[Matt - aquatec]

Hi

I would really welcome everyone's opinion on this.

I am looking to build a business just to start with on conservatory roofs using a WFP trolley system.

The reasoning behind this is very simple, I don't have much cash to invest straight away into a complete van system and secondly I will have to start part time as I already have a fully time occupation.

So my thinking is, market conny cleans only. This way I can fit them in as and when they are required at a time that suits both the customer and myself. Once I gain some customers then I can schedule maintenance cleans and build it up this way.

I know it sounds simple and it certainly won't be to start off with but as it is said, you get nowt for sitting on yer arse.

Has anyone done it this way and what would be your suggestions.

Many thanks

Matt

[scud]

  Whats to stop them getting their window cleaner to do it?

  Look at doing windows seriously, find a way to carry more water, it will take a good while to get enough windows, con roofs will be very hard.

[steven ainger]

As an extra income, you will earn a few quid,
But how are you planning to get custys, as it would be a hell of alot of leg work, for little return.
Wouldnt fancy cleaning con roofs with a trolley, especially if the custy didnt habe an outside tap

[the bfg]

me thinks your going in the wrong direction matt,  conny roofs take a lot more water than windows and if you did a big conny roof you would need quite a few barrels of water to clean it.

best advice I can give is just market window cleaning as this would be easier for you being a newbie and the work is more reguallar  most customers usually only have the conny roofs cleaned no more than twice a year and in many cases just the once.

you will gain valuable experience from cleaning windows and once you start building up your customers they will automaticly ask to clean their conny roofs as and when required.

besides a customer who wants the conny roof cleaned will more than likely also want the windows cleaned,  start at window cleaning and let the business progress.

Steve

[dazmond]

A trolley system will be ok to finish a roof off if its glass with pure water but to use it to clean all conny roofs its gonna use a hell of a lot of water.

why dont you just concentrate on getting window cleaning work and wfp tops/trad ground floor and just take on roofs that have an outside tap you can plug into to save your water?

[Mike_G]

Why limit yourself to just roofs? Sure if you get loads and loads of take ups then I guess thats fine but you might find work hard to come by so in which case you may as well take what you get and if that house windows then dont look a gifthorse in the mouth. I would think if you are hoping to build a decent business in this economic climate you should take whatever comes your way. And as for you dont have much time...it takes a lot longer to do a roof than to clean the windows on a house...unless its a mansion, and finally the vast majority of conservatory roof cleans I do I get in the spring, people dont tend to worry so much when winters coming as they dont tend to sit in them so often, spring time is busiest for me

[Seymour Sunshine]

Go for it. My son's doing this.

You can use ordinary tap water to do the cleaning and then your pure to rinse off.

REPEAT - Don't use pure for the cleaning. Use it only for the rinsing. That way you can get away with less than 50 litres = two cans on your trolley.

He does it this way >>>>

>>> Spray the conny with a weak non-caustic TFR (traffic film remover) solution using a 5-litre garden sprayer.

>>> Wash it with your pole with a really high flow of tap water from the customer's outside tap.

>>> Rinse with pure.

Start with the roof working from the ridge cappings down and then do the sides.

And charge HIGH!!!! £5 per roof panel is a good start - and add an extra for those with box gutters.

The only mistake you can make is to under charge.

As a part-time business to get yourself going, it WILL work.

[steven ainger]

What if the custy doesnt have an outside tap

[mike roberts]

Disagree with most of whats been said apart from last post

Trolley is perfect for finishing conservatories esp glass obviously.

If your are going to clean them properly including framework wfp waste of time, comes down to hard work elbow grease. Need Upvc chemicals selection std brushes and platform for access. You can charge far higher prices than last post only prob is getting your name out there....

We clean con all year round even xmas time as customers have parties etc
But talking about 'proper cons' not '3*4s'

jes how many custys dont have outside taps! Most most decent size houses have oputside taps its 2011 ! worst case if access from washing m/c you can use that same thread!

