[tonycarr]

over the course of the month i have 6 flat roofs over garages or extensions i have to navigate, don`t have a problem with them myself,  all part and parcel. I only go over if they ask, otherwise just fronts,  prior to going over first time i always ask if its in good order up there! and that if any problems occur then i wont be responsible 

always walk around the edges NEVER across the middle, if windy lean the ladder toward a wall if possible, or pull ladder up and lay on roof, if its VERY windy leave unless you have a helper, the slightest indication of soft spots get off

tony

[slap bash]

All my custies who have a  garage leave them unlocked and I just lock after I am done. I do them first thing in my day.

[Smurf]

If working on your own especially using ladders best working practice is to assess the risks, use appropriate safety gear if need be and don't take chances. Custards in general  will not give a toss if you get hurt. However they will soon try blaming you if their property gets damaged somehow.

[hank jr]

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.

without upsetting anyone - i have a lot of respect for this man.

[Splash & dash]

It's down to personal choise , I won't do it any more , had a bad accident 3 years  ago slipped over on a triple garage roof (fibreglass) off work for a year all for a £25 job , what an idiot I was , so when customers expect it I say no if they don't like it they can find some other fool that will do it it's up to them I don't need the work and am in a lucky position to pick and choose the jobs I take on if there is any sort of access issues I say it's not a job I would want to take on but thank you for your enquiry and walk away
I understand that you have to start somewhere and people need work but I think it's false economy doing it say you have an accident like I did and end up off work for a year you are Evan more out of pocket than if you do all this type of work ,better to do less work safely than more higher risk work as far as Ime concerned

[p1w1]

It's down to personal choise , I won't do it any more , had a bad accident 3 years  ago slipped over on a triple garage roof (fibreglass) off work for a year all for a £25 job , what an idiot I was , so when customers expect it I say no if they don't like it they can find some other fool that will do it it's up to them I don't need the work and am in a lucky position to pick and choose the jobs I take on if there is any sort of access issues I say it's not a job I would want to take on but thank you for your enquiry and walk away
I understand that you have to start somewhere and people need work but I think it's false economy doing it say you have an accident like I did and end up off work for a year you are Evan more out of pocket than if you do all this type of work ,better to do less work safely than more higher risk work as far as Ime concerned

Exactly...someone mentioned it  sorts the men from the boys more like sorts the clever from the stupid (admittedly thats a bit harsh  ) .

[hank jr]

Everyone has their own work ethic i think.....

[Stoots]

Everyones entitled to do what they want to do and everyone has their own motivations.

Personally i want 2 things from my business, firstly of course i want to earn a decent wedge

But secondly i want to do work that i enjoy doing and to not do work that i find a chore.

I dont like doing terraced houses, poor access, council or places where its hard to park.
I dont want to climb ladders or go collecting cash.

So im working towards not doing those things, of course when starting out we do all sorts that we dont want to do for money but as the round grows so should your standards.

Its not all about money its about job satisfaction and i wouldnt be satisfied if i got up and thought "bloody hell  ive got 6 flat roofs to climb over today then a couple of terraced  down that stupid little street where i cant get parked"

But everyone can do as they please of course 

[dazmond]

do what you want.i try not to make my working life any more difficult/risky than it needs to be.its nothing to do with being lazy!

i did 17 YEARS on the  ladders,climbing on flat/sloping roofs.all sorts every day.i fell off twice and was very lucky not to seriously hurt myself.plus ive broke loads of tiles,guttering and put both feet through a flat roof once!!

ive adapted as WFP has become my main tool for cleaning windows plus im in my mid forties.i dont want to be messing about clambering over flat roofs to do backs anymore.i dont need to as i have plenty of work that doesnt involve having to do it.

[hank jr]

Everyones entitled to do what they want to do and everyone has their own motivations.

Personally i want 2 things from my business, firstly of course i want to earn a decent wedge

But secondly i want to do work that i enjoy doing and to not do work that i find a chore.

I dont like doing terraced houses, poor access, council or places where its hard to park.
I dont want to climb ladders or go collecting cash.

So im working towards not doing those things, of course when starting out we do all sorts that we dont want to do for money but as the round grows so should your standards.

