[Jonathan Spencer]

Well I have been doing windows for a few months now and I am doing OK but not amazing.  I have been asked by a couple of people could I do this....  Clean all the UPVC fascias, gutterings and windows.  Right many of you will think easy but their is one problem here.  The properties are by many numerous chemical plants and by one distillery.

So the UPVC is stained a dirty yellow/green.  I did a bit with first of all an initial clean with soapy water and a bog standard green scourer from a supermarket.  After a quick wipe with a cloth, I used Thompsons UPVC restorer.  Now this seemed really like hard work with ages stuck up a ladder.

Is their an easier way than doing this (I am a trad cleaner)?  ANd how much should I charge for a standard Semi (3 bedrooms) with a conservatry?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Jonathan

[mark dew]

doing it by hand and trying a bit 1st to see ws a good idea.
You should clean a metre (the space between the brackets) in the hardest area of the property and time yourself. Then you want to work out how much you earn (or want to earn) p/h window cleaning to get your rough price. You should then add 50% on top because cleaning fascias and gutters is much harder work than cleaning windows. You really want to make sure that you don't charge the same for your time cleaning windows as they are done every month and fascias and gutters etc are plum jobs and get done very irregular.

[NWH]

If i get asked to clean out guttering ie remove debris and clean outside of the gutter if PVC etc if in just average condition and by that i mean not green and hasn`t been touched for years, i would charge £40 per side of house without facias or barge boards minimum.
 

[Jonathan Spencer]

Thanks for the input guys.  The stuff on this UPVC is chemical residues from the factories and is hard graft to get it off.  Is their anything better than a scourer to get the worst of first?

[aztec]

have you tried white spirit?

[alanwilson]

first find out from the factorys what the 'exhaust' is - they are duty bound to tell you.  if you know what it is then you can find out what the solvent is.

[Jonathan Spencer]

Well it is Albright and Wilson (now Rhodia) and am pretty certain that it is phosphates.  Also there is a distillery near by.

[Jonathan Spencer]

have you tried white spirit?

Did a conservatory today using white spirit and it gets most of the chemical residue off.  Takes a lot of elbow grease but is better than soapy water.  After using this I used Thompsons UPVC restorer and the customer was well pleased.  Was still time consuming and need to find a quicker way.

[simbag]

Does white spirit not have any adverse reaction with the plastic? Would have thought it might erode it 

[Jonathan Spencer]

Does white spirit no have any adverse reaction with the plastic? Would have thought it might erode it 

I bloody hope not!!!  Can you put TFR on UPVC?

[simbag]

Does white spirit no have any adverse reaction with the plastic? Would have thought it might erode it 

I bloody hope not!!!  Can you put TFR on UPVC?

As long as its non-caustic you'll be fine.

[Jonathan Spencer]

Does white spirit no have any adverse reaction with the plastic? Would have thought it might erode it 

I bloody hope not!!!  Can you put TFR on UPVC?

As long as its non-caustic you'll be fine.

Think I might try this but do not want to buy a big drum.

[simbag]

Well I have been doing windows for a few months now and I am doing OK but not amazing.  I have been asked by a couple of people could I do this....  Clean all the UPVC fascias, gutterings and windows.  Right many of you will think easy but their is one problem here.  The properties are by many numerous chemical plants and by one distillery.

So the UPVC is stained a dirty yellow/green.  I did a bit with first of all an initial clean with soapy water and a bog standard green scourer from a supermarket.  After a quick wipe with a cloth, I used Thompsons UPVC restorer.  Now this seemed really like hard work with ages stuck up a ladder.

Is their an easier way than doing this (I am a trad cleaner)?  ANd how much should I charge for a standard Semi (3 bedrooms) with a conservatry?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Jonathan

Oh BTW, I wouldn't personally recommend using a green scourer, or any scourer for that matter. It is guaranteed to scratch the surface, some may not be bothered by this as it will barely be noticeable when it's just been cleaned, but it will show up like a sore thumb once it starts to get dirty again.

[simbag]

What do you mean a big drum?

You can get a 5 litre container for approx £23, and this'll last you for ages! Think I mix about 50ml with 10 litres, but you can dilute it even more than this.

You can buy it ready to use, or slightly pre-diluted, but best value is 5 litre concentrate.

[Jonathan Spencer]

Well I have been doing windows for a few months now and I am doing OK but not amazing.  I have been asked by a couple of people could I do this....  Clean all the UPVC fascias, gutterings and windows.  Right many of you will think easy but their is one problem here.  The properties are by many numerous chemical plants and by one distillery.

So the UPVC is stained a dirty yellow/green.  I did a bit with first of all an initial clean with soapy water and a bog standard green scourer from a supermarket.  After a quick wipe with a cloth, I used Thompsons UPVC restorer.  Now this seemed really like hard work with ages stuck up a ladder.

Is their an easier way than doing this (I am a trad cleaner)?  ANd how much should I charge for a standard Semi (3 bedrooms) with a conservatry?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Jonathan

Oh BTW, I wouldn't personally recommend using a green scourer, or any scourer for that matter. It is guaranteed to scratch the surface, some may not be bothered by this as it will barely be noticeable when it's just been cleaned, but it will show up like a sore thumb once it starts to get dirty again.

If I cannot use a green scourer what should I use?

[simbag]

I'm amazed how well it can come up just rubbing with a cloth soaked in diluted detergent cleans it.
Have you tried that yet?

[Jonathan Spencer]

I'm amazed how well it can come up just rubbing with a cloth soaked in diluted detergent cleans it.
Have you tried that yet?

First thing I tried mate.  You have to see this stuff on it to beleive it.

[simbag]

I've just remembered, I've also used a car wash brush, you know, the ones you attach to the garden hose. I 've dipped that in solution and cleaned that way, then used a pvc cleaner to polish up.

But, saying that I don't know if that would be heavy duty enough either. I'd like to here form those that use white spirit to see if they do have any issues with it...

[Jonathan Spencer]

I've just remembered, I've also used a car wash brush, you know, the ones you attach to the garden hose. I 've dipped that in solution and cleaned that way, then used a pvc cleaner to polish up.

But, saying that I don't know if that would be heavy duty enough either. I'd like to here form those that use white spirit to see if they do have any issues with it...

Cheers for your help mate.  I suppose I am after the holy grail of window cleaning.  How to get UPVC frames looking clean after years if neglect.  When you say detergent I take it you mean fairy liquid.

[simbag]

Yes, F. Liquid or whatever you use for window cleaning, or TFR.

I know what you mean, they can't expect miracles when they leave it for 5 years, but they do!  :