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paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
has anyone used the water fed brushes using the supply from the garden tap.
could anyone tells me what the best sort of brushes and extention poles
to buy for guttering , soffits and fascias cleaning and how much do people
 charge for this work. :-\

Hi Paul,

I wouldnt recomend cleaning facias, gutters or anything UPVC with the clients own water from there tap or your own tap.

Reason

The water is filthy. It is not pure and as such will leave spotting and runs everywhere. Try it if you dont believe me.

Wash a car with tap water and leave t to dry - it looks awful. Unless you polish it to remove the mark.

What You need
WFP Systems - and an RO unit

The RO Unit will clear your tap water. It will give a TDS READING of 000

The WFP System with the poles and brushes will be best for the gutters and conservertoies and fascias. Even window cleaning.

They start at around £300 for a WFP SYSTEM as in a trolley system
the RO can be purchased at around £300 anything cheaper than that is not woth worrying about

A cheap pole at around £160 with brush.

Our unit and RO cost us around £3000. we have several now.

Hope this helps


Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
after i had cleaned the p.v.c i would wipe it to prevent staining its just to save a bit of time than cleaning by hand as i have only just started doing these sort of jobs. has anyone heard of the titan 1 the water fed brush from a tap supply at £59 it dose conservatories,  and exterior gutters,fascias and sofits aswell. i just need something quite low priced just to see how it goes. ??? ???
 please someone have any ideas 
 oh by the way cheers for the reply.
has anyone any ideas about pricing this sort of work ???

drive surgeon

  • Posts: 2812
the pricing varies on area.  where you live?  you might not get as much without wfp/ ???

Pricing is different. Per job. Area, size, type and the difficulty factor. Plus your overheads.

And obviously your profit margin per job. So we would charge an average of £15.00 per hour if contracted. One off's are higher prices and obviously we have a minimum call out charge of £45.00. Otherwise its not worth it. So work out how long a job may take you. And charge by the hour.

Or priced job on Conservertory around £80.00. small  - Medium £120 - large £180

But it all depends on how filthy the job is, it may only need a damp wipe. So you will need to adjust accordingly.

Maybe you can do 3 - 5 conservertories a day. So you lower prices and have an average day rate of £250 - 350 per day.

I understand you are just starting but do you think it would be professional to turn up with a hose and brush and plug into customers water supply.

1. they may not have an outside tap - some house do not even into today society. What will you do then?

2. Customers on water metre are paying for the water you are using from there own supply.

3. water tap connections vary in size and type.

4 wipe down after you have cleaned it, seems to be a very long hard days work for little money.

I wish you well.

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
just got to start somewhere i suppose just a lot of money to pull out at the moment cheers for the help anyway THANKS
THE GUTTERS IM DOING IN THIS AREA ARE STANDARD OGEE SHAPE ON 3 TO 4 BED HOMES WITH STANDARD FASCIAS AND SOFFITS 9 INCHES DEEP AND WIDE ALL SAME LEVEL JUST FRONT AND BACK.
 I THINK IM CHARGING TO CHEAP IT TAKES ME ABOUT 5HRS BY HAND. I MUST SAY THE RESULTS ARE REALLY GOOD AND EVERY CUSTOMER HAS BEEN OVER THE MOON JUST WONDERD IF PRICING BY THE METER OR SOMETHING. OH ANOTHER THING WHATS THE BEST WAY TO GAIN COSTUMERS APART FROM RECOMMENDATIONS. I DO FLYERS BUT IT STILL NOT ENOUGH REALLY ( I HATE GOING DOOR TO DOOR)
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT CHEERS. ??? :)

Paul,

If your work is good, market yourself. Yes door knocking is probably the best form for your line of work.

Flyers with before and after pictures. If you dont have any then take some picture of the places you restore to former glory. Always ask permission to take photos.

References are always a bonus. In writting and in person so ask if they could write a letter just stating how pleased they were with your hard efforts.

As with the pricing its very hard to say what you should be charging. If a job is 5 hours thats most of the day gone. So work out a day rate for yourself.

However to earn out of this I would seriously consider WFP. Maybe look at second hand. You will cut the work down by less than half the time.

Websites, if you dont have one get one. You can do them yourself, about £120 per year and they have build it deigns so all you have to do is write and upload pictures.

Have you considered the winter! What will you do then, I cant see many having fascias or conservertories done in winter so you will need an additional service to compensate.

On each job you do you cold leave business cards flyers. Have you thought about window cleaning. Not much startup there. ladder, sqeegee, mop soap bucket.

