[S.C.S]

Just thought id get the opinion of all you lot ive been a window cleaner since i was 10 my dad learnt me and went from there i now run my own round with 3 lads working for me but ive always use the mop and blade and so do all the lads who work for me.
But im 50 / 50 on changeing to wfp like most of you but ive had good reports and bad reports so whatever this vote does most i will stick with.
So its down to you lot!!!

[H h20]

wfp can still be an "extra" tool it doesn`t have to be classed as a change over there are guys on here who use ladders and wfp,so you can add a wfp to your exsisting kit and be able to tackle almost anything,Gaz.

[windows_chepstow]

wfp can still be an "extra" tool it doesn`t have to be classed as a change over there are guys on here who use ladders and wfp,so you can add a wfp to your exsisting kit and be able to tackle almost anything,Gaz.

Gaz has eloquently summed it up.  I've been using WFP for over two weeks now and it's brilliant for those large and/or difficult accounts. 

I'm now actively seeking work which has loads of first and second floor windows.  Stuff which is great for WFP and you can 'charge'.

Bungalows used to be my favourate; but not anymore.

But for certain small accounts, I find it quicker to get the ladders out and use them.  For example I have around 20 accounts in a small council estate; each job £5 or £6; but each house only has four windows and two doors.  Two simple windows front and rear.  Wor Lass and I can knock six out per hour.  So good money by our standards.

Rather than drag the hose around each house, I find it's quicker just to use a ladder.

But for bigger jobs with lots of first floor windows; WFP wins hands-down.

[Paul Hughes]

Hi,
I would say you should give it a go.
It doesnt have to be expensive to set up, Kit out a van yourself Tank, pump, pole and hose.
Buy your water from other window cleaners so you dont have the added cost of purifiying and if you find its not for you then
it wont have cost to much.
Hope that swayed you to 51%

Regards

Paul

[neil100]

Hi,

I've thought about this all year.

I know 10 lads who are mates, all w/cleaners, some from other parts of the country,But I am the eighth one who is switching over to wfp.

ITs taken me a long time to decide because i've done traditional since 1980.The two who have not changed have been doing traditional w/c longer.

I'm still not convinced wfp is as good as traditional w/c. I dont think it will wfp will ever be as good. But it is safer.

If I hate wfp cleaning after 6 months, I will do wfp tops only and the rest traditional.

That way I wont waste all the money I'm investing in it.

Nel

[S.C.S]

Thanks for the replys so far yeah i understand what most of you are saying i can have it as an extra tool cause to be honest ive just picked up 14 townhouses and there 3 storey and i use a ladder and its scary and i mean very scary and for the sake of £15.00 each is it worth 12 months with broken legs or even my life i think not....

To be honest i think i might consider kitting one of my vans (my van) out then taking it from there see how it goes with just the one at the moment.


One thing that put me off i was watching a guy last week and he was using wfp on this brand new house you no the sort with the yellow brick under the window well after he had finished water had run all down the wall of the house and it looked a right mess i no it drys and goes of course it just was the first look thinks christ look at the state that leaves ( i understand it goes )
Maybe that was just him i think i ought to look into this alot more.

Its my grandads and dads fault haha they dont belive in new stuff they both window cleaners by grandad still cleans now and he is 78 hes got 27 houses and he cleans them the way they would in hes day a shammy and dry cloth MAD!!!!

[dai]

Been traditional for 12 years now, allthough I did work as a w/c back in the 1950's. Made myself a trolley system and have been using it for 2 months. It is another tool in the box but by far the most important one.
I have never had a problem working off ladders. I fitted a stabliser bar When I first started and that ladder has never slipped once.
 Having got a WFP system I find I don't want to go up ladders any more.
I was never worried about the safety aspect with ladders, but now I have the pole I just resent using them. As the above posts have said there are some jobs where it is quicker to use a ladder, but with a trolley or backpack system not many.
Had a trad guy come looking for me the other day. He wanted to inspect the WFP work first hand. Having heard about spots and smears left by some other guys using one. He left well impressed.
He said "they [the widows]are perfect, I'm going to get one".
As has been said many times before, it's as easy to do a crap job with WFP as it is with a squeegy. Get your technique right and it will do as good, or better a job than traditional. Go for it you will never regret it.
The guys that got into WFP YEARS AGO HAVE REALLY CLEANED UP ON COMMERCIAL WORK. If you wait till everyone has one you will have missed out. DAI

