[PabloNeruda]

From somebody thinking of taking the plunge soon.
I've been reading loads and loads of old archived threads for the last couple of days and have really learned such a lot already. What a fantastic site. I'll try not to bore you all with the usual questions!
My question is two-fold. Firstly, do you think the following starter-kit is a) excessive (is there anything I should knock off the list?) and b) reasonably priced. I found it on an old thread from a couple of years ago posted by Mike Boxall at company called express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk which still appears to be up and running. (I don't want to cut corners, I figure that in the long run I will end up having to buy lots of additional equipment anyway. Plus I suppose you get what you pay for, so I'd like to know if that particular company sells high quality products):

1 x 526027      10” Plastic Window Washer Frame £1.87
1 x 526025      18” Metal Window Washer frame £3.72
1 x 526030      10” Window Washer sleeve £2.40
1 x 526032      18” Window Washer Sleeve £3.43
1 x 526010      Stainless Steel Squeegee Handle £3.10
1 x 526011      12” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £1.77
1 x 526012      14” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £1.98
1 x 526013      18” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £2.35
1 x 526014 22” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £2.70
3 x 526021 36” Replacement Rubbers for Channels @ £1.59 = £4.77
1 x 526052      Safety Scraper. Removes paint, bird droppings etc £1.75
1 x 526053      Pack of 10 Replacement Blades for Scraper £1.32
1 x 526043      Best Grade Chamois Leather 3 sq ft £9.63
2 x 526050      Grade 1 Linen Scrim 1 sq m. @3.34 £6.68
1 x 526045      Double Pouch on Belt to hold scrim,chamois etc £9.63
1 x 526046      Bucket to fit Belt to hold squeegee & window washer £14.37
1 x 526066      Heavy Duty Window Cleaners Bucket 20” long £15.54
1 x 526002      Cranked Adaptor for Pole to angle tools flat to surface to be cleaned £10.69
6 x 526311      1L Unger Glass Cleaning Liquid £13.86
1 x 501300      Caution Sign “Window Cleaning in Progress” £11.36
1 x 526003      3 x 1.5M Telescopic Aluminium Pole to enable reach up to 6M from ground level. Squeegee, Window Washer & Cobweb Brush will all fit pole £26.93
                                   SubTotal            £162.93 + vat
Delivered Free


Obviously prices will probably be a bit higher as this is from a 2 year old thread., but still....

Secondly, ladders. I'don't get it !!! What are "A-frame" ladders ? Are they the ones that narrow to a point at the top. And it so, why are they safer? I would imagine it's more dangerous as the ladder is leaning against the wall at only one point not two?

Kind thanks in advance for any help/guidance.

[Ray Pickering]

Hi Pablo & welcome.

Whatever you decide to buy make sure it's a good make, otherwise you might as well go to Wilko's B&Q etc;

The popular choice is Unger--Ettoire.

Your scrims need to be grade 1 prewashed even then they probably need boiling in hot water for an hour or so, if you decide to cut them in half have them hemmed down the edges.

I don't know about chamois not many people seem to use them nowday's

You could consider Microfibre cloths (Unger) for buffing up leaded windows.

The Double pointed ladders are safe because generally on an upstairs window the point goes into the reveal (thats in between the edge of the frame & the brickwork) so the point can't slip sideways either way.

Whatever you wan't to know just ask there's loads more people on this forum with a wealth of knowledge.

I'm pretty new to W/C myself but these are things i've picked up with asking on this Forum.

Hope this helps.
Ray.

[windows_chepstow]

Pablo,

You remind me of someone.  Anyway, what area of the 'UK' do you work in?

[PabloNeruda]

Hi Tosh.
I'm in Essex.
Remind you of somebody? In what way? 

[Paul Coleman]

From somebody thinking of taking the plunge soon.
I've been reading loads and loads of old archived threads for the last couple of days and have really learned such a lot already. What a fantastic site. I'll try not to bore you all with the usual questions!
My question is two-fold. Firstly, do you think the following starter-kit is a) excessive (is there anything I should knock off the list?) and b) reasonably priced. I found it on an old thread from a couple of years ago posted by Mike Boxall at company called express-cleaning-supplies.co.uk which still appears to be up and running. (I don't want to cut corners, I figure that in the long run I will end up having to buy lots of additional equipment anyway. Plus I suppose you get what you pay for, so I'd like to know if that particular company sells high quality products):