If you are just starting out, its hard. And it will be for 3 - 5 years. Sorry it was and is for all new businesses as word of mouth takes time but the best advice I could give you is.. Do not rush your jobs. Take your time and complete them 100% a good name takes ages to build. A bad name takes only a few minutes and it will go round an estate or road very quickly.

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
hello craig b what do you mean convert a harris pole never seen a harris pole and what does tfr stand for im interested what your saying please detail a bit more.

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
cheers dave for that im am already doing window cleaning the traditional way.
have you any ideas what is a good earner over winter i'll try almost anything.
its a good thought anyway,i did not think about winter and your right :o

cheers dave for that im am already doing window cleaning the traditional way.
have you any ideas what is a good earner over winter i'll try almost anything.
its a good thought anyway,i did not think about winter and your right :o

Its hard to say as we provide a range from window cleaning, office cleaninf EOT, Carpet cleaning. and many more even waste collection.

We seem to pick up alot of work on carpets over winter periods. But you need the machine and that will cost a bit plus insurance and I think you will need a ticket to say you have done a course on carpet cleaning for insurance.. If you dont have one when and if there is a claim I think you might run into issues.

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
i know absolutely nothin about carpet cleaning i can imagin myself
buggering up someone carpet up :o :o

Paul,

I noticed after reading your posts again, you want to know what pole or brush to use.

Well you could purchase a cheap pole and brush that would be used on WFP. They start around £85. With a brush Normally but you have to check the pole, it should come with some hose. Its micro hose. but you can connect a hose lock fitting adaptor to it. That way you can connect it to the main water.

Hower you might want to consider calling there people,

http://www.omnipole.com/omnitrolley.htm

The have a trolley system, £200 idea for you Paul. I am not sure but they might even give a pole and bush with.

The trolley comes with a battery so it pumps the water up the pole. I think its definately worth considering especially for what you want. And with it you could offer more services.

At a later date add an ro unit. then take the water with you in 20 - 25 litre jerry cans. It will save time.

wish you well

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
hello dave, cheers for the advice and im definitely interested
in what your saying, i've never heard of the trolley system, is there any where i can look at them and what sort of brush and pole do you recommend, theres loads of brushes on the market choosing which one especially for cleaning guttering which has to get into small places is a nightmare. any pictures or further descriptions would be of great help cheers mate hope to hear from you soon.  i looked on the site you gave me i cant find exactely what i what , if it is on there, what i want
exactly what is it. sorry mate i have not got a clue what im really looking for its all pretty new to me.

cheers   paul

Hi Paul,

I will have a closer look for you later on. I wont forget. I am a little busy at present.

What you could do is look on the net, just search for Water Fed Pole Systems.  On each site look for Trollys / Backpacks.

Later on if you want, I can pm you and I will give you my mobile and we can have a chat if it helps.

What you need to do is think what you want. Where you want yout business to go. Having a trolley system will be a little costly however it wil also save time, open up other avenues and services you can offer.

These systems fit in he back of a van, estate, probably get the purefreedom trolley in the back of a car.

I have seen another system for around £400 mark but I cannot find it at present. If I find it I will post a link.

Where abouts are you based Paul. Somewhere up north just guessing.

As for veiwing them, most will let you see them, might involve a bit of travel depending on where you are.

http://www.surecleansystems.com/products.asp?cat=8

http://www.allcleangroup.co.uk/acatalog/Waterfed_Tanks.html

These people are superb! But just my personal opinion.

http://xline-systems.co.uk/epages/eshop146176.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop146176/Categories/%22xline%20Trolleys%20Custom%20Built%22

http://www.waterfedwarehouse.co.uk/shop_brushes.htm


These are good! All in so not a bad price and good backup so I keep hearing
http://www.purefreedom.co.uk/store_trolleysys.html

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
thanks alot dave :) :)
 i really like the poles from waterfedwarehouse.co.uk. i es pecially like the look of the GXTEL 4 SECTION POLE  20 foot reach   11"VIKEN BRUSH OR THE ECOLINE 3 SECTION UNIVERSAL POLE 21 F OOT REACH WITH VIKEN 11" BRUSH. what do you think about them for starting off for guttering and conservatories. just not sure about what style of brush ,what would be adaquate for these jobs,vikens sound pretty good but what shape? so can you convert the size of the microbore to fit mains supply. i have to stick to this way for a bit, untill i've built up the buisness to gain a bit of money to buy a trolley system you have showed me.
by the way i'm from bristol.
 thanks for the help dave. its difficult trying to do a good job, in a good time scale, not with the right tools, especially if you dont know what the right tool is.
anyway glad to hear your busy at the moment, what do you mainly specialize in at the moment? and what about in the winter?.
its bloody hard going just starting out . especially trying to get enouth custom to get a good wage out of it. especially when you really dont have a start up fund, just got to keep putting a bit back i suppose, alright when the other half or son dont wont it,well its all worth it i suppose.
well hope to hear from you later and thanks again dave :) :) :)

