[Andrew Briscoe]

  Hi everyone,
       i operate a cleaning business and clean everything
except windows (apart from internal) .
My question is can windows (build clean) be cleaned with a wfp system or due you still have to use ladders.

   Ihave tried to sub out this work but no one wants it, i was wondering if i purchased a wfp system i could possibly have one of my staff trained to complete the work. I generally
clean 100-200 new homes a year and wondered if it was worth getting wfp
 
  Please be aware i know nothing about wfp systems, so any help would be greatfull thanks

  Andrew.
       

[steve m]

hi andrew
              I do builders cleans for a cleaning company and to be quit honest no. The main reason is all the plasic tapes have to be removed as well as any cement thats on the windows, silicon sealant if they've used a slap-dash mastic man etc. I do the re-cleans and sparkles by wfp.

[Andrew Briscoe]

  Thanks Steve,
   looks like investing in ladders, which is what i was trying to keep away from.
 Houses we did today had no tape on , but a couple of stickers
which i was able to remove from inside.
   Does the cement and plaster damage the brushes as well as the glass.

  Andrew

[steve m]

no but the cement doesnt budge. I thought I was on to a winner the first time I turned up on site with my wfp, but that quickly changed when I had to go home to get my ladders

     

[Easyclean Windows]

I dont klnow many building companys who still use window cleaners on ladders? especially for builders cleans as scrapping away cement etc etc must constitute working at height as you are on a ladder for periods of time which must break WAHD? most i know only use platforms to do this.Also save them money and tell them youll paint the windows prior to them getting caked in cement etc then you go back and peel it all off.

[steve m]

most of the time I'm contracted by the cleaning company that won the contract from the main contractor so by the time I am told about the clean the windows are in and all but the landscaping is finished. Once the main builders clean is done I use wfp, but otherwise its ladders unless three stories or above then its a cherry picker

[crystal.clear]

i have heard that the ionics new hot water pole system can get rid of cement and stickers but dont hold me to that

[Extremeclean]

Builders cleans are highly specialised.

With the correct equipment and skillls coupled with air tight terms and conditions in the contracts to protect all parties concerned they are nothing to fear. I sub contract a great deal of general window cleaning out however builders cleans are always carried out by my own staff who are well trained in them.

There are instances in which WFP's can be used but in general you need to use other means.

[steve m]

the main reason I dont use wfp on builders cleans is that I find them a very good payer for what they are,and to make sur I dont lose the work I make sure I'm face on to the window to ensure a good clean.

[pjulk]

We are at the moment doing loads builders cleans and maintainence cleans and will be for the next 18 months.
Not full builders cleans just the windows.
Been doing them today until 9.30pm

The company i am doing the work for does not allow ladders and i have been getting excellent results with WFP.

The tape on the frame is no problem just open the window and pull it.
It comes off easily.
The stickers on the windows are easy to get off also.
9 times out of 10 open a window and most modern windows are designed so you can clean both side so just wet the stickers and take off with scraper.

Some windows we can't get the stickers this way so we soak them with WFP and wait a while then go back and wash again they come off easily.
If some glue is still there dip your brush in some tfr put on window leave to soak and wash off.

We get very little cement or mastic on the windows but the few we do we just use a scraper on a pole.

Paul

[steve m]

one of the companies I clean for gets their work from a MAJOR national contractor, and just one of the contracts from them is running for the next four and a half years. Half of the the trades come from a variouse part of east europe,and you want to see the mess they can leave. If I was doing most of the scraping and peeling from the inside the times would double and the pay rate just wouldnt be worth the effort

[Andrew Briscoe]

  Thanks for all the reply's chaps.
I have found when a builder has removed the odd sticker, by the time we get around to clean the ones that have been removed they  are a lot easier to clean, perhaps the sun dries out the glue.

    Paul Griffin. What is tfr, is it traffic film remover, and where can it be purchased.

   Still thinking of buying wfp, have a vehicle so might look for a second hand system, it would have to fit into a Fiat Doblo.
Can anyone recomend a system, or have something for sale.

Thanks Andrew.