Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: markheaney2 on January 11, 2010, 10:16:35 pm

Title: georgian windows
Post by: markheaney2 on January 11, 2010, 10:16:35 pm
i have just got a job cleaning a big georgian mansion can anyone tell me what is the best way to clean these windows i am just starting out as a trad window cleaner the job is very well paid just dont want to mess it up on the first go
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: Ryan @ Transparent, Carlisle on January 11, 2010, 10:27:33 pm
just buy a small squeeque & applicator.

I have a few georgeon houses, and i use a ten inch applicator. and have a few small squeeques, 6inch & 10inch are a good size.
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: Gav Camm lammy 283 on January 11, 2010, 10:29:02 pm
yes id do it the sa,me s,mall squeegee then ,mirofibre the edges
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: dazmond on January 11, 2010, 10:59:44 pm
use a squeegy first time if there v.dirty then just scrim them in future damp scrim/dry scrim.a lot quicker than squeegy! ;D ;D
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: mci services on January 11, 2010, 11:40:30 pm
agree with dazmond far quicker scrimming
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: Ian_Giles on January 11, 2010, 11:48:16 pm
If it is a Georgian mansion then most of the window panes are likely to be of a size that will suit a squeegee very well...however, if there are windows with panes the same size as the kind you will see on normal houses with Georgian windows fitted then you will be way, way quicker to either use a damp microfibre or scrim in one hand to clean the glass, and a dry one in the other to buff the glass dry.
Or again, use whatever kind of cloth that you have (a clean dry one) and mist the glass with a propietary glass cleaning spray (any of the major supermarkets own window cleaning spray is ideal...don't waste your money on the likes of Mr Muscle) and then buff clean with your dry microfibre or scrim.

I have done a great many time and motion studies on the comparisons between a squeegee method and either one of the methods I've described above and using a squeegee, especially on external glass is much slower (small georgian panes) and less effective. ESPECIALLY if you are fairly new to window cleaning, with the sqeegee method you will have no end of kicks and runs to pick up with a dry cloth.

But genuine traditional Georgian window panes (such as you would usually find on a mansion( but not always! :-\)) are very well suited to using a squeegee.

Ian
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: gary mallett on January 12, 2010, 07:25:04 am
just tell em to get into the 21st century and get some pvc ;)
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: martinsadie on January 12, 2010, 08:30:19 am
damp towel then buff up dry scrim
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: markheaney2 on January 12, 2010, 11:15:19 am
thanks for the information i am taking over an existing round near cheltenham and moving from york to a village near cheltenham i have been practicing on my own house and really struggle with the squeege unless i just do straight lines sideways or downwards i have been trying to do the fan method with very little success is this something that will just come with practice i have bought all unger equipment i would like to blame it on my tools but i know this cant be the case i have watched this forum for about a month to find out all about the business the round i am taking over is small 800 per month but all very well priced i intend to build this business up to a good full time income and thank you for your support and help
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: jonnyald on January 12, 2010, 04:36:49 pm
smaller size channels are much easier to fan with     e.g. 10 is easier than 14  .   also be sure to have soft rubber in this time of years,yet again it makes fanning easier , when you are first starting . 

 if you just cant get the hang of it , id suggest you fan ALL the frosted glass windows as streaks wont show so  and after a while you should have got it
                                                  bestwishes                               
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: [GQC] Tim on January 12, 2010, 05:08:20 pm
Some georgian windows you can actually fan if they are big enough. If they are so small then you need to do straight down/side pulls, forget the squeegee.

Even on slightly bigger ones, a spray and microfibre will much faster. Especially double handed.  Sure, first clean you will all your microfibres will be dirty, and it will take long, but after that it should be much easier.

Don't use just scrim on georgians, use microfibre.
Title: Re: georgian windows
Post by: windolene on January 12, 2010, 07:02:21 pm
Hi,

Don't fan with a squeegee if they are small windows.  Soap window, dry squeegee blade & swipe across from left to right starting at top working down making sure you dry blade before each stroke. If the windows are all the same size & lots of them cut the squeegee channel to size & use as 1 stroke down.


Kevin WINDOLENE.