[Garyj]

If a window has limescale on it is the job of the window cleaner to remove it?
(He's trad by the way)

[Garyj]

Is this a daft question?

[Perfect Windows]

I don't think it's a daft question.

I think it's a matter of scale (if you'll excuse the pun).

If there's a tiny bit I take it in my stride and give it a go.  If it's bad enough that the householder has clearly been ignoring it for years (I can think of one example from a dripping overflow that must have been going on forever), I'll tell them.  Then if they want it dealt with, I'll charge for the time.

Vin

[Garyj]

Yes it is from a dripping overflow that is now fixed. Its a small bathroom window.

If it was a carpet it would be part of the job to remove as much of the mark as possible.

He seems a good lad, he's reliable and does a pretty good job but that window has been annoying me for months. He has been today which has prompted the topic because to be honest by tomorrow I will have forgotten about it until he comes next month.

Is it just a case of applying some acid and job done? I would guess the area is about 5" sq.

I can understand your response of charging more, but seriously how much? To bring up carpet cleaning again this would be seen as bad practice and anyone that wanted extra to get a mark out would be seen as a cowboy. 

[andyM]

Sometimes the stain has etched the glass and cannot be removed.
I have a bathroom window which was in that state when I moved in and no amount of scraping or use of chemicals will get rid of it.

[Perfect Windows]

Yes it is from a dripping overflow that is now fixed. Its a small bathroom window.

If it was a carpet it would be part of the job to remove as much of the mark as possible.

He seems a good lad, he's reliable and does a pretty good job but that window has been annoying me for months. He has been today which has prompted the topic because to be honest by tomorrow I will have forgotten about it until he comes next month.

Is it just a case of applying some acid and job done? I would guess the area is about 5" sq.

I can understand your response of charging more, but seriously how much? To bring up carpet cleaning again this would be seen as bad practice and anyone that wanted extra to get a mark out would be seen as a cowboy. 

Again, it's a question of scale.  Under five minutes and I wouldn't give it a thought.  Under ten minutes and I'd still do it (it should only need doing once, after all)

5" square, I'd just do it.

I've seen windows where the whole thing is covered with scale that must have been building up for years (and where the drip hasn't been fixed).  That's the kind of thing I'd charge for as you're looking at a major job that may well need repeating.

Vin

[Window Washers]

Yes it is from a dripping overflow that is now fixed. Its a small bathroom window.

If it was a carpet it would be part of the job to remove as much of the mark as possible.

He seems a good lad, he's reliable and does a pretty good job but that window has been annoying me for months. He has been today which has prompted the topic because to be honest by tomorrow I will have forgotten about it until he comes next month.

Is it just a case of applying some acid and job done? I would guess the area is about 5" sq.

I can understand your response of charging more, but seriously how much? To bring up carpet cleaning again this would be seen as bad practice and anyone that wanted extra to get a mark out would be seen as a cowboy. 

how much he should charge is down to the time it will take him to do the job only he would know this.

Question for you: if you had a very clean carpet to price, and a very heavy stained/soiled carpet do you charge the same price ?

[Garyj]

Ok fair enough question, but you are not comparing like with like. You say heavily soiled carpet which yes would attract a premium price, I would suggest it is more like cleaning a resonably clean carpet with one small mark on it.  As my windows are cleaned every month they are essentially pretty clean therefore it is a very easy job. If I was pricing a carpet with a small stain no I wouldn't charge extra for it, especially if it was an ongoing customer.

I could not walk away from a job where I have not done the best I could.

[Perfect Windows]

I could not walk away from a job where I have not done the best I could.

That's an interesting way to phrase it.

I know nothing about carpet cleaning, so I find it hard to give a good example.  However, if there was something about a customer's job that might, say, double  the time you took, you really wouldn't suggest that they might have to pay for that?  How about something that trebled the time? Quadrupled?  So there must come some point where (in your words) you would have to walk away without doing the best you could (or charge them).

It's not a matter of being a "cowboy", it's a matter of being professional and charging for the work you're doing once it gets beyond just being helpful for a few minutes. 

It might also be worth considering that a typical clean time for me and my oppo is probably about 10-15 mins, so adding even 15 minutes cleaning off limescale is doubling our time on the job, or, to put it another way, halving my income.  I've worked on limescale on a patio door that took well over an hour.

Anyway, I've already said that I'd do yours so it's all academic. 

I suggest you dump your cleaner and replace with two.

Vin

[Garyj]

Cheers Vin.

I'll ask him to have a go at it when I next see him.

I just got a bee in my bonnet as would have thought it part of the job.

[Splash 4 Cash]

Limescale is more a restoration job as it needs special equipment if its been on a long time and should be charged a lot more.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3wDuHzJfPg&feature=related

[mikeyfaerosyth]

Your window cleaner is payed to CLEAN the window,so he is doing his job correctly,and your paying for a maintenance clean.so why do you expect him to do extra work for free.if you ask he probably will as its only one window,carpet and window cleaning are completely different pricing jobs,you cant compare.

[bobplum]

If a window has limescale on it is the job of the window cleaner to remove it?
(He's trad by the way)

no
his job is to carry out maintenance cleaning,ie dirt,bird poo etc
but it all depends on the condition of this problem
if its being going on for a long time then i would say its a chargeable item,if it can be done in 5 minutes maybe not
i dont carry any scale removing equipment with me simply because i dont  see it as part of my job and i have never done it for any client--but thats just me-maybe he sees it that way

[Garyj]

Done it myself, took a few minutes and managed to do it from inside the house.

Noooo, do not agree at all that  I pay for a maintenance clean, I pay £15 a month to have my windows cleaned.

Bottom line is different people have different standards of work.

[Window Washers]

Done it myself, took a few minutes and managed to do it from inside the house.

Noooo, do not agree at all that  I pay for a maintenance clean, I pay £15 a month to have my windows cleaned.

Bottom line is different people have different standards of work.

correct but different standards of work come with different price tags you will/should already know this unless your a start up (are you?).

If hes doing a  good job (which you say he is) then hes doing it to the right standard for what hes priced for.

If you want extra work pay for it!!! thats simple business you would not/should not do it in your business if it cost you more time and money unless for very good reason, you arguing on a point that at the end of the day is simple to understand.

You left something which became a problem end of, nevxt time you see something dripping fix it before it becomes a problem for which you then are trying to push on your window cleaner, hes not at fault here this is your failing, I can understand your thought process as I deal with people like you a lot, but I explain where the problem comes from, and this being them/you (hard to swollow yes) BUT THE TRUTH yes.

My standards are very high before you think your above me or our standards of work, also my customer service is spot on I take great pride in this aspect of my business.

If a customer wants more doing of a job they pay for it, thats simple business, really is that simple, think of it the same way as your business and stop trying to be tight which I feel you are being on this ocassion.  No disrespect meant at all when I say this, I am just reading wat you have put, maybe you just don't understand otr thoguht different from what is offered to you.

I'm just being honest as well as frank from what I have read. I would explain this in a totally different way if you was a customer of mine but boils down to the same thing.

Hopefully you can now see froma window clears point of view.

Respectfully

Ian