Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: dave0123 on November 28, 2008, 05:29:26 pm
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Hi,
I just wondering roughly how long would it take a young lad doing trad work on bottom windows houses before he starts to earn you money? i understand everyone is diffrent but just as a general rule?
Thanks
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when i started doing this, roughly about 7 years ago i remember picking it up in no time had the teqnique in 1 day and up to speed in about a week. dont imagine it being much more than that
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i would sy longer, but it al depends every one is different.
and up to speed is general i have about 4 speeds depending on mood and how busy i am but im still to meet some one that can work has fast has me(or willing to for my wages ;D)
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It depends how much you are going to pay him.
If you pay him £40 per day, your work needs to be increased by about £60 just to break even.
You have to allow him 27 days holiday, pay his expenses and 12.8% Employers liability (rising to 13.3%)
Add to that £40 profit, he needs to add to your days taking at least £100
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william holidays is actually 24 min
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Correct, its going up to 27 days from April 09
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rs,
it takes more than a week! surely you carnt clean windows to a good standard fast within a wee.
well hes been with me for 2 and half months and he has got faster but not fast as i would like. he is on mim wage with a bounus once hes fast.
i thought it took a good 3 months before you got the hang of it then another few months to become really good at your work with speed.
i duno ::)
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rs,
it takes more than a week! surely you carnt clean windows to a good standard fast within a wee.
well hes been with me for 2 and half months and he has got faster but not fast as i would like. he is on mim wage with a bounus once hes fast.
i thought it took a good 3 months before you got the hang of it then another few months to become really good at your work with speed.
i duno ::)
It will depend on how good his teacher is and what motivation is. Min wage is not a great motivation and simply getting fast can loose quality.
At min wage for 35 hours that = just over £200 so ask yourself how much over £60 per day is he adding to the takings??
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well he is only 16 years old personaly i think thats bloody good wage as alot of older people doing diffrent jobs are on minuim wage alot.
hes not earning his wage at the moment, yes i know it can loose quality going fast but hes got to try it otherwise hes never going to get faster if you know what i mean you have to help yourself get faster.
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The minimum rate for workers aged 16-17 £3.53. Going up to £4.77 between 18 and 21.
So you are probably paying him more than he should be earning.
A 16 year old will struggle to generate enough extra turnover to justify £5.73 puls bonus.
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hmm see what your saying.
so basicly a 16/17 year old isnt going to earn much more to your daily income lol.
I spose at least there is more work getting done and on the whole will be able to expand further in the long run.
dave
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6 months it would take someone at least,they need to learn your round and how you want it done.If anyone thinks that can be done in a week there either wrong or they have a different standard to me,to start off with you`ll have to check his-her work daily for the first couple of months.
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hmm see what your saying.
so basicly a 16/17 year old isnt going to earn much more to your daily income lol.
I spose at least there is more work getting done and on the whole will be able to expand further in the long run.
dave
In part I guess it's why the Gov set the level so low. A kid out of schoolhas to learn the work ethic.
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well i started on commercial sites with large panes of glass, so mabie i had the advantage of having large areas to learn fanning but within 1 week i was more than earning my keep. Dont get me wrong to get to a stage where i could "let rip" and fly through the work took a lot longer but i only go at that pace if i really really have to. Window cleaning should be relaxed enough that you can go at a comfortable pace unless seriously behind in work. To get torn in all the time is just silly as you feel like you have done a weeks work come 5pm monday evening.
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In part I guess it's why the Gov set the level so low. A kid out of schoolhas to learn the work ethic.
Most proberly yes, but as i say least its getting more work done and hopefully soon will start to pick up pace.
I understand all the learning what work involves etc to a young lad.. i went through it myself only about 7 years ago ;D
months it would take someone at least,they need to learn your round and how you want it done.If anyone thinks that can be done in a week there either wrong or they have a different standard to me,to start off with you`ll have to check his-her work daily for the first couple of months.
I agree with NWH, working with trad my standards are quite high. Window must be cleaned to very good standard all windows are detailed no bits of soap left to dry like you see on some places and all window sills wiped clean a few times all soap removed stoping any water drying black, and so on.
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too many people on here think this is rocket science ITS NOT!!!
you all talk of having high standards, how hard is it to clean a pane of glass SERIOUSLY!
Do it right first time, wipe the mess JOB DONE!
If i took someone on and they wern't up to scratch within 1 month MAX they would be gone. I check the site (all glass) before leaving, even if it was me who did the work
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The problem with 16/17 year olds is that if they havent already found the booze, they will do by the time theyre 18. Reliability then becomes a serious problem.
