Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Adam_london_uk on April 23, 2009, 08:05:52 pm

Title: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Adam_london_uk on April 23, 2009, 08:05:52 pm
just did 2 customers 1 after the other.

Its quite hard work. God knows how I would manage to do say 5 of them aday.

Prices would need to go up for sure. 1 customer even tried to give me abit more for doing a good job but I said no thanks.

I imagine windows would be easier as with the angles etc.

 :)
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: ftp on April 23, 2009, 08:08:00 pm
Which is why many window cleaners won't do them especially if they are waterfed.  ;)
Windows can be done all day long.
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: martinsadie on April 23, 2009, 08:26:14 pm
dont understand whats hard,you go up a ladder and scoop muck out with your hand put it in a bucket ,back down move ladder and go again  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Oakley Windows on April 23, 2009, 08:33:37 pm
Stan you forgot the 'leaving a handful of grass seeds behind in the gutter to germinate and ensure another clean the following spring' bit, that always the difference between a  stroll and a hard day  ;D
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: ftp on April 23, 2009, 08:37:53 pm
............. and a tennis ball down the pipe  ;)
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Skyglide on April 23, 2009, 08:46:25 pm
Agree with ftp.  Stick to windows all year round. Makes the most money, doesn't get all your equipment messed up, easier and faster work. Don't advertise gutters, etc. Try and stick to windows. However existing customers will expect you to do gutters, so do it and wrap the customer up with being nice and bite the bullet, even if you don't make the same hourly rate as cleaning windows.
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: martinsadie on April 23, 2009, 09:01:05 pm
Stan you forgot the 'leaving a handful of grass seeds behind in the gutter to germinate and ensure another clean the following spring' bit, that always the difference between a  stroll and a hard day  ;D
dont do that ,i only do them as a favour not interested in to many ,i have enough windows  ;D ;D
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Window Washers on April 23, 2009, 09:57:46 pm
Stan you forgot the 'leaving a handful of grass seeds behind in the gutter to germinate and ensure another clean the following spring' bit, that always the difference between a  stroll and a hard day  ;D
Now that is a great idea lol
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Adam_london_uk on April 24, 2009, 12:23:26 pm
Ladder my gosh no - wfp for me sonny.

AND a crook neck this morning  :-[
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: simon knight on April 24, 2009, 01:55:58 pm

I've done 2 gutter cleans in my time....2 too many as far as I'm concerned...never again...poxy dirty job...mutter mutter mutter... ;D
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Sunshine/Cleaning on April 24, 2009, 02:06:06 pm
I don't understand. if the price is good they can be very lucrative.

What did you charge and how long did it take?
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Llaaww on April 24, 2009, 02:50:57 pm
I did a nice one today, gutters soffits and windows, £65, nice easy clean she has it done once a year and windows every month, it took an hour  ;)
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: simon knight on April 24, 2009, 03:33:55 pm
I don't understand. if the price is good they can be very lucrative.

What did you charge and how long did it take?

Nothing to do with price...even for me it's just too dirty a job.  I'll stick with the glass thanks 8)
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: Adam_london_uk on April 24, 2009, 06:04:31 pm
2 hours work £55
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: simon knight on April 24, 2009, 06:24:31 pm

I can't now remember what I charged but it was probably around that level as well ::)

I'm aware (now) that I could have charged a whole lot more but for me the money isn't the issue.

My ladders were at full stretch...I was at full stretch...I didn't feel safe or comfortable being that high...I didn't like scrapping out handfulls of rotting worm infested leaves, mud, birds poo and God only knows what else besides :(.

The 1st time I did it I made a pledge...Never again!  I did do it a 2nd time a year or two later (probably because I'd forgotten just how much I'd hated it first time around)...and it was then that I made a vow that never ever regardless of how much money was offered would I root around gutters pulling out handfulls of decaying gunk!

I lost a job last week because the lady wanted glass and gutters (although I suspect she actually wanted gutters and glass.)

Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: kevin James on April 24, 2009, 06:47:28 pm
Now gutters only make sense if:

1) You save em up for a rainy day
2) you group em together
3) you carry a genny & water on board ( havi g a truck helps )
and you blast away with a pressure washer.
Can do a house, emptying & soffits etc, in 1/2 hr plus windows. It's the setting up takes time, so leave it in the van!
£70 per house. And it's raining!

Kevin.
Title: Re: gutters damn hardwork
Post by: martinsadie on April 24, 2009, 08:00:43 pm
Ladder my gosh no - wfp for me sonny.

AND a crook neck this morning  :-[
dont get a crook neck using ladders  ;D ;D