thanks alot dave 
i really like the poles from waterfedwarehouse.co.uk. i es pecially like the look of the GXTEL 4 SECTION POLE  20 foot reach   11"VIKEN BRUSH OR THE ECOLINE 3 SECTION UNIVERSAL POLE 21 F OOT REACH WITH VIKEN 11" BRUSH. what do you think about them for starting off for guttering and conservatories.

When I first started on the WFP side it was difficult. What to buy? As you dont want to waste your money buying cheep stuff.

I would say that they are fine, you will see that you might get replies saying they are cheap. I wouldnt say they are the best brush. But I do use them alot. When looking for brushes check that the brisles are long as possible as some are shorter and go for a semi stiff brusk. A soft brush wont remove the dirt.

just not sure about what style of brush ,what would be adaquate for these jobs,vikens sound pretty good but what shape?

I would say they all do the same only real difference is the sill brushes so it emnables you to clean the sill of a window high up.

so can you convert the size of the microbore to fit mains supply.

Yes. You will also find that mains supply is more powerful in presure than that of WFP being pumped up the poles. should only cost around £9.00 to convert easy purchase the adaptors. Check what size micohose comes with it. They have a few sizes.

i have to stick to this way for a bit, untill i've built up the buisness to gain a bit of money to buy a trolley system you have showed me.
by the way i'm from bristol.

Good idea, dont just buy the cheapest. You get what you pay for!

thanks for the help dave. its difficult trying to do a good job, in a good time scale, not with the right tools, especially if you dont know what the right tool is.

I was in the same boat Paul. In fact mine was sinking. Yes stick with it! It will get harder before it gets better. Sorry! If you have a few customers stick with it and keep advertising as much as possible. Sign written van, if you have a car get it sign written you can get magnetised plates now. For around £60 check out Vista Print, they also do good leaflets, cards etc.

As for the right tool, just becasuse they have made a tool for a job does not mean that it cannot be done better old fashioned hard labour. But when you are in business its about time and if you can do the job just as good in half the time you can double your income. As you can fit in more work.

anyway glad to hear your busy at the moment, what do you mainly specialize in at the moment? and what about in the winter?.

We specialise in Contract Cleaning, for offices mainly. We have communal cleans, floor cleans, Window cleaning, Park homes cleaning, EOTS, Rubbish clearance, Waste Managerment. Sanitary bins.. err the list goes on and on. So I have staff to do it for me now although I still muck in. So when winter kicks in its still the same for us. Cleaning in the winter for your services will be almost 0 especially if its all domestic. And especially in the freezing cold and ice. So you need an alternative. - So you could try office cleaning. But the profit margins are tight. So its a numbers game.

its bloody hard going just starting out . especially trying to get enouth custom to get a good wage out of it. especially when you really dont have a start up fund, just got to keep putting a bit back i suppose, alright when the other half or son dont wont it,well its all worth it i suppose.

Do you have a website? If not it might pay to get one.  You can do it yourself and its not that expensive. I know its still money and I gather it might be tight but if it gets the work in.  Have a look at

www.fasthosts.co.uk

They have good deals and you can design and build yourself. Use key words Like Conservatory Cleaning Bristol. well hope to hear from you later and thanks again dave   

Dave

paul beckett

  • Posts: 215
hello dave :)
cheers for the info.
 got me thinkin about the winter times, i've done short and student lets cleans before but never in the driving seat so to speak, i did hear it was alright money, i was paid a good price just being paid to do it. how do you get into office cleaning, and how much do you earn out of it, hows the best way to get this sort of work, im up for anything so you can earn a bit, i like being my own boss but it does have its downside thou.
im lookin at that website im going to do a website myself its a must i think,in this day and age
cheers dave



paul

well you need to advertise that you offer this service.

Then cold call! and put it on your website.

You will need insurance, Cossh sheets on the chemicals and a task list this will vary from client to client and can be a bit involved if TUPE comes into play.

Prices vary greatly. But profit is tight its around £12 - 15 ph EOT A BIT MORE, depends on  number of hours.

If you have cleaned an office you are half way there.

Dave