Then again,
I know of 30+ year olds who have the same problem :-\
I employ a lad whos 29 and has got a family to support and house to pay for. I must admit hisreliability has never been a problem. And also a 25 year old who really struggles to attend. Ive put the 25 year old on part-time hours.
Dean
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It takes 3 months to train average guy up, if keen a little less. Thats's using ladders mind.
I can see where you are coming from regarding the drinking and timekeeping.
Have had lots of lads work for me in the past and morning timekeeping/coming in with hangovers is worrying when you employ, and they don't take kindly to being asked why they are late or look like poo.
I may be too hard on staff over starting time but, when I agree a starting time of say 6 o-clock and they aint there for 2 mins past then i'm gone and they lose a days pay. then they are ringing me up at 6.30 saying i'm late, not them, but me!
Come on, how long does somone wait 1 min, 2mins 10 mins a half hour, all day!
If I was to meet someone for work at 6 o-clock i would make damn sure that i was there for 10 to 6. no problem.
I could go on
Steve a
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I could go on
Go on im listening
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I could go on
Go on im listening
LOL ;D ;D ;D
I could but i'm going to work now as i no longer employ, and i'm late and have a hangovr. ;) ;D ;D
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It takes 3 months to train average guy up, if keen a little less. Thats's using ladders mind.
I can see where you are coming from regarding the drinking and timekeeping.
Have had lots of lads work for me in the past and morning timekeeping/coming in with hangovers is worrying when you employ, and they don't take kindly to being asked why they are late or look like poo.
I may be too hard on staff over starting time but, when I agree a starting time of say 6 o-clock and they aint there for 2 mins past then i'm gone and they lose a days pay. then they are ringing me up at 6.30 saying i'm late, not them, but me!
Come on, how long does somone wait 1 min, 2mins 10 mins a half hour, all day!
If I was to meet someone for work at 6 o-clock i would make damn sure that i was there for 10 to 6. no problem.
I could go on
Steve a
100% agree
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too many people on here think this is rocket science ITS NOT!!!
you all talk of having high standards, how hard is it to clean a pane of glass SERIOUSLY!
Do it right first time, wipe the mess JOB DONE!
If i took someone on and they wern't up to scratch within 1 month MAX they would be gone. I check the site (all glass) before leaving, even if it was me who did the work
Now who is making it difficult, you check all glass after done so you either get your ladder out and check every pane which will take twice has long. You can see your work once it been cleaned and your toe 2 toe with the glass
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To be fair i thought he would of either been late or not come in one day etc or made an excuse of some sort..
but he has allways been there on time waiting as were he said he even walks about half mile to were i pick him up his idea because of traffic lol. Im still waiting for it to happen one day though him not turning in.
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too many people on here think this is rocket science ITS NOT!!!
you all talk of having high standards, how hard is it to clean a pane of glass SERIOUSLY!
Do it right first time, wipe the mess JOB DONE!
If i took someone on and they wern't up to scratch within 1 month MAX they would be gone. I check the site (all glass) before leaving, even if it was me who did the work
Now who is making it difficult, you check all glass after done so you either get your ladder out and check every pane which will take twice has long. You can see your work once it been cleaned and your toe 2 toe with the glass
try not including your post with my quote ;)
no i do not go up ladders to check all glass and to suggest that is what i mean just makes you look daft! we have been granted with an engenious invention called eyes...use them!
you another optical enhancement speccialist then ronnie?
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no i do not go up ladders to check all glass and to suggest that is what i mean just makes you look daft! we have been granted with an engenious invention called eyes...use them!
you another optical enhancement speccialist then ronnie?
If you dont check the windows untill the end and then you dont get your ladder off to check the upstairs ones how do you know there ok? ??? would't just be easier to check each window once there done?
To me going round each down stirs window looking at every window would look like your not confident of your work to your customer if there in of course.
thats just how i see it not nocking u m8
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i do not do residential work only large scale commercial work. I dont leave a piece of glass till i see its dont properly but i am not nieve enough to ignore the possibility of runs long after ive left that panel (10-15mins)
I always have a quick walk around the site and look out for runs which are not all that difficult to notice. Its the seals on some of the older work i do that cause the problems, its only the runs that i need to look out for as i know i done the glass right in the first place otherwise i would not have moved on.
i dont think for a minute that you are mocking me but it riles me sometimes when people make out that they have job that entails so much skill and talent, yeah sure you pick up some skills as time goes by and increase speed but i find this job relaxing and try my damn best not to be in a hurry all the time and i think i benefit from that.
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in sorry don't want to get my words mixed up with yours.
If you detail like I'm sure you do then surely there won't be runs ?
