[david mark]

Seem to get this ask alot by my customers who to recomend so replaced some on my own house  to see how easy it is. It took around 2 hour's to replace 3 panes around 2 hours to measure and collect the glass so 5 hours cost £90 for 3 panes,  if was to charge a customer for this work would  quote  £275 for the job this was for removing the glass from the outside but most frames are made so you can replace the double glaze unit  from the inside of customers property
Could be another add on plus you don't need to be part of Fensa as you only replace the glass and not the frame

[tlwcs]

Seem to get this ask alot by my customers who to recomend so replaced some on my own house  to see how easy it is. It took around 2 hour's to replace 3 panes around 2 hours to measure and collect the glass so 5 hours cost £90 for 3 panes,  if was to charge a customer for this work would  quote  £275 for the job this was for removing the glass from the outside but most frames are made so you can replace the double glaze unit  from the inside of customers property
Could be another add on plus you don't need to be part of Fensa as you only replace the glass and not the frame

I've looked at this to. The only problem I see is if the beading is external and south facing, they become so brittle the can snap/deform when removing.
Tony

[Smudger]

It's ok as an add on but £275 - £90 is  £185 divided by 5 is £37 ph so no different from a regular window cleaning rate, but the hassle of it being a one off lots of driving around and then disposal of the old glass.

Depending on the size a local glass co. Replaces d/g units from £40 we pass his number to customers in return he passes us conny & roof cleaning work

Darran

[david mark]

Just wanting something different to add on from usual day to day life of window cleaning

[Smudger]

Go fishing 

Darran

[david mark]

Or watch Man utd play don't no which is more boring

[Smurf]

I've zenith tilt/turn dg windows over 30 years old that look as good as the day they where installed.
However the conservatory is a different story as is about 16 years old with blown sealed units.
The contributing factor why sealed units fail is down to incorrect fitting and also poor quality manufacturing procces of the sealed units themselves. That is the complete oposite of buying a quality product and having them fitted correctly methinks.

Yes you could offer to replace blown dg units as an add-on service but I'm sure most customers would also want some sort of guarantee too. For that reason I'm out as seems more hassle than it's worth to me.

[Smudger]

Good point on the guarentee

If your going to do a bespoke/one off service it should be bringing in more p/h than what you can do on easy repeat work (justify it by saying it's just to have a change if you like but next month the regular work will be there a replacement window may not be) and ring up a few glass companies for prices it's no good you wanting 275 if "qualified" glass companies are doing it for 150 - not everyone would be happy with a window cleaner taking apart their windows.

Darran

[stan stansfield]

you wouldnt want double glazing companys window cleaning,stick to what you know

[Smurf]

you wouldnt want double glazing companys window cleaning,stick to what you know

Funny you say that as I do get asked from time to time by glazing manufactures to go and clean disgruntled customers self cleaning glass as the oddballs think because it's called self cleaning glass it never needs cleaning. 

Interestingly enough if dg units are incorrectly fitted and of poor quality then using wfp method can actually cause the dg units to fail quicker too.

[Plankton]

you wouldnt want double glazing companys window cleaning,stick to what you know

Funny you say that as I do get asked from time to time by glazing manufactures to go and clean disgruntled customers self cleaning glass as the oddballs think because it's called self cleaning glass it never needs cleaning. 

Interestingly enough if dg units are incorrectly fitted and of poor quality then using wfp method can actually cause the dg units to fail quicker too.

If the frame is badly fitted you will get drafts, leaks etc. If the dg unit is badly manufactured you will get problems with condensation. I would NEVER suggest that wfp causes dg to fail.

[Smurf]

My understanding is PVCU frames are designed with water channels in them with drainage holes and sometimes external covers depending on the design of the frame same as dg units in doors.

The dg unit should be fitted correctly so sits on spacers that does not restrict the water flow so any water/moisture getting past the gaskets so can drain away properly through the drainage holes.  Obviously blocked drainage channels/holes will also not allow proper drainage too. 

Any water/moisture trapped in the frames will find its way into a dg unit if it's not manufactured properly and/or starts to break down. This will ultimately lead to water/moisture getting between the panes of glass (blown sealed unit).

That's why I say using wfp window cleaning method can actually speed up the process on failing dg units due to the amount of water used hitting the glass, gaskets and frames.

Regards to water ingress into the building, drafts etc this is due to the frames not been installed and sealed correctly and/or the sealant starts to break down over time. Again using wfp method on frames of this nature can cause water ingress and damp on the internal window returns too.

Apart from that wfp methods is great but still it's not our problem if a customers windows mist up or they get damp inside   

[kevincoggan]

it can be lucrative dave,but replacing three panes unless there are huge should take less than an hour to do,
its better left to a glazier if i'm honest as its not just a simple case of swapping a sealed unit over,you need to know how to toe and heel,make your own de-glazing tools,buy the thickness gauge,learn the difference between float and low e glass and thats just the beginning

[Smurf]

it can be lucrative dave,but replacing three panes unless there are huge should take less than an hour to do,
its better left to a glazier if i'm honest as its not just a simple case of swapping a sealed unit over,you need to know how to toe and heel,make your own de-glazing tools,buy the thickness gauge,learn the difference between float and low e glass and thats just the beginning

Sounds like you have been a fitter in your past Kevin and do a bit now and then still?

[kevincoggan]

i was smurf,started out in the glass trade and ended up fitting windows doors and conservatories-plus being a service engineer,i got out of it as i have tinnitus caused by hammer drills and the like,i found window cleaning just by chance as i was going down the route of pvc restoration/removal of dents and marks to windows and doors etc

[Dave Willis]

I asked loads of my customers if they wanted a misty glass replacement service. Most preferred to stick with their clear glass.

[dazmond]

Seem to get this ask alot by my customers who to recomend so replaced some on my own house  to see how easy it is. It took around 2 hour's to replace 3 panes around 2 hours to measure and collect the glass so 5 hours cost £90 for 3 panes,  if was to charge a customer for this work would  quote  £275 for the job this was for removing the glass from the outside but most frames are made so you can replace the double glaze unit  from the inside of customers property
Could be another add on plus you don't need to be part of Fensa as you only replace the glass and not the frame

only window cleaners with not enough work and enjoy a bit of hassle would even attempt to offer this service.

[Dave Willis]

You taking it up then Dazmond?

[dazmond]

You taking it up then Dazmond?

 

never ever!id rather go back to landscape gardening working for someone else than replace windows!