[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Please excuse me if these questions have been asked before, but I have done a search and couldn't find my answers.

I've been window cleaning ( traditional)for just over a year now, and at the rate of customer growth I'm finding it difficult to keep up with my ever growing customer base.

I'm finding my days are getting longer, I'm getting home completely buggered.... and with the recent spell of bad weather getting stressed!!

I've built my round promoting the traditional technique, being reliable, and doing a half decent job.

However, with the speed, safety and the fact I wouldn't have lump a set of triple ladders around with me ... is VERY tempting.

I have a mixed  variety of houses ( about 150)mostly domestic. Some next to busy roads( can't park outside), some clumped together,  some stand alones, and some with tricky access.

Mixture of windows mostly UPVC, some wood, and a lot of Georgian ones.

I would greatly appreciate your advice as to wether I would beneifit from WFP.

I was looking at a trolley sysytem like http://www.alwindowsystems.co.uk/page.php?id=36.

What are your thoughts on this.

Do you REALLY get streak, smear free windows?

How long will it take me to achieve good results?

Is there much maintenance with these systems?

Are they reliable?

I nothing really about WFP, so any thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[MNWC]

Forget the that trolley get yourself a backpack  here -

http://www.cleantech.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=78

an 24 pole from http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/shop.html

and an RO from  http://www.ro-man.com/shop/product_info.php/cPath/22/products_id/34

Sorted

[d s windowcleaning]

trolley looks ok but you could just get a back pack and stand that on a trolley a lot cheaper too  as for the results with wfp ive never had any one complain all my custom say how much better it is than trad if i was you mate just go for it

[Helen]

Gofish, where are you based as some nicey person from your area may invite you to go out with them sometime to experience wfp first hand. Don't be fooled into thinking that wfp is quicker on all jobs as sometimes it isn't and sometimes just not suitable at all.

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Thanks folks.

I did wonder about a backpack, but have concerns to the low holding capacity, and fatigue due to weight to be carried, and loading and unloading it onto my back.

Just liked to look of the trolley system that's all.

What do you think?

I'm in Padstow, Cornwall Helen.

[NWH]

Your thoughts on the backpack are correct,it`s a good bit of kit for the odd house that has bad access.

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

so, it's between a back pack, and a trolley system.

I think I'm errring towards a trolley.

Is there anything else i should know about the two systems?

What should I be looking for?

Thanks again

[Alex Gardiner]

Go for a Van based system and 100 meters of microbore hose. You should be able to reach all of your customers with this set-up (we do). You will also eliminate all of the hard work that back-packers and trolley users have.

Have a look at this section on our website as it tries to answer most of the questions that a newcomer like yourself may have http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/How_to_get_started_with_a_pole_system.html

[matt]

Thanks folks.

I did wonder about a backpack, but have concerns to the low holding capacity, and fatigue due to weight to be carried, and loading and unloading it onto my back.

Just liked to look of the trolley system that's all.

What do you think?

I'm in Padstow, Cornwall Helen.

ref fatigue, stick it on a sack truck, you wont have to carry it

ref a trolley, i use a trolley, built myself and saved a packet

<------------ e.mail me for a link to the DIY site, build your own system for 500 quid ( ish )

Dave, it from st.ives, thats got to be fairly close, he might let you have a look at his 

[The Seven Bays Window Cleaning Company]

Go for a Van based system and 100 meters of microbore hose. You should be able to reach all of your customers with this set-up (we do). You will also eliminate all of the hard work that back-packers and trolley users have.

Have a look at this section on our website as it tries to answer most of the questions that a newcomer like yourself may have http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/How_to_get_started_with_a_pole_system.html

Good website, and answers a lot of my questions

I would opt for a van system, except my landy is my work truck, and family vehicle also - so having a in situ system is not practical at the moment.

I did wonder about a trailer system

 

[cat9921]

HI Goldfish

The trolly system that you are refering to is excellant. I have 2 of them, My advice is to speak to Allan he will not only show you the trolly but give you loads of WFP tips to set you up

One of my trollies is connected to the van and the other is free to move around. So these systems can be easily upgraded.. WELL RECOMENDED 

All the best

[jodan63]

hi gofish, i am from up the road from you near camelford. i  have been cleaning for about a year now, only part time as i own a newsagents ,which i am trying to sell. i am also thinking of going down the wfp road ,when i eventually sell my shop. Where abouts are you cleaning windows?

[Elgin Sparrowhawk]

By the looks of things your not far from mr gardiner, pay him a visit, let him show you the ropes buy your equipment from him,( I can recommend him) then build a trolley system for the akward ones, practice down at your local news agent and  he can see how it works and then everones happy. Job Sorted

[dazza]

with the system gofish is looking at, do you get everything you need to start you off?

[jeff1]

with the system gofish is looking at, do you get everything you need to start you off?

You get everything you need on the trolley and that is a Tank a pump with battery, and thats about it, you still need a pole/brush and a source of pure water.

So you'll need Ro-System or DI system (depending on your water softness) and a place to store your water, unless you go for the merlin or one of the big systems that will produce your water on demand.

[dazza]

are all trolley systems like that because i am thinking of buying one but wanted like a starter kit.

[jeff1]

are all trolley systems like that because i am thinking of buying one but wanted like a starter kit.

I think most of the suppliers of Trolley systems supply the RO-System and pole aas a complete package, I know purefreedom sell the whole package.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Got my gear from 'Pure Freedom' for the reason that for the moment I have no choice other than to work from my family car. Works well as you can see from the following pic. 5x25ltr containers and one 'Freedom trolley' in the trunk and two poles on the roof.



Mark

[karygate]

hi,i also have a freedom trolley. i have an almero tino and fit 9 barrels and my trolley in with ease. i have 30metres of hose and at 90% of my customers just put the trolley just outside the car , so do not even have to move it. got a flow valve and that helps a lot.

[dai]

It all depends on your round. I have my trusty DIY trolley that will carry up to 50 litres. I have a 25metre hose reel mounted on it. This is ideal for a really compact round. For the few stand alone jobs I use my backpack on a light weight shopping trolley frame, this has 10 metres of Algarde hose looped over the trolley handle.
I can use these with either the van, or the car with a trailer.
A van mount would not be suitable for some of my work. Dai