[C & S]

Evening,
As title says. I have a few custies with flat garage so no access unless their in.. as you know nightmare, I would drop but not got enough to fill books yet so wish to keep all I have.
Do any of you climb over the garage roof? To gain access? Or is this a bit too cowboy?...

[nathankaye]

Many years ago i would have climb over but very carefully.  But not anymore, simply because ive come away from.using the ladders and sold myself on that basis of no one walking on extensions or tiles etc.
Therefore i would getba great price on doing a front clean and then add to it if they are in to allow access to the rear.
I also text ahead of coming and so you will know what the situation is before you get there.
So for me, a good price on just front cleans

[Splash & dash]

Used to but not anymore , I won't txt them to unlock garages or gates if it is an ongoing problem I explain that I cannot continue doing there house as it's not cost effective , over a period of time you will get used to foreseeing these problems when quoting generally unless they give me a key to the garage or gate I won't do them as to much hassle

[hank jr]

I have a whole road of houses like this all semi detached with pitched tiled roofs and the garages butt up to each other.. Nearly every single house. Wasn't so bad when i first started but now i bloody hate them. There is no other way of doing the backs.

I do know some windies who only do the fronts of these types of  houses.

[Stoots]

Why

I don't take on any houses that don't have access to the back in the normal manner of opening a gate. Fronts only in the case of garages.

Spend a days canvassing pick up half a dozen better ones and bin them off.

[windowswashed]

I've turned down lots with garages. Not prepared to get ladders off van just to go on flat roof, not even for one window, won't bother with ladders on domestic work anymore, refuse to go backwards for work at any cost  I have 4 commercial jobs that require a ladder for access higher up, otherwise I'd bin my ladders and roof rack completely

[Soupy]

Weigh your ladders in for scrap.

[Stoots]

I've turned down lots with garages. Not prepared to get ladders off van just to go on flat roof, not even for one window, won't bother with ladders on domestic work anymore, refuse to go backwards for work at any cost  I have 4 commercial jobs that require a ladder for access higher up, otherwise I'd bin my ladders and roof rack completely

Exactly.

I have a couple of houses with flat roofs and s window above that's not doable from the ground.

Do I get the ladder off?

  not a chance, they get told do can't do that window. If that's a problem then they can find someone else.

I don't even do through the house jobs, hate dragging the hose or backpack through. If there's no access it's a front only job end of story.

[Marc Stock]

Interesting post this. I have a couple of houses i have to walk on flat roofs to gain access at the back.

Get the ladder out, couple of minutes no big deal.

Don't see what the problem is. If you have a house that needs windows cleaned you expect them all to be cleaned otherwise what's the point?

[dazmond]

i have a few on estate work.i always used to climb over no problem when i was trad but 7 years ago when i went WFP i decided to just do fronts only unless they were in to let me through  the garage.most customers understood.some i lost because they thought i should just climb over like id always done.

there is still the odd property that i use a ladder on though(balcony,windows set back on a flat roof etc)but they are very few and far between.

[hank jr]

Interesting post this. I have a couple of houses i have to walk on flat roofs to gain access at the back.

Get the ladder out, couple of minutes no big deal.

Don't see what the problem is. If you have a house that needs windows cleaned you expect them all to be cleaned otherwise what's the point?

I'm with you on this...I don't advertise as being half of a house window cleaner....people call me to clean all of their windows not just the front. As much as I don't like garage roofs as much, it would be really frustrating to only be able to get the front cleaned.

Just price higher !

[dazmond]

Interesting post this. I have a couple of houses i have to walk on flat roofs to gain access at the back.

Get the ladder out, couple of minutes no big deal.

Don't see what the problem is. If you have a house that needs windows cleaned you expect them all to be cleaned otherwise what's the point?

its ok when your in your 20s/30s and 100% trad! (in other words young and stupid!!)

i just thought "i cant be bothered anymore" when i went WFP and also some flat roofs were a bit dodgy and in need of a new roof plus sometimes the other side (where i put my ladders)wasnt ideal (gravel,mossy flags,decking! ).its not worth the risk anymore. id rather lose the customer.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

I found customers were fine about it until their roof started leaking then they would blame me and want compensation for the repair. I got a bill once from a customers insurance company for £900 for a flat roof repair even though it had been 20 years since it was installed. Needless to say I didn't pay it.

