[hank jr]

Hi all, I've been window cleaning for 10 years now, been doing water fed pole for just over 2 years. I've been wondering whether to leave window cleaning altogether lately just through boredom really.

Maybe if I offer more servcies it will stop the boredom by mixing things up a bit for me.

So....were do you reckon is the best place to spend 2K ? A good pressure washer or a skyvac?

Which makes you the most money? Which one gets used more?

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Either. Once you have tried both these jobs a few times you will be glad to stick to just wc 

[Splash & dash]

We do both add ons gutter vaccing brings in more money overall  is easier with regards to humping heavy kit around , pressure washing is ok but where I am doesn’t bring in the same amount of money

[hank jr]

Either. Once you have tried both these jobs a few times you will be glad to stick to just wc 

Ha Ha really! Gutter cleaning is easy money! Cant comment on power washing....

[Smudger]

Depends on the pressure washing work - can bring in really good money if you develope your services for brick cleaning and roof work

Gutter clearing will bring in cash quite quickly and again if you get more work in commercial will have big hits

Both services can bring in money in a single day that takes a week to lick Windows

I'd not spend 2K with sky vac - play it smart and you could get both a decent pw and vac for your 2k

Darran

[Mike Halliday]

I do both and I find pressure washing has a higher hourly rate and bigger job values than gutter cleaning (but this is to do with my pricing structure than the actual job) From April -sept the demand for pressure washing is much higher, although right now we are only getting gutter cleaning calls.

I wouldn’t spend £2k on equipment for cleaning gutters especially if I had a full set of ladders On the van

I would buy a pressure washer.

[hank jr]

Depends on the pressure washing work - can bring in really good money if you develope your services for brick cleaning and roof work

Gutter clearing will bring in cash quite quickly and again if you get more work in commercial will have big hits

Both services can bring in money in a single day that takes a week to lick Windows

I'd not spend 2K with sky vac - play it smart and you could get both a decent pw and vac for your 2k

Darran

Do you mean 2nd hand? Ive looked on Ebay for 2nd hand skyvacs , but I think if your going to buy one you might aswell get the 40ft one which around £1200 - £1500 if im not mistaken 

[hank jr]

I do both and I find pressure washing has a higher hourly rate and bigger job values than gutter cleaning (but this is to do with my pricing structure than the actual job) From April -sept the demand for pressure washing is much higher, although right now we are only getting gutter cleaning calls.

I wouldn’t spend £2k on equipment for cleaning gutters especially if I had a full set of ladders On the van

I would buy a pressure washer.

I do have ladders on the roof but ideally I need bigger ladders. Some of the gutter jobs i've been asked to do in the past, my ladders haven't been long enough.

So you wold buy pressure washer and do gutters off a ladder.

[Mike Halliday]

I have 2 quad vac gutter machines and  a massive petrol engine gutter vac and I still do 80% of gutter jobs off ladders.  But then I carry a full set of ladders, if I only carried a gutter vac then I would use that 100% of the time..... but then what choice would I have

[Dry Clean]

A gutter vac will not remove the need for ladders plus its more looking up and putting strain on the neck which I want less off, so for me it would be a pressure washer every time.

[Smudger]

no - not talking second hand - all new - sky vac is overpriced - start off with a system that costs less - email me and ill go through it for you

Darran

[Kev Martin]

We do a really powerful gutter vac for around £400.  It 3 x 1000 watt motors with a 50mm inlet.  We don’t bother doing the poles and leave that up to you.  One of the best vacs around been supplying them now for over 13 years.

[nathankaye]

Hiya, hows it gone over the 2 yrs since youve switched?

I would do both but perhaps concentrate on pressure washing if you know theres a market in your area for it, as in good prices.  You will easily make your money back.
Rutland pumps is a good starting point.   I believe around 1500 if memory serves well (or a bit more) will get you a good machine between 15 - 21 lpm with good specs, turbo and perhaps a fsc on top.
Then research well or try a course, but perhaps research and gain knowledge on the general cleaning part of this forum.  Yet dont mention your a window cleaner lol, they tend not to like that.

I was thinking of gutter vac as I had an awkward gutter clean the other day.  This particular roof over hang came out as far as the bay window and my ladders didnt have the height for that. (Whereas on normal house a stand away would have worked well.) Yet you then have to think of a power source if customers are not in and so a generator would be required which ups the price.

[deeege]

If you’re a one man band I wouldn’t bother with pressure washing or gutter vacs. You should be able to earn enough money just by window cleaning. Spend the £2k on a holiday or a hobby and learn to enjoy life.

[Stoots]

Get both

https://jetmac.co.uk/shop?olsPage=products%2Floncin-14-horse-power-tornado-package-huge-output-21-litres-minute&page=2

https://www.guttercleaningsystems.co.uk/product/carbon-fibre-composite-gutter-vacuum-3000-watt-30ft/

Or you could pick up second hand stuff much cheaper.

