[G Griffin]

I wonder how much would it cost me to buy a small WFP system for myself?  It would only have to reach up to house height but I could then do the other 4 windows on my balcony side which I do trad at the moment and we could then do my warehouse as well which is currently done trad by my warehouse guy.  What do you pro’s think?

Don't tell him, Pike!
Let's have some solidarity here, chaps.
Kev can afford to pay it. Just pay, tight arse.

[Spruce]

I was thinking about this last night Kev. Does your window cleaner use fan jets?

Some window cleaners use fan jets to save water. But I have never been able to use fan jets as I can never get enough water onto the glass to create a  curtain of rinse water cascading down the window on certain types of glass. Also, the direction of the flow of water from fan jets is less predictable than pencil jets,. The overspray that is more associated with fan jets could also be bringing the uncleaned muck down off the top frame.

We bought a trad round many years ago. The trad cleaners never cleaned the frames; they just cleaned the glass. If your windie is one of those glass only trad cleaners who converted to wfp, he may think he can just do the same as he did trad and get away with it. 
 

[John Mart]

I was thinking about this last night Kev. Does your window cleaner use fan jets?

Some window cleaners use fan jets to save water. But I have never been able to use fan jets as I can never get enough water onto the glass to create a  curtain of rinse water cascading down the window on certain types of glass. Also, the direction of the flow of water from fan jets is less predictable than pencil jets,. The overspray that is more associated with fan jets could also be bringing the uncleaned muck down off the top frame.

We bought a trad round many years ago. The trad cleaners never cleaned the frames; they just cleaned the glass. If your windie is one of those glass only trad cleaners who converted to wfp, he may think he can just do the same as he did trad and get away with it.

We have one or two like that around here.

[Kev Martin]

When it comes to engaging or employing people one thing I am not is a mug.  As a company one of our services is training other trades to become Hard Floor Cleaners.  Quite a lot of these guys tend to come from a Carpet Cleaners background.  Lots not all Carpet Cleaners come to us with a fixed mindset that they cannot overcharge per square foot or they won’t get the job.  We teach them that each Hard Floor  job is unique and to  forget carpets and price per Sq Ft.  We demonstrate  that they should charge accordingly for each job taking into account  all the different factors. 
Most of you have pointed out that my particular job is a bit of a pain so I would rather talk to him first before sacking him off because I get the impression I am not going to find it easy to replace him unless there are any of you who cover Solihull who want the job. 

[The Jester of Wibbly]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

[Kev Martin]

I was thinking about this last night Kev. Does your window cleaner use fan jets?

Some window cleaners use fan jets to save water. But I have never been able to use fan jets as I can never get enough water onto the glass to create a  curtain of rinse water cascading down the window on certain types of glass. Also, the direction of the flow of water from fan jets is less predictable than pencil jets,. The overspray that is more associated with fan jets could also be bringing the uncleaned muck down off the top frame.

We bought a trad round many years ago. The trad cleaners never cleaned the frames; they just cleaned the glass. If your windie is one of those glass only trad cleaners who converted to wfp, he may think he can just do the same as he did trad and get away with it.

We have one or two like that around here.

John

Sorry mate I am not sure of his history.  My wife engaged him about 5 years ago and this problem has only reared its ugly head when we had the DG Windows renewed.  That said I was talking to the fitter and he said he had installed a 3 Storey house with new windows situated on a Very Busy High  a few months ago and then said he drove past the other day and the frames looked so black like they had been in 20 years.

[Shrek]

Ask the double glazing firm to put in hydrophilic glass, not hydrophobic. If it’s possible....

[Kev Martin]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

[Kev Martin]

Ask the double glazing firm to put in hydrophilic glass, not hydrophobic. If it’s possible....

Good point I never asked our DG company but regardless it is too late now as 80 % of the windows are fitted.  Whilst I appreciate Hydrophilic glass would probably help it is not really just the glass that is the main issue it is more the frames.   We are specialists in cleaning and Sealing Products and I could simply seal the glass and frames with a Titanium Dioxide based type sealer and change the way the glass performs the same as racing drivers do with rainex or similar.  However I think it more important that I chat to our WC first.

[John Mart]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

To be fair, once you have a word with him he’ll probably go on a Facebook forum complaining about a crappy job he’s got in the town centre with no parking that has to be done at 7 in the morning with crappy frames that were installed incorrectly and run and an arsehole flat owner has been on some forum or other and now reckons he knows more about window cleaning than someone who’s been doing it for 30 years. 

[Shrek]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

To be fair, once you have a word with him he’ll probably go on a Facebook forum complaining about a crappy job he’s got in the town centre with no parking that has to be done at 7 in the morning with crappy frames that were installed incorrectly and run and an arsehole flat owner has been on some forum or other and now reckons he knows more about window cleaning than someone who’s been doing it for 30 years. 

😂😂😂

[Kev Martin]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

To be fair, once you have a word with him he’ll probably go on a Facebook forum complaining about a crappy job he’s got in the town centre with no parking that has to be done at 7 in the morning with crappy frames that were installed incorrectly and run and an arsehole flat owner has been on some forum or other and now reckons he knows more about window cleaning than someone who’s been doing it for 30 years. 

Why?  Is that what you would do?

[John Mart]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

To be fair, once you have a word with him he’ll probably go on a Facebook forum complaining about a crappy job he’s got in the town centre with no parking that has to be done at 7 in the morning with crappy frames that were installed incorrectly and run and an arsehole flat owner has been on some forum or other and now reckons he knows more about window cleaning than someone who’s been doing it for 30 years. 