Its not all about money its about job satisfaction and i wouldnt be satisfied if i got up and thought "bloody hell  ive got 6 flat roofs to climb over today then a couple of terraced  down that stupid little street where i cant get parked"

But everyone can do as they please of course 

i've still got a lot to learn lol     - i hate collecting, garage roofs, rain and ladders, estates, terraced houses......hmmmm

[nathankaye]

This is the thing, yes we all started at that bottom end of the job but we didnt like it back then and weve learnt how to deal with these choices.
For instance when i switched over from trad to wfp i got as much info as i could, worked with someone who used it and asked advice from a good friend who has been using wfp for several years. I wanted to go down trolley route and later go van mount. I listened to advice of ones who did same and they all said skip middle bit and go straight to van mount. I listened to their advice and now 2yrs on im so so glad i did. Yes i use a trolley for those odd jobs and it fills me with dread thinking what i could have done if i didnt listen.
Its the same on this issue, yes everyone can decide for themselves if to faff about climbing over or as some have said dont have the choice yet........rubbish!  You do have a choice, you dont need to risk damage to yourselve or the clients property just for a couple of quid or so. Price the fronts up accordingly and as n when owners are in or give u a key etc then clean the backs. If the client wants them doing bad enough they will make it easier for you to do so without climbing over. But bey ho, you dont need to listen to any advice on here

[hank jr]

This is the thing, yes we all started at that bottom end of the job but we didnt like it back then and weve learnt how to deal with these choices.
For instance when i switched over from trad to wfp i got as much info as i could, worked with someone who used it and asked advice from a good friend who has been using wfp for several years. I wanted to go down trolley route and later go van mount. I listened to advice of ones who did same and they all said skip middle bit and go straight to van mount. I listened to their advice and now 2yrs on im so so glad i did. Yes i use a trolley for those odd jobs and it fills me with dread thinking what i could have done if i didnt listen.
Its the same on this issue, yes everyone can decide for themselves if to faff about climbing over or as some have said dont have the choice yet........rubbish!  You do have a choice, you dont need to risk damage to yourselve or the clients property just for a couple of quid or so. Price the fronts up accordingly and as n when owners are in or give u a key etc then clean the backs. If the client wants them doing bad enough they will make it easier for you to do so without climbing over. But bey ho, you dont need to listen to any advice on here

Haven't any of you heard of a backs guy? Backs only? There job is to do backs of houses?

[JandS]

If you cannot be bothered fair enough......I can and just price it accordingly so they get what they want...all their windows cleaning.

[paul alan]

This is the thing, yes we all started at that bottom end of the job but we didnt like it back then and weve learnt how to deal with these choices.
For instance when i switched over from trad to wfp i got as much info as i could, worked with someone who used it and asked advice from a good friend who has been using wfp for several years. I wanted to go down trolley route and later go van mount. I listened to advice of ones who did same and they all said skip middle bit and go straight to van mount. I listened to their advice and now 2yrs on im so so glad i did. Yes i use a trolley for those odd jobs and it fills me with dread thinking what i could have done if i didnt listen.
Its the same on this issue, yes everyone can decide for themselves if to faff about climbing over or as some have said dont have the choice yet........rubbish!  You do have a choice, you dont need to risk damage to yourselve or the clients property just for a couple of quid or so. Price the fronts up accordingly and as n when owners are in or give u a key etc then clean the backs. If the client wants them doing bad enough they will make it easier for you to do so without climbing over. But bey ho, you dont need to listen to any advice on here

exactly.... i used to suck a dummy and wear a nappy but........no more

[8weekly]

If you cannot be bothered fair enough......I can and just price it accordingly so they get what they want...all their windows cleaning.

The problem is that generally it's only new or desperate windowcleaners that do them so they are low priced.

[Klean07]

The older you get the more sensible and wiser you get! I've managed to bin most of those kind of jobs due to me wanting an easier life! Some aren't so lucky but I'm sure one day they will be!

[p1w1]

The older you get the more sensible and wiser you get! I've managed to bin most of those kind of jobs due to me wanting an easier life! Some aren't so lucky but I'm sure one day they will be!

I think that sums it up (for me anyway)

[Smurf]

The older you get the more sensible and wiser you get! I've managed to bin most of those kind of jobs due to me wanting an easier life! Some aren't so lucky but I'm sure one day they will be!

I think that sums it up (for me anyway)

Likewise

Speaking from experience the falling bit is easy but the sudden stop at the end hurts like hell.

[Soupy]

Weigh your ladders in for scrap lads.

What's the point, make your life as easy as possible and as safe as reasonably practicable. Fall through some punters roof and you'll be cleaning their windows at a loss for a year or more, if you're not dead.

What's the point in even making that the remotest of possibilities? Plenty easy work to be had.

[nathankaye]

Weigh your ladders in for scrap lads.

What's the point, make your life as easy as possible and as safe as reasonably practicable. Fall through some punters roof and you'll be cleaning their windows at a loss for a year or more, if you're not dead.

What's the point in even making that the remotest of possibilities? Plenty easy work to be had.

Ditto, ive taken ladders of van. Why drive round with ladders on if you dont use them and also it stops you from being asked about climbing this or that