[Grafters Cleaning Services]

go wfp for safety reasons if nothing else

i've been doing for 8-9 months now and i won't go back to ladders

[Sarah Sarill]

go wfp for safety reasons if nothing else

i've been doing for 8-9 months now and i won't go back to ladders

I agree.  Safer, faster and can increase your earnings - enough said 

Sarah

[S.C.S]

Looing at all these posts on this i think i no whats gonna win haha nice one

[matt]

wfp on the upstairs for me

i WILL NEVER go back to ladders, i still have them, as i have to get them off the car FOUR times on my round, just to get onto flat roofs (and i am considering not doing them)

[Andrew McCann]

I changed over, or rather added WFP as a tool 5 months ago.

My reason was simply safety. I wasn't looking for any other benefit. I do all first floor upwards with WFP and all of the property if it's georgian ( with decent paintwork) and leaded.

Haven't lost one customer due to the change and am now at least 30% faster. And in my opinion 100% safer. Like Dia says its like any other tool. Use it badly, try to cut corners etc and you will get bad results. Use it correctly and the results are excellent.

I was talking a few days ago to another WC in this area who made the change over 3 years ago. He hasn't looked back since and makes VERY good money. Again like Dia says he has cleaned up (scuse the pun ) on good commercial work around here.

No way would I go back to ladders for all work. I still use them for access but that's about it.

Oh yes.. and I use my creation.. the Pure Freedom system. Well.. I looked around and decided I needed something specifically designed to do the job a regular window cleaner does.

Andrew

[P @ F]

Same as Andrew , 30 % faster , today i went up a ladder for the first time in 2 months , come to think of it , it was the first time  i had picked up the mop for the past 2 months , outsides that is , call me lazy , but hey !

 Rich P @ F

[AuRavelling79]

In February, after 10 years trad. I bought a trolley system and modified it slightly and all in it was less than £1500 including R/O unit, pole and storage. Matt could do it on self build for a half of that.

I still use my estate car and 200 litres lasts me all day on 9 days out of ten.

Now 85% of my work is pole. Arguably 98% could be. I sometimes do doors and patios the old way.

On UPVC and well painted wood the finish is superior to traditional.
It is vastly safer.
It is appreciably quicker once you get the hang of it (about 3 months)
I am less tired at the end of a full day. (I'm not constantly lifting 13 stones of me up ladders between 70 and 100 times a day anymore.)

I no longer fear being in my fifties (and if necessary) sixties and being a window cleaner.

[REVIVE-A-DRIVE]

i pick up some work a week ago,

the old window had been doing these for 30 years, he fell  from the ladder and died just 3-4 months ago.

all these clients are glad of the wfp system

[Sarah Sarill]

I no longer fear being in my fifties (and if necessary) sixties and being a window cleaner.

Good point Malc,

It does make our industry a long term and viable career as you could work as long as the arm power permits now !!!

Would not like the thought of my hubby climbing a ladder in his 60's.  So all hail the wfp.

Regards,

Sarah

Ps: AS we have picked up new work we have stopped cleaning any properties that need the ladder for access (over garages etc) too.  We are almost fully wfp and once my gutter lance arrives they will be sent to the big graveyard in the sky.   

[Londoner]

Twenty years ago I used to work with a bloke called John. Two years ago his son fell off a ladder and died of head injuries about a week later.
The thing is it wasn't a big fall if you understand what i am saying. It was just a routine sort of job but he slipped, simple as that.
Even if you don't go over 100% a WFP has got to be a step in the right direction. Its not that expensive and it might just save your life.

[S.C.S]

To be fair i can understand where most of you are coming from i myself have fell of the ladder once not that bad just a feww scratches but ladder no good had to replace and the other i slid of a slopping roof you no the sort with green muck on well if i was using

[S.C.S]

sorry about that pushed wrong button.....

using WFP i wouldnt have that problem would i and to be honest now the winter is coming i hate going up the ladder..

[Londoner]

I've already said this on another posting but yesterday I pulled up and watched two guys cleaning the windows on a block of flats with a big van mounted WFP system.
The speed that they were getting through the work was something to watch.
You may understand what i mean when I say it was a real eye opener
I've seen demos but watching two guys who knew what they were doing cleaning second floor windows  quicker than I could do ground floor windows really brings it home.
The commercial potential for these systems is something we haven't really got into on this forum yet.