Why?  Is that what you would do?

No. I just thought it was an amusing juxtaposition.

[dazmond]

At the end of the day he s defo not cleaning the frames if the frames are black....

Just tell him you want the frames cleaning too....but not for any extra money....if their new windows then it'll take 2 mins....

At £40 for 12 windows he should be anyway....

[Kev Martin]

I think you will struggle to find a replacement on here.  No one would want a customer who goes to public forums before speaking with the wc to complain.

To complain to anyone you have to know what you are talking about, hence my reason for seeking sensible advice from Professional Window Cleaners first.  There was no point in me confronting my guy when there may have been a perfectly good reason for his actions.  I do for example know that some councils have issues with jobs being done without barriers.  I also do not believe that every WFP Window Cleaner is on the CIU forum and even if they are and don’t want to take me on for your reasoning that is your and their decision which I would accept.  Personally I think I am a great customer

To be fair, once you have a word with him he’ll probably go on a Facebook forum complaining about a crappy job he’s got in the town centre with no parking that has to be done at 7 in the morning with crappy frames that were installed incorrectly and run and an arsehole flat owner has been on some forum or other and now reckons he knows more about window cleaning than someone who’s been doing it for 30 years. 

Why?  Is that what you would do?

No. I just thought it was an amusing juxtaposition.

Amusing?  QUESTIONABLE   Juxtaposition?  YES. 

What grade in English did you achieve?   

[Jonny 87]

Ask the double glazing firm to put in hydrophilic glass, not hydrophobic. If it’s possible....

Good point I never asked our DG company but regardless it is too late now as 80 % of the windows are fitted.  Whilst I appreciate Hydrophilic glass would probably help it is not really just the glass that is the main issue it is more the frames.   We are specialists in cleaning and Sealing Products and I could simply seal the glass and frames with a Titanium Dioxide based type sealer and change the way the glass performs the same as racing drivers do with rainex or similar.  However I think it more important that I chat to our WC first.

FYI that would make the glass Hydrophobic, the opposite of what you want for window cleaning
 
He will probably want to charge you another £40 if you make them hydrophobic. 

[Missing Link]

4.  What’s a fair price?  (he does 3 flats in a row 12 Windows in total  all first floor above a busy high st and likes to do them at 7am)

I doubt you'll find another window cleaner to do them.

I wouldn't even bother to quote; 7 am and a busy high street would turn me off.

Plus the customer sounds like a right whinge too.

[AuRavelling79]

Hi Kev - just noticed this thread - been away on holibobs living the high life in my 24 year old caravan. 

You've got a lot from the guys above to think on. But forgive me if I missed it - you said you were having tilt and turn windows fitted and you "only" have three of them?

Can you not do them from the insides now?

If I have missed something and you still want them cleaned externally I would say ...

Most other window cleaners that don't do shops/high streets as a niche will not be interested. Those that do will realise yours is a one off in amongst another window cleaner's work and realise there is little room for expansion. If you were able to get the other flat owners across to a new window cleaner at £40, then would it be worth it to him?

Probably not as he will have the issue of water dripping on shops below and either feel the obligation to clean theirs or feel the wrath when he says "not my problem". Or do them at a time when they aren't about to notice.

All in all I would do them from the inside if not then talk to the other flat owners and ask their view. If you are getting brand new UPVC frames then buttonhole the windy and ask "innocently" whether the new frames get done at the same time as the glass (if your old ones were wood or aluminium he may have avoided doing them for "milk" runs and drips)  as you want everything kept up to scratch.

He will feel a little embarrassed if he has been avoiding top frames and assure you that they will be included as UPVC doesn't cause the same issues as the old non UPVC ones.

The price in my opinion is at the upper end of "OK" but 3 windows will always fall into the "minimum charge" territory which is often £10 - £12 anyway.

[Kev Martin]

Hi Kev - just noticed this thread - been away on holibobs living the high life in my 24 year old caravan. 

You've got a lot from the guys above to think on. But forgive me if I missed it - you said you were having tilt and turn windows fitted and you "only" have three of them?

Can you not do them from the insides now?

If I have missed something and you still want them cleaned externally I would say ...

Most other window cleaners that don't do shops/high streets as a niche will not be interested. Those that do will realise yours is a one off in amongst another window cleaner's work and realise there is little room for expansion. If you were able to get the other flat owners across to a new window cleaner at £40, then would it be worth it to him?

Probably not as he will have the issue of water dripping on shops below and either feel the obligation to clean theirs or feel the wrath when he says "not my problem". Or do them at a time when they aren't about to notice.

All in all I would do them from the inside if not then talk to the other flat owners and ask their view. If you are getting brand new UPVC frames then buttonhole the windy and ask "innocently" whether the new frames get done at the same time as the glass (if your old ones were wood or aluminium he may have avoided doing them for "milk" runs and drips)  as you want everything kept up to scratch.

He will feel a little embarrassed if he has been avoiding top frames and assure you that they will be included as UPVC doesn't cause the same issues as the old non UPVC ones.

The price in my opinion is at the upper end of "OK" but 3 windows will always fall into the "minimum charge" territory which is often £10 - £12 anyway.

The windows are big and although I have had them all fitted with tilt and turn the 4 windows overlooking the high street have to be done from the outside.  I have in the interim had a chat with him and he admits water is an issue as he tries to do all three of our flats (12 large windows in total ) and the 7 shops with one small trolley.  He has told me that he is in the process of getting a slightly larger one so we will see.

[G Griffin]

If you sack him he'll have more water to do the others properly.