It was you that said you went round checking all your work, back on post 1 week is not long enough to get some one properly up to speed be patient slowly push them so they don't get comfy with there own speed and give them encouragement when they pick up speed.
It's not rocket science but if had many who clean there own windows doe years who can't clean windows propery.
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read the post! Older frames cause chaos, detail for 10mins if you like on the one pane then walk away, go back 1 hr later....runs everywhere. Thankfully i dont have too many that are like this but mostly on listed buildings etc. The ones which i am referring to dont have any rubber seals just degrading wood that if you toutched it..it would crumble (literally)
While you might be cleaning houses or shops with upvc windows with nice water resistant seals not everyone does! I only have to get back up and re do it mabie 2 out of 100 times but for all the time it takes to walk around a property (2-3mins) its worth checking especcialy if its a 200/300 pound job and shows you care about what you do and wont just dissapear without checking for flaws in your work.
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I'm losing the will to live here!!!!!! This thread is soooooo boring!!!!!! :'(
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OK.
Good bit for the training here.
Now listen!
Tell the lad/lads that work for you to check the windows they have cleaned as they walk back past them. (imagine long run of commercial) not just their work but yours as well, even a good window cleaner will leave a run or two.
God help me..... the number of times I have had employees walking back to the van looking the other way (away from the windows) I try to explain that even I look at the glass andthat they are being paid to do it!!!!!
Seriously all you employers out there, watch them and they will go out of their way to look the other way..
Now I will just put my straight jacket back on with the help of those men in their little white coats LOL
Steve a
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I'm losing the will to live here!!!!!! This thread is soooooo boring!!!!!! :'(
thats what i thought but carried on reading ....lol ;D
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i have just taken on a part timer, his commitment is second to none....im wfp, and when hes working i watch him without him knowing, he is doing really well, if i see something he needs to work on i kindly point it out, and then i watch without him knowing to mak sure he is doing what suggested... i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
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i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
Famous last words. ;D
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i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
Famous last words. ;D
lol.... :'(
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i have just taken on a part timer, his commitment is second to none....im wfp, and when hes working i watch him without him knowing, he is doing really well, if i see something he needs to work on i kindly point it out, and then i watch without him knowing to mak sure he is doing what suggested... i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
Stick with him.
He will earn you (and him) a lot of money.
But one day he WILL let you down( mine went self employed) and is now working for someone else for less money and longer hours (but we will not go into that.)
It's good while it lasts (don't make the mistake I did of letting him know how much you get for each job as they cannot see the actual input and expenditure that you have to put into it. all they can see is YOU earn £25 per hour and they get 7 ish and they want some of it!
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i have just taken on a part timer, his commitment is second to none....im wfp, and when hes working i watch him without him knowing, he is doing really well, if i see something he needs to work on i kindly point it out, and then i watch without him knowing to mak sure he is doing what suggested... i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
Stick with him.
He will earn you (and him) a lot of money.
But one day he WILL let you down( mine went self employed) and is now working for someone else for less money and longer hours (but we will not go into that.)
It's good while it lasts (don't make the mistake I did of letting him know how much you get for each job as they cannot see the actual input and expenditure that you have to put into it. all they can see is YOU earn £25 per hour and they get 7 ish and they want some of it!
Your right in everything you say there,it makes no difference to how they start out in the end they always end up bitter and jealous regardless of what they get from you.
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i have just taken on a part timer, his commitment is second to none....im wfp, and when hes working i watch him without him knowing, he is doing really well, if i see something he needs to work on i kindly point it out, and then i watch without him knowing to mak sure he is doing what suggested... i have to say ..iv found a good un :D
Stick with him.
He will earn you (and him) a lot of money.
But one day he WILL let you down( mine went self employed) and is now working for someone else for less money and longer hours (but we will not go into that.)
It's good while it lasts (don't make the mistake I did of letting him know how much you get for each job as they cannot see the actual input and expenditure that you have to put into it. all they can see is YOU earn £25 per hour and they get 7 ish and they want some of it!
Your right in everything you say there,it makes no difference to how they start out in the end they always end up bitter and jealous regardless of what they get from you.
I made an example of one of the guys i had that thought 24k a year wasn't enough. He left thinking he was to valuable to me and that i would crumble in some way. i replaced him within 2 days with an experienced WC. the guy then wouldn't stop ringing me for his job back. begging me infact. i told the other 2 workers i got about it to underline their position. and to stop them thinking the same. and so far i've had no other issues. and that is the only issue related to that i've had.
I think its just how you handle the situation if it comes up. i took no crap and thats that really. you can't run a business in fear!!