[David lyddon]

I know you will all think me mad.
Been wfp 14 months and yes its safer and sometimes quicker.
wfp is driving me crazy theres always a problem with the kit
The expence and custies if given the choice i know prefare trad
and it really does do a better job.
Have been back on ladders 3 days due to faulty pump,and have quite enjoyed it
less hastle,proper exercise thinking of going back to ladders full time.
 

[robertphil]

welcome back,you know it makes sense

[Alex Gardiner]

I know you will all think me mad.
Been wfp 14 months and yes its safer and sometimes quicker.
wfp is driving me crazy theres always a problem with the kit
The expence and custies if given the choice i know prefare trad
and it really does do a better job.
Have been back on ladders 3 days due to faulty pump,and have quite enjoyed it
less hastle,proper exercise thinking of going back to ladders full time.
 

You are right that ladders and a bucket are less hassle - I did about 16 years with these tools and it was always fairly simple.

Just last week a personal friend, who had refused to go over to the poles as he didn't feel his round was worth the hassle, fell off his ladders and broke several limbs. He was only working on standard domestic work. He will be off work for months.

For the first few years I also really did not like all of the potential issues and the perceived complications. In fact for the first 6 months it never seemed any faster at all. After a few years though I learned what spares to carry at all times and how to make each job that little bit easier. After about 3 years of WFP working I realized that whatever the expense I could never go back.

For me it is not about hassle or expense it has always been about the safety issue. Life is dangerous enough as it is without climbing ladders which is still one of the most risky work-related tasks that anyone can do.

If you need any advice with specific equipment issues or techniques please feel free to drop me an email - alex@agardiner.co.uk

[gavinb]

Good luck with it , but for me im out !

[Smudger]

Alex has really nailed it in his post - kaving fallen 15ft i actively looked for a safer way to clean
and yes the 1st 6 months were a steep learning curve but it's more than paid for itself in terms of
safety and the ammount of work i can do in a day.

generally wfp and trad cant be split in how good they are, it's down to the operator i've seen loads of bad tradded windows and loads of superbly done trad - likewise with WFP  but i will say when WFP goes wrong it's always a biggy!
and makes you look a complete numpty.

i disagree with people prefer trad - all they want is clean and claer windows if you have a positive mind set they buy into you and wfp

Darran

[A-W-C]

Each to their own,i know wfp works for me and would never go back to ladders

[elite mike]

Each to their own,i know wfp works for me and would never go back to ladders

ditto 

[DG Cleaning]

I looked at your previous posts you said you had a tds of 25 and were thinking of going van mount with a di. Why not give that a go see what you think?
You might prefer it to the trolley. I've got twin di's, van mount, no controller and an old car battery I had in the shed.
I don't have any issues with equipment as such
I haven't used a trolley but I reckon I'd find it a real pain to go back and keep filling up.

[dotty]

my brothering law was trading in november and fell off the ladder he as smashed is sholder that bad he had to have metal plates put in they say he will never be able to use it again just try and stick in there

[Nathanael Jones]

I looked at your previous posts you said you had a tds of 25 and were thinking of going van mount with a di. Why not give that a go see what you think?
You might prefer it to the trolley. I've got twin di's, van mount, no controller and an old car battery I had in the shed.
I don't have any issues with equipment as such
I haven't used a trolley but I reckon I'd find it a real pain to go back and keep filling up.

+1

When I ditched the trolley & went van mount my life became soooooo much easier overnight. It doesn't suit every round,.. but its worth a try IMO.

[SunShineCleaning]

http://sunshine-cleaning.net/Whyweavoidladders.html

[tompoole]

Not a chance, I carry spare pump , controller and three of each
Fitting and a spare battery. Yes have issues very occasionally
But they never take long to sort definitely won't be going
Back to ladder.
Turn water up and rince twice will sort most Newbee problems
I've never had such a hastle free job .
Having said that nowt wrong with using ladders if careful
Good luck .

[James archell]

I know you will all think me mad.
Been wfp 14 months and yes its safer and sometimes quicker.
wfp is driving me crazy theres always a problem with the kit
The expence and custies if given the choice i know prefare trad
and it really does do a better job.
Have been back on ladders 3 days due to faulty pump,and have quite enjoyed it
less hastle,proper exercise thinking of going back to ladders full time.
 

Show us a picture of your setup. I generally avoid commenting on these kinds of posts as the issue could just as easily be your setup as anything else and nothing to do with the kit.

WFP you should be pulling in £200 a day wherever you are in the country. Thats plenty to put some by for spare pumps, parts etc should they be needed.

[Johnny B]

This by far the best thread I have seen that discusses WFP and trad choices. 
Well done guys.

John

[SunShineCleaning]

I know you will all think me mad.
Been wfp 14 months and yes its safer and sometimes quicker.
wfp is driving me crazy theres always a problem with the kit
The expence and custies if given the choice i know prefare trad
and it really does do a better job.
Have been back on ladders 3 days due to faulty pump,and have quite enjoyed it
less hastle,proper exercise thinking of going back to ladders full time.
 

Show us a picture of your setup. I generally avoid commenting on these kinds of posts as the issue could just as easily be your setup as anything else and nothing to do with the kit.

WFP you should be pulling in £200 a day wherever you are in the country. Thats plenty to put some by for spare pumps, parts etc should they be needed.

I have to agree with Mr B. If the setup is right and attitude toward earning is good then the £'s will come in. You can buy a small spare pump for £40 to keep you earning. As for technique you could do with spending time with someone for a day.

As for the customers,  if you feel the job done is second rate it will be a difficult sell.

Call me you want a chat.

Stuart

[SherwoodCleaningSe]

Hi David

I personally think that WFP does a better job, if done properly.  But I know what you mean, lots of customers prefer trad, I think all of us have lost custies either trad to WFP or WFP to trad.  Why not keep the trolly for ups, no point risking your neck to earn a living.  I've only been on the glass 17 years not as long as you but I've fallen twice over the years, I said a third time and I'm giving up.  Don't get rid of the gear just yet, the longer you WFP the faster and better you get.

Simon.

[G Griffin]

This by far the best thread I have seen that discusses WFP and trad choices. 
Well done guys.

John

 
Correct.
Refreshing to see comments without ridiculing or people being sensitive about ways of cleaning windows.

[C o z y]

That's because he's a grown up Griff.

[dave0123]

I dont really see there is much to go wrong, apart from a pump maybe a controller but those can always be by passed. and just keep a spare one of them and few hose bits its all u need. keep it simple.

[George Gardner]

Is there a point to make that regardless of prefered technique, Wfp is the future? Modern houses now all have UPVC frames none now a days are being built with lead are they?! WFP lends its self nicely to upvc.

I expect there was the same out cry when people stopped using newspaper and vinegar and used a shamee lol. Not sure if i got that in the correct window cleaning timeline of events, i wasnt there, but you get the point.

When i switched, still 20% trad now. People saw it as a good thing as i was "investing" in my business and was more likely to stick at it. Thats what my custies want someone half decent and reliable. Already had someone today say cleaned them myself, wasnt angry at me, just said i knew cos of snow, rain etc youd be a bit late, so im not reliable all the time  and there more i feel unreliabliity in WF as eqp breaks and water freezes etc but on the whole i would say its faster, safer and more convienient. Any older lot have any shoulder/arm problems from the repeat squeege action? infact poling actually gets my neck so that arguement probably isnt valid for pro WF, as I feel worse after a day!!

Anyway the point im making, is i dont think it will be down to preference it think it will come down to law and insurance.
Insurance quotes will for trad go up and up and up and may altogether ban ladders in a legal sense, who knows?