[andrew hamshare]

Hello all,

I am new, as in new to the sport of window cleaning.

I've spent a good while shadowing my cousin (est 20+ years) using the trad method am due to canvass this coming week.  Naturally, I have a few questions but as mrs h has pointed out (22 years of 'pointing things out' to me makes her an expert 'pointer out'), I am a procrastinator.  Hence, I am past the point of no return and have licked my pencil in readiness.

Question:
I'm a keen DIY'er. 
I could follow my mentor's advice and promote myself as 'Your Local TRADITIONAL Window Cleaner or I could use what meagre funds I have to make one of the DIY wfp systems and avoid changing at a later date.

Worth mentioning that my target area is basically a foundation round of older terraces (some direct onto road or small pavement) supplemented with a handful of conservation area properties.

I'm so taken with what I have read and seen about wfp's that I just know that I have to have one.  Going on the premise that I acquire kit for the most difficult jobs ie. narrow streets, proper leaded windows, some really filthy atm, what would people recommend.

Appreciation in anticipation.

hamster

[keyser soze]

welcome to the forum
if you are a keen diyer then follow my footsteps and install yourself . save money which is important when first starting out. i spent about 1500 on the frame.tank, filters,pumps. reel and hose etc... the only thing i would recommend would be to get a pro to bolt the tank down . (for safety reasons). the rest is easy tbh i went the diy route and a mate went down the pure freedom route and spent about 7500 for a hot system .he borrowed that so got the interest to sort out as well not a good idea imho. yeah go that route when you are established and earning well but its hard to get a well established round.so start cheap get earning and when you have spare money update your equipment...  im about ready for a 2nd pump and reel to make it a 2 man set up ive been at it since dec 2011

andy

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

Ive been window cleaning for over 8 years. Only in the last month n half have I turned WFP, and I really do wish I done it sooner. I have made my own DIY system in the back of my van and it works great.
You will find lots of advice on this forum, and had I not asked questions on here, I would not be in the position I am now.

James

[andrew hamshare]

My neighborhood would definitely rule out a van based set-up, not just for maneuverability but also parking my car round here is bad enough.  For that reason alone I want a trolley-styled system. 

I've read a couple of DIY forums and tbh many posters talk in jargon which I don't follow tbh.  Anyone know a site that keeps it simple and in layman's terms?  I want to utilise my sturdy professional grade sack truck and my nipper can weld so that negates one of the costs. 

I have a decent one of those vehicle jump starters which I assume will be ample for a couple of hours cleaning at a time with what I see as a major benefit of recharging overnight simply, it's also very neat.

Main thing I am after at this moment in time is a shopping list.

I have thus far:
Ladders, mops, squegee, bucketonbelt, bucket, scrim, 17ft extendable aluminum pole, time on my hands and enthusiasm.

[PurefectWindowCleaning]

Are you after a basic list for traditional or wfp?

[andrew hamshare]

I should add that I live central to my intended round and really don't* mind going back and forth to home to replenish or change water tanks.  

*Reason being that I have to pee regularly due to a health issue, I don't personally see it as that 'professional' to keep using customers loos so popping home is the ideal solution.  I also prefer a cooked dinner to sarnies, I tend to eat sarnies mid morning too.

I fully appreciate that some of you work damned hard and reap the rewards but I really and truly just want a nice little round that I can poodle around on, my days of working all the hours chasing the illusive shiny car and exotic holidays are well behind me, I lead a simple life and have simple tastes.

[andrew hamshare]

Are you after a basic list for traditional or wfp?

Basic for making my own WFP, to include the diy water purification please James.

[William McCafferty]

hampster

I would forget about a trolley, but instead go for a backpack, most trolleys only hold 25 litres of water while a backpack holds 18.

You can buy 3 or 4 backpacks for the same price it cost you for one trolley.

If going back to the car/van to keep on refilling is a problem, then you can use a garden trolley that carrys your water for you, these only cost about £120 but they can carry 8 x 25litre water containers plus a small hose reel, you can even fit a pump and battery to them, so you now have a small van mount, but without the van.

This is an ideal setup where you need plenty of water but cannot find parking space, I started this way and i still have my trolley (Big Bertha)

[andrew hamshare]

PureHYDRO, I like the sound of that, is this backpack the sort you'd recomend?
http://www.omnipole.com/omnipole_backpack.htm

It looks as though it is self-contained with integral power and pump.

What about fittings?  I assume standard microbore?

[William McCafferty]

Hi Hampster

No

Try gardiners, they have just brought out a backpack which is half that price and their aftercare service is second to none.

Fittings depends on your preferences.

if you want call me and I will try and talk you though some stages you will encounter.

0790 156 6541

William

[andrew hamshare]

Hi Hampster

No

Try gardiners, they have just brought out a backpack which is half that price and their aftercare service is second to none.

Fittings depends on your preferences.

if you want call me and I will try and talk you though some stages you will encounter.

0790 156 6541

William

Blimey, that's very generous of you.

Thank you
Andrew

[AuRavelling79]

Get a folding sack truck to put the backpack on.

[dazmond]

get off that hamsters wheel and knock some doors hamster!!!

i would say van mount from the start mate if your going to be wfp.its simply a waste of time and effort with a trolley as its time consuming and harder work plus you run the risk of a back injury lugging barrels about.a trolley hooked up to a tank would be ok then  if you needed the trolley to clean backs of terraced houses you could disconnect it.best of both worlds then.

for a cheap start a backpack on sack truck would be ok if you trad ground floor windows with a few barrels in a car if you cant afford a van then see how you go then upgrade at a later date.

if you want to take WFP window cleaning seriously then its got to be van mount from the start.dont worry too much about parking as 100m of microbore goes a long way.

best wishes


dazmond

[Dora Jarr]

He's not an 'xhamster', is he?     

[DG Cleaning]

Agree with Daz, I'd go van mount, what if you don't get many in your Target area you'll need to go further afield. I park up on one estate & do 2 streets of terraces front and back then do a cul de sac without moving the van, 100m of hose gets you all over. If you do get a van mount definitely diy, its a tank, pump, reel & battery so simple cost me peanuts (controller if you want as well but I haven't bothered)   

[EandM]

A Sport is an excellent description.

Battling against the elements and journeying into the unknown in a pick up with a fitted pole rack 

[andrew hamshare]

No Dora, I is not an ex hamster.

 After yesterday's music festival all dayer, Shepherd Neame's coffers are bulging now as is my head.

[roundbuilder]

In kent your target round of terrace houses is more than achievable. Dover is full of them, i did a few days canvassing margate/dover and ramsgate few years ago and got great responce. Just dont do that big estate by the imigration centre as full of messers. Id love to live by kent coast as so much work about.

[Ross Shorland]

Hi mate,
Sounds like if you were to nail down your target area then with a compact kit like a backpack you will get through those types of houses mega fast.
Have a look at this, it might give you a few tips:
http://www.roundpay.co.uk/blog/2012/10/how-to-start-your-own-water-fed-pole-system-on-a-bootstrap/

[richard jagger]

What`s your budget mate it would save you a lot of day dreaming AND FALSE HOPES.