[ronnie paton]

I know this may have been discussed mant times but i was never intending to get involved in them but i got a call in regards to doing some which could lead to the contract of the regular clean.

Now iv never done them so could some one please advise on prising and timing?? there is 76 normal size windows havent seenthe state yet but its a renavated building not a new build if this makes a differencw?

[ronnie paton]

Anyway??

[Majestic]

With builders cleans you need to price it high as they can be hard work.
Make sure you inform someone of any scratched glass , get a day work sheet signed to prove your work has been done , as other trades can come along after you and mess up what you have done

[ronnie paton]

thanks john.

iv read that you sometimes get paint and stuff on the frames how would you go about getting this off?

There must be a risk of scratchin the glass? do you get a disclaimer signed?

[Majestic]

On the builders cleans I have done I have used a porqupine applicator and a sharp blade. If you are lucky any paint will come off the frames with lots of water ,

[ronnie paton]

this may be a silly question but wot is a porquipine?

[Majestic]

http://www.wintecs.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=57_36_23&products_id=83

Worth having

[ronnie paton]

John thanks for all the info its much appreciated!

[ronnie paton]

been to look at job, there isnt much cemnt or builders dirt on them atall theres a few stickers that come pff easy, so im going to price 3x the clean do you peaple think?

[Nathanael Jones]

Builders cleans are a tough one,..and ALWAYS without fail take longer than you'd expect. WFP will never cover a builders clean,.. so ladders, trad gear and a good scraper,.. and make sure to get a scratched glass waiver signed before you start.
Change blades on your scraper every 2-3 windows,.. a damaged blade can do a lot of damage.
I'd normally go 5x - 10x the normal price. I just completed a 4 bed detached with a sunroom for €480 + VAT,.. and even at that I should have charged a little more.
There's good money in builders cleans,.. but be prepared to loose out on the first few till you get the hang of pricing.

[ronnie paton]

I understand i would not be able to use WFP. iv looked and priced X3 to be honest most of it was just dirt its not a new build just a renavated building.

My price was excepted but they wanted it done tommorrow ... no chance.

[Ian_Giles]

I would agree that pricing at approx 3 times your normal price is roughly correct, I've done a great deal of these cleans over the years, and providing it is no more than window cleaning, and you have full and open access to all the windows, at 3 times normal you should be fine.
If Nathanial can get away with up to 10 times normal price then good for him, but if you are any good it ain't gonna take you anything like 10 times as long to do the job.

Initial cleaning - or rather builders cleans - is an artform for sure, using a scraper and having to knife off just about every pane of glass is a technique you have to develop.
And you should not need to swap scraper blades every couple of windows either, if you are using the likes of the Unger 4" razor scraper you'll be hard pressed to damage glass with even a worn one.
I've recently had a customer accuse me of really badly scratching the glass on some windows where I did little more than 'nib' of some paint speckles.
I actually went up to them, and deliberately tried to scratch the glass with the customer watching, even using the pointed part of a stanley blade scraper and could not mark the glass (I might do a full post on this particular subject, but I'm still waiting to see if events unfold further)

Wilkinson do a cheap 4 inch scraper, DON'T use it as a general tool!!!!!
Works fine when new, but if you were using this particular scraper then I would certainly recommend changing it regularly, the blade on it WILL damage glass.

Georgian windows of course are different, or leaded too come to that, if you ever have to do an initial clean, inside and out on these windows then 10 times normal price would be a minimum!

I like the look of that Porcupine sleeve...not seen one of those before...gonna get myself one I think...

Ian

[Nathanael Jones]

I've done a couple of initial clean jobs in the UK,.. and must admit builders seem to take a lot more care of the glass that side of the water. In Ireland I've often had to pull out a hammer and chisel to remove mortar from frames and patio door rails,.. hence up to 10x the price!