1 x 526027      10” Plastic Window Washer Frame £1.87
1 x 526025      18” Metal Window Washer frame £3.72
1 x 526030      10” Window Washer sleeve £2.40
1 x 526032      18” Window Washer Sleeve £3.43
1 x 526010      Stainless Steel Squeegee Handle £3.10
1 x 526011      12” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £1.77
1 x 526012      14” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £1.98
1 x 526013      18” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £2.35
1 x 526014 22” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £2.70
3 x 526021 36” Replacement Rubbers for Channels @ £1.59 = £4.77
1 x 526052      Safety Scraper. Removes paint, bird droppings etc £1.75
1 x 526053      Pack of 10 Replacement Blades for Scraper £1.32
1 x 526043      Best Grade Chamois Leather 3 sq ft £9.63
2 x 526050      Grade 1 Linen Scrim 1 sq m. @3.34 £6.68
1 x 526045      Double Pouch on Belt to hold scrim,chamois etc £9.63
1 x 526046      Bucket to fit Belt to hold squeegee & window washer £14.37
1 x 526066      Heavy Duty Window Cleaners Bucket 20” long £15.54
1 x 526002      Cranked Adaptor for Pole to angle tools flat to surface to be cleaned £10.69
6 x 526311      1L Unger Glass Cleaning Liquid £13.86
1 x 501300      Caution Sign “Window Cleaning in Progress” £11.36
1 x 526003      3 x 1.5M Telescopic Aluminium Pole to enable reach up to 6M from ground level. Squeegee, Window Washer & Cobweb Brush will all fit pole £26.93
                                   SubTotal            £162.93 + vat
Delivered Free


Obviously prices will probably be a bit higher as this is from a 2 year old thread., but still....

Secondly, ladders. I'don't get it !!! What are "A-frame" ladders ? Are they the ones that narrow to a point at the top. And it so, why are they safer? I would imagine it's more dangerous as the ladder is leaning against the wall at only one point not two?

Kind thanks in advance for any help/guidance.

That seems a fairly comprehensive starter kit Pablo.  I would like to suggest a couple of additions.
1)  A "vice-versa" (I think some call them "backflip").  It is an applicator (window washer frame I think you call it) and a squeegee back to back on one handle.  The advantage of this is that, when you need to clean by pole, you can just turn the pole around to squeegee the liquid off the window.  It saves bringing the pole down and switching tools.  On a hot day this can become essential equipment because the liquid might dry before you can take it off.
2) Two "swivloc" squeegees that swivel at the squeegee neck.  This enables you to clean a window by pole that you can't stand directly beneath.  Also, a swivloc applicator.  As for the swivloc squeegees, I suggest that you get one that has a normal angled head and the other with a zero degree angled head.  These may not be tools that you will need often, but when you *do* need them, they are priceless.  Please note that swivloc comes with brass channels so you will need to use end clips to secure the rubber.
3)  You may find it better to have several squeegee handles as it can be a hassle changing them over.  It's not a difficult job but it's a pain in the a***.

[PabloNeruda]

Thanks Guys
Any recommendations for a ladder (preferably wooden) at a decent price?
Also, I'm thinking about doing my own wfp, so do you think I'll need all this other gear? Am I going overboard? Not sure how much I'd use a lot of it (particularly a ladder) if i bought/made a wfp!

[jsm]

looks like a lot of gear to me  this is what I would get ,

1 x 526027      14” Plastic Window Washer Frame £1.87
1 x 526030      14 Window Washer sleeve £2.40
1 x 526010      Stainless Steel Squeegee Handle £3.10
1 x 526011      14” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £1.77
1 x 526012      14” Stainless Steel Channel & Rubber to fit 526010 £2.70
3 x 526021 36” Replacement Rubbers for Channels @ £1.59 = £4.77
1 x 526052      Safety Scraper. Removes paint, bird droppings etc £1.75
1 x 526053      Pack of 10 Replacement Blades for Scraper £1.32
5 x 526050      Grade 1 Linen Scrim 1 sq m. @3.34
1 x 526045      Double Pouch on Belt to hold scrim,chamois etc £9.63
1 x 526046      Bucket to fit Belt to hold squeegee & window washer £14.37
1 x 526066      Heavy Duty Window Cleaners Bucket 20” long £15.54
1 x 526002      Cranked Adaptor for Pole to angle tools flat to surface to be cleaned £10.69
bott of fairy - 88p
1 x 501300      Caution Sign “Window Cleaning in Progress” £11.36
1 x 526003      3 x 1.5M Telescopic Aluminium Pole to enable reach up to 6M from ground level. Squeegee, Window
pack of good dish cloths to wipe sill's
                                   
taken lots off and got you 3 more scrims as come winter you will need more - think I saved you £100 

where are you in Essex , as I just sold my firm there 2 months ago to my workers , Billericay basil;don , brentwood based ,  let us know if you want some free days out learning and I'll se if they can take you out .
john

[PabloNeruda]

Hi jsm.
That would be excellent, thank you very much. I live in Grays, so can travel anywhere really. My number is 01375 391314 or 07887 521251.
Thanks again
Phil.

[jsm]

hi phil , see you after some training ,
I sold my round to Brett who used to work for me , give Brett a ring on 07773104883 and say john malone gave you this number , most of the work is basildon ( Kingswood ) and Billericay , Brent wood area .

Ask if you can tag along for some free training in exchange for some free labour .

he can only say yes or no !

JSM south east are all up running water fed poles as well,  so you can pick up some tips ,
hope this helps
john 

[PabloNeruda]

Thanks John, I've given him a buzz and he's hopefully going to let me know soon, he's just got to check it's ok with his partner, but doeasn't see a problem. Much appreciated mate.
Phil.