[baldeagle]

Help! Advice please!

As I’m still a beginner of only 3 weeks, I need someone to point me in the right direction.

On a local estate there are a large number of houses that have a ground floor bay window with a pitched roof and one bedroom window above.

I’m certain that you’re already one jump ahead; either the ladder rests against the gutter on the bay and the upper end doesn’t rest on anything, or I wedge the top of the ladder into the eaves and then I find myself standing at the correct height, but too far from the glass! [Ladder angle can sometimes be suspect, too].

I’ve avoided them so far, going only for the “flat fronted” houses, or those with a flat topped bay.

Trouble is, I’m the only W/C on the estate and all the others are there for the taking,.

How do I get round this problem, or preferably, up to these tricky windows?

And before you all scream WFP, bear in mind that I’ve only got 35 customers so far, and I have to run for a while to see if they will stay with me, and indeed, can I expand more, before I invest more money.

I can see the attraction of WFP ‘s, and I intend to go that way eventually, but until the round is  bigger, I have to carry on with traditional methods for a while.

Thanks in anticipation,
John Simons
[baldeagle]

[matt]

use a pole with your tools

i used to hate them sort of houses, allways had my ladder stopper and Sand bag firmly in place

[Ian_Giles]

Matt says about using a pole, but you are still very much a newbie and it isn't easy to get a good finish on an upstairs window such as you describe using a pole and traditional gear.
Are the roofs too steep to walk on? (yes. yes, I know, Health & safety But sometimes it is the easy option)
Or failing that, go for the houses, but leave out that particular window, or explain that you can do it with a pole, but the standard will not be up to the same level as the other windows.
Also exlaining of course that thee is no safe way of getting to the windows to clean them normally.

When your round has grown to the point where you can invest in a WFP system, they won't be a problem, but providing you give your prospective customers an explanation you should be ok.

Ian

[Duke]

yes, do what you can safely...and bear in mind those jobs for when you get a pole system. Depending on how many there are....work out how much you would gain financially from doing them with the pole and see if the investment would be worth it....if there are quite a few, a pole may pay for itself quicker than you think over the months....plus you'll be able to add other services (strings to your bow) like conservatory roof's, fascia, guttering etc...may well be worth the plunge......keep on going John...one day you'll be turning them away....
Of course , there's always the option of finance...if there's enough 'new' work to cover the monthly repayments....then you're on to a winner.....food for thought maybe....

[AuRavelling79]

I used to hate single lower bay houses before aquatec trolley system but I had some success by placing ladder on transom bar (as I have ladder mitts) where available and where I felt safe. Depends on layout of bay and its depth though.

Be a little bit hard-nosed - if you can choose your work simply explain that you cannot do any inaccessible window (either at all or to the same standard) and that the time taken to use special tools etc will cost a little more.

[rosskesava]

We've only got one place like that and we put the ladder under the eaves and use a short pole - a 30 inch one.

By not wetting right to the top or sides we get almost as good a result as if it was done without a pole.

Also, we ( well not me - my mate does the ladder work) dry the blade between each pass with the squeegie.