders cleans make sure the price is right or walk away.
Ian
p.s just because I like a challenge I have just taken on 2 more jobs a block of houses, then an estate (things I do to get big houses these days is mad).
I was Ian a F*!king nightmare lol
lol nightmare was not the word really seemed to get worse and worse
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Sorry about delay, new jobs yesterday & no internet at home (long storey)
WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED £35.00 FOR HANDOVER SPARKLE CLEANS THIS CAN BE DEPENDENT ON CONDITION 6 TO 10 HOURS WORK + TRAVELLING. THEY WERE LOW ANYWAY NOW THEY ARE RIDICULOUS.
The speck for these is realy strict anyway, but, if somebody goes in to do snags your back to re-clean standard.
You can guess the answer.
We are looking at other areas, luckily we dont do much, so not to much to replace.
Gary
The builders must be crap then!!! We have most sites in our area and they pay more than that for sparkles! We have developed an understanding with most site managers we come in LAST. Usually they are pretty straight forward at most a bit of paint removal and the rest is pretty much a standard clean (although the build cleans are a different story - nightmare!). If they send someone in snagging after we have been in then tough. If they want us to come back then that is an extra simple as. We get a site instruction from the site manger requesting an extra clean and then they pay us for an extra clean. A few weeks of this and you will be amazed how the trades suddenly stop taking the mick and dropping crap over everything. A couple of extra cleans and a few counter charges from the developer to the companies concerned soon sorts em out.
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Sorry about delay, new jobs yesterday & no internet at home (long storey)
WE HAVE BEEN OFFERED £35.00 FOR HANDOVER SPARKLE CLEANS THIS CAN BE DEPENDENT ON CONDITION 6 TO 10 HOURS WORK + TRAVELLING. THEY WERE LOW ANYWAY NOW THEY ARE RIDICULOUS.
The speck for these is realy strict anyway, but, if somebody goes in to do snags your back to re-clean standard.
You can guess the answer.
We are looking at other areas, luckily we dont do much, so not to much to replace.
Gary
The builders must be crap then!!! We have most sites in our area and they pay more than that for sparkles! We have developed an understanding with most site managers we come in LAST. Usually they are pretty straight forward at most a bit of paint removal and the rest is pretty much a standard clean (although the build cleans are a different story - nightmare!). If they send someone in snagging after we have been in then tough. If they want us to come back then that is an extra simple as. We get a site instruction from the site manger requesting an extra clean and then they pay us for an extra clean. A few weeks of this and you will be amazed how the trades suddenly stop taking the mick and dropping crap over everything. A couple of extra cleans and a few counter charges from the developer to the companies concerned soon sorts em out.
The site I have just done did not give a flying hoot.
The plastics company I think got nailed, they kindly removed some of the plastics then trew mortar and texture over the windows, some looked like it had been rollered on there then flicked. New set nice. Next job yet to see but fingers crossed it will not be like the last site.
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We had a wimpey site like that. Things were so bad there because there was no morale amongst the workers. All the site manager was interested in was his bonus at the end of the year. They didn't care about anything else, backfired on them though as one day someone from head office came up to investigate the amount of missing materials there. As he arrived he was able to witness a bricklayer taking as many bricks as he needed for another job of his own. Then if that wasn't enough he then witnessed the forklift operator destroying a load of doors and windows (that were specially ordered in from Holland) Why? Because they were in his way and he couldn't be bothered to move them. They had a meeting with all the trades and told us that in the 10 months the site had been open they had lost over £100,000 worth of materials. Then the HSE turned up and closed the site for 3 days due to breaches in H&S. The manager was sacked on the spot. The replacement manager was exactly the same - bonus driven. I was glad when the site was finished. My point is that some sites are bad, really bad but thank god they are not all this bad and hopefully your next site will be one of the good ones!
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WCE your dead right in what you say but. Does not always go to plan. The main problem at the moment with Wimpays is that the units they biuld are timber framed which means 9/10 the windows go in before any brick laying is done. I cannot tell you the meetings ive had with them regarding using better protection. Now where using the roll of protection which the stupid installers roll everywhere and is a sod to remove from the upvc frame. It gets to the point where you feel like jumping of the scaffold lol. Its taking me 2 days to do 28 windows on wimpey site this week.
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WCE your dead right in what you say but. Does not always go to plan. The main problem at the moment with Wimpays is that the units they biuld are timber framed which means 9/10 the windows go in before any brick laying is done. I cannot tell you the meetings ive had with them regarding using better protection. Now where using the roll of protection which the stupid installers roll everywhere and is a sod to remove from the upvc frame. It gets to the point where you feel like jumping of the scaffold lol. Its taking me 2 days to do 28 windows on wimpey site this week.
That roll is worse than than the mess! And your right it don't always go to plan! In your area are they building those horrible units that look like they are soviet communist blocks? The flats they build are the worst though!
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WCE your dead right in what you say but. Does not always go to plan. The main problem at the moment with Wimpays is that the units they biuld are timber framed which means 9/10 the windows go in before any brick laying is done. I cannot tell you the meetings ive had with them regarding using better protection. Now where using the roll of protection which the stupid installers roll everywhere and is a sod to remove from the upvc frame. It gets to the point where you feel like jumping of the scaffold lol. Its taking me 2 days to do 28 windows on wimpey site this week.
makes me feel better ;D took 12 days to do a block that should have taken 3 if that