[dazmond]

Interesting post this. I have a couple of houses i have to walk on flat roofs to gain access at the back.

Get the ladder out, couple of minutes no big deal.

Don't see what the problem is. If you have a house that needs windows cleaned you expect them all to be cleaned otherwise what's the point?

I'm with you on this...I don't advertise as being half of a house window cleaner....people call me to clean all of their windows not just the front. As much as I don't like garage roofs as much, it would be really frustrating to only be able to get the front cleaned.

Just price higher !

you obviously havent got enough work then!(or been in this this game long enough!)

[The Jester of Wibbly]

No way in this day and age with how the general public sometimes react in blame.

Yes agree with above, as soon as they spot a damaged or leaking roof, it's let's sue the window cleaner  .

Also remember a post on here a year or so ago when a customer had there window cleaner charged with break and entry.

Not worth it. Nor am i desperate enough.

[Smurf]

There has been quite a few posts on various forums over the years regarding mishaps on garage/ground floor flat/pitched roofs, They include falling through roof, falling off the edge/ladders slipping and ladders being blowing down leaving them stranded on the roof. Not to mention being attacked by so called pets.

It's down to individuals if they want to take on awkward access jobs when no one is home I suppose. However the way I see it there is no point in risking getting hurt just trying to earn a few bob on those types of properties when you don't have to.

[nathankaye]

Ok, for all the ones saying that a customer wants all the windows being cleaned not just the fronts.
What do you do if you are a traditional window cleaner and your customer had a conservatory put up. For you guys, those windows above the conny roof are out of reach. Now conny roof support beams can be strong enough to stand on, so do you climb all over the conny roof or use a roof ladder to get those windows or do you leave them because they are not obtainable??!
Same difference for back gardens which are not accessable without becoming SAS operatives climbing about to get to a couple of quid worth of windows.

[Stoots]

Fair points to make that people won't want the windows above flat roofs missing or want the whole house doing.

But they have a choice with me, I don't do that so they are free to find someone who will.

I don't like clamoring about from a safety point of view but also I don't like messing about getting ladders on and off.

But mark lives in a different world to me, most of my houses are 10,12 quid not 30,40,50 quid.


Mainly though I don't like faff and things that slow me down. When I'm out I like to get into a flow, I find anything that disrupts my rythum annoys me. That could be access issues, parking or over talkative customers  I like to pull up hose out clean noteam through and gone. Bang them out and go home.

But it's up to each of us to decide what we want from a round so it's great we can pick and choose

[Dave Anderson]

Yup I have roofs I have to get the ladders out for, just the nature of the game I suppose.... You could always price it into your future work or get rid when it suits you.

There used to be a chap on here who always used to say before you get rid... Go get 2 more you want then decide..... which is what I tend to do these days.

Sounds like a few like to big themselves up with the 'I WONT DO THIS OR CLIMB A LADDER ONTO A FLAT ROOF'.....  Nice position to be in but we all started somewhere and I imagine if we remember back we were humble and grateful for the jobs we got when we ALL first started. So before the 150 quid a window shiners get too big and need Swiss banks accounts remember we are in the main small business's and we all started small.

No wonder people think window cleaners earn so much and so many window cleaners  think they are brain surgeons.

Good Luck Dave.

[Marc Stock]

Yup I have roofs I have to get the ladders out for, just the nature of the game I suppose.... You could always price it into your future work or get rid when it suits you.

There used to be a chap on here who always used to say before you get rid... Go get 2 more you want then decide..... which is what I tend to do these days.

Sounds like a few like to big themselves up with the 'I WONT DO THIS OR CLIMB A LADDER ONTO A FLAT ROOF'.....  Nice position to be in but we all started and I imagine if we remember back we were humble and grateful for the jobs we got when we ALL first started. So before the 150 quid a window shiners get too big and need Swiss banks accounts remember we are in the main small business's and we all started small.

No wonder people think window cleaners earn so much and so many window cleaners  think they are brain surgeons.

Good Luck Dave.

Sorts out the men from the boys.

It's pure laziness in my opinion.

If customer wants windows cleaned and there is one on a flat roof and it's safe to walk on. Grow some and get your ladder out.