[simonwonder]

hi dale
no ladders except for one job
6 hours 58 windows all old listed building
will be using telescoping pole with mop and blade technique  only
i'm back and ready to go window cleaning for money
got to get my money making machine working properly from now on
quantity and quality all in one place for a fair fee

[dai]

I would never go back to using ladders, I would pack it in first.
I cleaned windows in the 1950's using chamois mops and scrim, [still the quickest method for some jobs]
Squeegees then took over, but WFP is the best thing to happen to window cleaning in my humble opinion.
I get very few complaints, in fact I can't remember the last one, but then some people don't like to complain do they?

I know most of the guys prefer van mounted systems, but as most of my round is as compact as it gets the trolley system suits me better. A trolley system with two containers, and a mounted hose reel with 25 meters of micro bore hose. This gives me the best of both worlds, leave the trolley at the front and take the hose round the back.
You can clean a lot of windows with 50 litres of water, and not move the van once, and changing containers is quicker than moving the van, and what about parking issues?
If I had to move the van once for every two houses, I think trad would be more appealing.

I do a marina complex that only has pedestrian access on one side, I would need to run out 200 meters of hose to do it with a van mount.
I think in Paul's case it comes down to job satisfaction, or the lack of it, but a properly designed trolley could have made his life a lot easier.

[pjulk]

Right just a bit of an update on me going back to ladders.

The last couple of weeks have been great back on the ladders and my takings have been more or less the same as with WFP.

Todays taking were crap only did £86 i have not had a day with takings this low for a long time apart from if the weather is bad.

I may have to rethink things a bit here.

I prefer traditional and really don't like WFP but if i used WFP today my takings would have been a lot higher.

I may do some of my round traditional and some with WFP and see how i get on.

[pjulk]

Dai said -

I think in Paul's case it comes down to job satisfaction, or the lack of it, but a properly designed trolley could have made his life a lot easier.

Thats hit you have hit the nail on the head.
I have an omnitrolly classic also but find its a pain filling maybe i should be looking at a freedom type trolley.

[Nathanael Jones]

Even if i earned less, I'd still stick with WFP. My life is worth more than that.

I agree the dangers associated with ladder use can be reduced if you're properly equipped and trained,.. but the risk is never gone entirely.

Get a hot van mount system, then you'll love WFP!!!

[kenaltobelli]

this reminds me of cycling if you go out on a racer wear racing gear if you wear mountain bike gear nobody
waves or talks to you same goes other way try it if you dont belive it me personaly i use wfp or ladders
depending on speed or wether it can be cleand by wfp can not be botherd with eliteist attetudes
we are all in it to win it

[dmlservices]

For the past couple of week on my domestics only i have gone back to ladders.

I have used my car as its cheaper to run and easier getting the ladders off than the van.

I actually have done more work since going back to ladders than i did with WFP.

I took my trolley in the car for leaded windows and chucked my harris in the back so not completely tradition



But on your bog standard house's i actually earn't more money than i do with WFP and without the pain of having to purify water.
My expenses were only diesel for the car and that came out a lot less than my van.

I have never been happy with WFP but im now staying traditional but take my trolley just for leaded windows.

hows it going ? are you still on ladders ,or gone back to the pole ?

[pjulk]

I still do some on ladders but have to admit gone mostly back to the pole.

I still prefer traditional but i found myself getting far to behind on ladders.

What i do now is the house's i was quick traditional i have kept traditional.
The rest are back on the pole.

That way i get to use both methods and i'm a lot happier.
I also now do more house's downstairs traditional as i prefer it.

So i found out going back to ladders full time i must be mad.
But mixing it up a bit is working out well.

[pjulk]

Now just wait for the told you so's

[dmlservices]

glad its working out for you, at the end of the day, as long as you are happy in your work,thats all that matters


daz

[Trotsky]

I was asked to clean a block of 12 flats wednesday (Builders clean!)!
I had to say no!
Three stories high, no way I could do a builders clean (scraping off labels etc) with a pole!
I wouldn't go that high on a ladder these days!

Had to re-think one of my slogans... "You name it, we'll clean it!" 

[kevin James]

I'm not slow at trad but wfp i'm alot quicker

On most standard house's there is not a lot in it WFP or traditional well not for an experienced window cleaner.

And traditional i find much more satisfying

I can get the satisfying bit but it's a delusion:
Benefits of wfp:
1) the custie gets better service cos the windows defitnely stay cleaner for longer. Most of my custies are on 6 weeks, some 8. They'd all be on 8 but for needing more custies!
2) no ladder damage to Walls, garden etc, apart from the odd flower head getting it.
3) if your round is tight, then 25 a day should easily be poss, 30 in the summer. When I wuz on ladders I didn't beyond 15-18 a day.

I think the problem is van mounts. They were designed for commercial work. Residential is more suited to trolley/backpack. I know I use a quad but afriend in his sixties uses a backpack on a trolley & he's not far behind me!

Kevin j
2)

[AuRavelling79]

Now just wait for the told you so's

They told you so!

Seriously - it looks like you've found a good balance; well done!

[weetot]

Most of my work is now wfp. as i broke my tibia & fiblia in one fall from 11ft in 1986 (thats your both bones at the bottom of your leg) and I was off 6 months, just had the screws taken out last week, 23 years later.  Time for a career change or what!..... Although i was a driving instructor for a few years,
but you cant make a livin out of that.  S, especially stuff ladders, especially in the winter, as you become too complacent......Laters.

[Chris Galloway]

went out this morn, well noon, and it was still frosty, and im some places icy.. stuff using ladders on a day like today.

[Paul Coleman]

Now just wait for the told you so's

Told you so 

[Lakes and Pennine]

stan your just frightned of geting wfp nicked up Bacup

[simbo]

Wfp a great tool! only trouble is any tom dick or harry that was too scared of heights or could never use a blade is at it now.
wf is great once you know what your doin "a lot don't" but i would have to say i enjoy window cleaning far less since changing over, its just plain boring and annoying messing about with bloody hoses all the time, now just lately have started doing a lot of lower windows trad i seem to enjoy more.
i know some that can't do trad at all!!
paul

[gary999]

i have thought about converting some of my work back to trad
i did some trad work last week found myself a lot happier and on
the two up and downs i was doing a little quicker. between dog
muck hoses snagging and pole coming down when you dont want it
i feel that i have had enough of wfp at mo

so i am going to buy the wagtail products and trad on my smaller work
which accounts for 60% of my round no ladders but use trad pole for upstairs
but still use my wfp for my three storey work and any awkward jobs i have
which accounts for the other 40%

hopefully the variation will stop me from going insane 

[NWH]

If you have the right work no one in there right mind would want to go back to trad at all,i can`t imagine now doing 5-10 bed houses with a blade or scrim after using WFP for over 3 years +.Shops get the blade and that`s it if i can help it,like i say it`s all down to the work you have to whether it`s easier-better or not,most of the work i now pole has at least cut the time in half more often than not it now takes a third of the time it used to.