In general window cleaners wont touch them as it takes toooo long

[Rick Davis]

Just cleaned my conny outside used flash liquid brush & a hose. There was 2 years worth of dirt on it, "shame on me"   finished off with WFP took best part of 5 hours from start to finish. Looks great  (My wife thinks i'm wonderful) 


Rickster

[Mike_G]

Mike Roberts. How long do you think it will take a newbie to clean an average sized roof to a decent standard?

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

Cleaning con roofs are gonna get the con windows dirty, so unless your a magician, your gonna have to clean the con windows aswell.  So you had may aswell clean the house windows aswell.

In a nutshell... the idea is pointless!

[mike roberts]

Cleaning con roofs are gonna get the con windows dirty, so unless your a magician, your gonna have to clean the con windows aswell.  So you had may aswell clean the house windows aswell.

In a nutshell... the idea is pointless!

er what  Pointless what  Generally if you clean a conservatory the windows on the conservatory are part of the conservatory  so yer u clean them as well  any effected windows you clean them as well 

[mike roberts]

Mike Roberts. How long do you think it will take a newbie to clean an average sized roof to a decent standard?

Not sure what a average size is  thats say 1/2 - 3/4 of a day proper clean for the first dozen.

[Seymour Sunshine]

Cleaning con roofs are gonna get the con windows dirty, so unless your a magician, your gonna have to clean the con windows aswell.  So you had may aswell clean the house windows aswell.

In a nutshell... the idea is pointless!

In a nutshell ... the idea is perfectly sound.

Evidently, if the roof is grubby, so is the rest of the frame going to be, so it will need cleaning anyway.

So what if it takes ages? The next one will be a bit quicker etc.

As a part-time business it's absolutely perfect.

Matthay, I expect loads of your buddies have got conservatories. Ask them if you can clean them for free. By the time you've done 2 or 3, you'll be sufficiently expert. After all, it's not rocket science - it's cleaning!!!!!

And Rick is right about using Flash liquid. I've used it in an emergency when I didn't have TFR. It did the job - but it stank of chemical lemons!

[Davo]

It will cost you too much money per job to get the work, Better off cleaning the full conservatory and taking a decent amount of money off the custy. You could complete a full conny clean in the time it takes you to pack up and move around 4 or 5 custys If your thinking of starting now, give them a free gutter flush worth £x  (conny only)to  prepare them for the winter.

[mike roberts]

Cleaning con roofs are gonna get the con windows dirty, so unless your a magician, your gonna have to clean the con windows aswell.  So you had may aswell clean the house windows aswell.

In a nutshell... the idea is pointless!

In a nutshell ... the idea is perfectly sound.

Evidently, if the roof is grubby, so is the rest of the frame going to be, so it will need cleaning anyway.

So what if it takes ages? The next one will be a bit quicker etc.

As a part-time business it's absolutely perfect.

Matthay, I expect loads of your buddies have got conservatories. Ask them if you can clean them for free. By the time you've done 2 or 3, you'll be sufficiently expert. After all, it's not rocket science - it's cleaning!!!!!

And Rick is right about using Flash liquid. I've used it in an emergency when I didn't have TFR. It did the job - but it stank of chemical lemons!

Thank god we have someone with sense  thats not get to fiesty rrr luv it

I may of made mistake Assumed you would clean all ... all of the conservatory.... not just top but all of it god damn...

We offer cons cleaning as part of our business (you can all see that not hidden  ) If i had time we can run that service as a stand alone business there is enough work out there - to busy on this facebook!

[mike roberts]

Matthay - i think its a good idea why not god dam it. come and work for me

The big problem is you work full time.... nights drawing in only leaves wkends will work with some custys but not all.... as a newbie (bloody hate that term) do u want someone there watching u

If you can only work wkends dont c how window cleaning will work as round will grow little scope to do the work 

[the bfg]

I'm gonna open a fish n chip shop but just sell chips

[mike roberts]

now thats just being silly