[TomCrowther]

Hi Guys, I tend to use UBIK for general cleaning and find it to be great on conny roofs etc but, I have a new customer who wants the upvc as white as possible. Is there a product or technique anyone can recommend?
Cheers.

[Frankybadboy]

if hes that fussy i leave it.let him do hiself,sound like a nightmare job.

[Avo]

Some people expect you to be magic and that you can wave a stick at the roof and make it brand new... Some custys will never be happy no matter how good you clean it..

[Spruce]

The only way to do this is by hand and use a solvent cleaner, but you can't guarantee it will bring the UPVC up to look like new. Over time Ultraviolet light and industrial polution will damage plastic that no amount of cleaner and effort will restore.

I once did a house that some of the pieces of the window frames had turned pink from the sun, and nothing will rectify that.

Most of the UPVC fitters use is Everbuild PVCu solvent cleaner, but you need to be careful and test it on a small piece of plastic before you rush in.

Frankybadboy has the very best advise - walk away. He won't be happy and you won't be paid.

On another point. It's funny how you find UBIK to be a good cleaner when I find it to be rubbish. Its good at removing algae but won't remove the stains from UPVC conservatory roof bars and other trim. 

Spruce

[TomCrowther]

Thanks guys, yes, she is a potential nightmare. She was slagging off her wc and cleaner within the first minute of meeting her but £80 is £80 and for a one off Saturday am, I think I can just about put up with it 

[daniel worgan]

If they want the upvc back to white,then that is not just an ordinary clean.We sell this as part of a valet/renovation package and £80 certainly wont buy that.....
Before you quote for a job,have a job sheet with you (in duplicate) and have a breakdown of individual tasks to be completed.This way both you and the customer have no quibbles as to what work is to be carried out,and then extras like "back to white" can be charged for accordingly....
 

[Alistair@AWC]

Tom,

As has been said uPVC solvent cleaner is the stuff you are looking for but although it does a great job be warned it won't always remove everything, as long as the customer understands this you shouldn't have a problem.

As Daniel says £80 does seem very very cheap for this service, that is nearer the price for a uPVC wash down.

Remember you will have to wash down the uPVC to get rid of the grime, then get up there and apply the solvent cleaner by hand which can take some scrubbing then rinse it all off again.

To give you an example I did one last week on a bungalow it took 6 man hours to complete and we charged her £200 and that is 2 years after we last did it so the uPVC wasn't that bad at all!


Daniel,

Your job sheet sounds like a great idea, if your feeling generous would there be any chance I could take a look at yours. alistairstott@hotmail.com

Regards

Al

[TomCrowther]

Thanks Daniel/Al
Don't worry about the price, it's an unusual conny as it has a tiled roof. She only wants the eight windows doing inside and out and it shouldn't take me too long. She has been shamed into having it done by the neighbours new conny 

[mike roberts]

might be worth telling her about smell if your using solvent on interior windows, some cust go / are nuts!
Inside you could use paste - upvc cream + fairy works dream on nicotine - no smell

[Blue Frog Systems]

I use a JML product called doKtor Power for cleaning up upvc - usual great product from JML

Is about £5 a tub and lasts ages - can get from Asda