[Ian Gourlay]

From time to time the Subject of Builders Cleans has come up. How do you start etc.

Thanks to Jeff Cross editor I aquired some copies of the American mag Cleanfax.

In it is an advert for a book Construction Cleanup by Don Aslett

It tells you what is required regarding cleaning after the builder has left.

116 pages

It is $19.95

I have had a look on Amazon at it is available for £15

Don Aslett apears to have written several books on The Cleaning Industry aswell as motivational books.

Also on Amazon there are several books on starting and running a Maids Service.

Aswell as lots on Contract Cleaning.

[martin19842]

hi there,

Ian,

the build clean market, is a market that you either love or hate, there is no happy middle ground on this one. 

the builders arebecoming more demanding especially the houselhold names, and are looking for on time on site to deliver x number of plots on a short call off.  you have to be able to resource to that level, and maintain the work standards.

builders will also vary a lot in the condition in which the plots are left prior to build clean. i  dont think any book is going to help you, cause all of the specs, and requirements, and the t and c's are produced by the builders themselves.

and then different site managers for the same company are looking for differnet levels of performance.

we are working for 4 different building companies at the present time, and are resourced up to provide the service when they need it, for the last month we have reqularly had between 6-8 people on sites every day of the week.

regards

martin

[craig b]

hi martin ,
                Martin have you ever considered fitting the window and floor protection and on any of the site you work on ?

[martin19842]

hi craig,

most builders at build clean stage are removing the protection, then applying carpet protection walkways, but nit even that.

some of the household names, are working to such tight deadlines that they areent even putting protection in place as the fitments are being installed.

its a bit of a nightmare, and even with protection in place they still seem to be able to get the paint everywhere

regards

martin

[craig b]

martin
          just thinking that you have teams on sites a few times a week.
you would be in an better position than the actual fitters that do this
you are already covered  insurance wise as you already use ladders.

 how i got into it was, the protection fitters were waiting until a number houses built up then coming but in the the process houses were being missed .
so i complained as i didnt price for having to give the windows a really good clean . you no what windows are like when ther covered in plaster and also windows were damaged and didnt want to get the blame of it .

I dont think it pays for them guys to come site to do one or two houses but if iam doing a clean it takes 4 to 5 hours so i can easy fit a few in here and ther dont see why other new build cleaners cant do it.
just a thought

what do they use for covering floors on the sites you work on?

martin dont have a problem with the painters as thers none done on the site i work on but the plasters make such a mess.

    craig

[Tim Downer]

Hi all

Regarding Martins comment that he doesn't think that any book would be able to help as each company has different requirements and conditions etc, to a degree is correct, however people like Martin and myself have been in the game for a while and are in a position now to know the pros and cons of the builders and sparkle cleans and all have made mistakes along the way.

However, someone who is thinking of starting up in this aspect of the business would really appreciate a book that has the basic information in there to point them in the right direction.....and then by posting questions on this forum, those of us who have the experience can fill in the gaps and help them make ammendments to the basics they have learnt.

As Ian said, this Don chap must have experience in the cleaning Industry to be able to write such a book for us.

Besides, i would have appreciated such a book when we started up, which surley would have saved a lot of time etc.....
Might search out that book to see what it has anyway.

Regards

Tim

[Ian Gourlay]

Tim I agree there is nothing like vexperience, and it would be foolish to go for a big contract.

However there could be scope for the one off type builders clean for many contributors to this site.

People obtain Degrees through books,