I bought my 3000w vac and poles for 300 and I had a gx390 with whirlaway for 600.

However if you must get one I would go with gutters this time of year and think about pw come spring.

Having said that if you are a one man band it's not worth the faff. Window cleaning is regular work stuff like this needs constant advertising to fill your diary.

I've done car valeting, pw, gutters and carpet cleaning. Bought and sold the lot to stick with windows. More consistent income, no van full of crap and cheaper.

[hank jr]

Hiya, hows it gone over the 2 yrs since youve switched?

I would do both but perhaps concentrate on pressure washing if you know theres a market in your area for it, as in good prices.  You will easily make your money back.
Rutland pumps is a good starting point.   I believe around 1500 if memory serves well (or a bit more) will get you a good machine between 15 - 21 lpm with good specs, turbo and perhaps a fsc on top.
Then research well or try a course, but perhaps research and gain knowledge on the general cleaning part of this forum.  Yet dont mention your a window cleaner lol, they tend not to like that.

I was thinking of gutter vac as I had an awkward gutter clean the other day.  This particular roof over hang came out as far as the bay window and my ladders didnt have the height for that. (Whereas on normal house a stand away would have worked well.) Yet you then have to think of a power source if customers are not in and so a generator would be required which ups the price.

Hi Nathan, I'm all good mate thanks for asking. Wow were did two years go?

Anyway, the wfp was a good swap for grad ha ha, I don't think I'd like to go back to doing grad after using the brush.

I just want to change things up a bit for the new year.

Good point about the power supply if customer's sent home. Sod buying a generator as well.

I've had awkward gutter jobs that I couldn't do off the ladder in the past were a vac would of been able to get it....

How's your window empire?

[hank jr]

If you’re a one man band I wouldn’t bother with pressure washing or gutter vacs. You should be able to earn enough money just by window cleaning. Spend the £2k on a holiday or a hobby and learn to enjoy life.

I am a one man band....seems a lot easier that way ha ha. Less stress. I find I get bored cleaning windows all the time. A change is always good....

[hank jr]

Get both

https://jetmac.co.uk/shop?olsPage=products%2Floncin-14-horse-power-tornado-package-huge-output-21-litres-minute&page=2

https://www.guttercleaningsystems.co.uk/product/carbon-fibre-composite-gutter-vacuum-3000-watt-30ft/

Or you could pick up second hand stuff much cheaper.

I bought my 3000w vac and poles for 300 and I had a gx390 with whirlaway for 600.

However if you must get one I would go with gutters this time of year and think about pw come spring.

Having said that if you are a one man band it's not worth the faff. Window cleaning is regular work stuff like this needs constant advertising to fill your diary.

I've done car valeting, pw, gutters and carpet cleaning. Bought and sold the lot to stick with windows. More consistent income, no van full of crap and cheaper.

That's an interesting answer. You've done it all and gone back to windows. Must be quite tough getting work then.

The gutter vac looks decent and half the price of a skyvac, and the pressure washing set up looks decent too. Thanks for sharing

[hank jr]

A gutter vac will not remove the need for ladders plus its more looking up and putting strain on the neck which I want less off, so for me it would be a pressure washer every time.

Didn't think of the looking up factor to it....good call! Get enough of that on the windows! And yes your neck does ache when you've done it long enough.

The pressure washer is looking like the winner here. I'm planning early for the new year....

[Stoots]

Get both

https://jetmac.co.uk/shop?olsPage=products%2Floncin-14-horse-power-tornado-package-huge-output-21-litres-minute&page=2

https://www.guttercleaningsystems.co.uk/product/carbon-fibre-composite-gutter-vacuum-3000-watt-30ft/

Or you could pick up second hand stuff much cheaper.

I bought my 3000w vac and poles for 300 and I had a gx390 with whirlaway for 600.

However if you must get one I would go with gutters this time of year and think about pw come spring.

Having said that if you are a one man band it's not worth the faff. Window cleaning is regular work stuff like this needs constant advertising to fill your diary.

I've done car valeting, pw, gutters and carpet cleaning. Bought and sold the lot to stick with windows. More consistent income, no van full of crap and cheaper.

That's an interesting answer. You've done it all and gone back to windows. Must be quite tough getting work then.

The gutter vac looks decent and half the price of a skyvac, and the pressure washing set up looks decent too. Thanks for sharing

I wouldn't say tough so much but what I mean is once you are full with Windows it's easy. You have work everyday, you don't really need to advertise and you just turn up and clean. It runs itself to an extent.

If you are pushing add on work, some will come without doing much but you need to be proactive with advertising and you have to go out to quote and book jobs in on certain days etc.

Then you have loads of clutter in the van, pw and gutters is a filthy job and quite often the van will be plastered in shyte.

I just found windows more reliable, consistent and hassle free.