[Ben Peters]

Done my first gutter clean on Friday past using ladder and elbow grease...the gutters were full and over flowing with grass and weeds and the white pvc has baked on algae as well on all the down pipes...took a good while to empty the gutters and was careful not to move and roof tiles which could of easily been done! then onto cleaning the gutters and down pipes, tried soaking and scrubbing but with little effect so basically pre-sprayed them with hot water mixed with an alkaline detergent and with elbow grease got them like new.

It really got me thinking about these gutter vacs, would a gutter be able to cope with that kind of build up in the gutters or would you still be up the ladder taking most of it out? how effective is the wfp cleaning method on the gutters fasic etc? To be honest i really cant imagine how i would of done as good a job as the hands on approach with the cleaning i done but i stand to be corrected 

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

You could well be correct that this kind of job would be more difficult or even impossible to get the same results as you got from them.

My only thought is that having 20+ years as a window cleaner I wouldn't put in the effort to work as you did. I would choose my jobs and only take on really easy well paid work that took little effort.

IOW. I'm selective on the work I take on.

Well done, and 'thank the Lord' for newbies. 

[michael papworth]

I'm with Derbyshire's best window cleaner here.

Simple rule: Only take on work that is (i) easy to do and (ii) well-paid.

Leave other work to other people. I've turned down quite a few gutter jobs because they're over conservatories and just too much effort.

Sure, I  work hard and I enjoy putting a bit of physical effort into the job ... but I know the limits of what I'll do.

[Ste M]

this is something i dont undersatnd about some people on here, i would rather be earning anything than nothing, customers will only take you dropping them and also refusing work or over charging them for so long, it wont take long till someone finds out how much you want to charge and will offer to do it for half price, ok this may not bother you at first but it will after a while when they start to take loads of work off you and they can do a good job. Yes it is possible to do a good job for half the price.

If you can charge really high money and get away with it then great, just dont have a go at others who will do the same job for less, he may have less overheads and his profits may actually be more than yours.

Well done mate, keep up the hard work, if its as bad as you say then the customer will be made up and tell her friends.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

this is something i dont undersatnd about some people on here, i would rather be earning anything than nothing, customers will only take you dropping them and also refusing work or over charging them for so long, This is true to some extent, although I have limited experience of this happening to me personally, if and when this happens I find someone else to fill their place

it wont take long till someone finds out how much you want to charge and will offer to do it for half price, ok this may not bother you at first but it will after a while when they start to take loads of work off you and they can do a good job. Yes it is possible to do a good job for half the price.Our friend never talked about price, he may well have done well out of the deal. I applaud him for his hard work.

If you can charge really high money and get away with it then great, just dont have a go at others who will do the same job for less, I didn't have a go at him and if he feels that I did I apologise. Again no-one said he did it on the cheap.

he may have less overheads and his profits may actually be more than yours.Do you have a problem with prices?

Well done mate, keep up the hard work, if its as bad as you say then the customer will be made up and tell her friends. I agree as it's your first you did the right thing by making a cracking good job, tell her to recommend you as a favour. I always spend longer on any first clean even if it means spending more time than I intended.

[rg1]

I use a guttervac and it can be hard work, but it does the job however full the gutters are. The plus sides to the guttervac are:

1) (the most obvious) You don't need ladders
2) You can reach inacessible areas
3) No mess or spillage onto customers garden or patio etc which would take time at the end to clear up.

[Ste M]

this is something i dont undersatnd about some people on here, i would rather be earning anything than nothing, customers will only take you dropping them and also refusing work or over charging them for so long, This is true to some extent, although I have limited experience of this happening to me personally, if and when this happens I find someone else to fill their placedont get me wrong here, and im not trying to start an argument, but is there really that much work about that you can drop someone and then pick up someone else?

it wont take long till someone finds out how much you want to charge and will offer to do it for half price, ok this may not bother you at first but it will after a while when they start to take loads of work off you and they can do a good job. Yes it is possible to do a good job for half the price.Our friend never talked about price, he may well have done well out of the deal. I applaud him for his hard work.

If you can charge really high money and get away with it then great, just dont have a go at others who will do the same job for less, I didn't have a go at him and if he feels that I did I apologise. Again no-one said he did it on the cheap.

he may have less overheads and his profits may actually be more than yours.Do you have a problem with prices?my prices are very good and i earn what i need to as good as every hour that i work. its just that some people constantly go on about how much they earn or charge on every job and then when people comment on it and say its too much they get all defensive

Well done mate, keep up the hard work, if its as bad as you say then the customer will be made up and tell her friends. I agree as it's your first you did the right thing by making a cracking good job, tell her to recommend you as a favour. I always spend longer on any first clean even if it means spending more time than I intended.

same her, i spend at least four times as long on a first clean. make sure its right and the next time will be much easier

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

Gutter vac is clearly the way forward. How do you get on when the guttering is tight to the slates/tiles?

 

[cleewindows]

Change the nozzle on the vac!!!!

Gutter vac is clearly the way forward. How do you get on when the guttering is tight to the slates/tiles?

 

[michael papworth]

this is something i dont undersatnd about some people on here, i would rather be earning anything than nothing, customers will only take you dropping them and also refusing work or over charging them for so long, it wont take long till someone finds out how much you want to charge and will offer to do it for half price, ok this may not bother you at first but it will after a while when they start to take loads of work off you and they can do a good job. Yes it is possible to do a good job for half the price.

If you can charge really high money and get away with it then great, just dont have a go at others who will do the same job for less, he may have less overheads and his profits may actually be more than yours.

Well done mate, keep up the hard work, if its as bad as you say then the customer will be made up and tell her friends.

Is this aimed at me?

We're all different - it's called diversity and it applies to window cleaners just as much as to Somali refugees.

I'm 58 years old and I really don't want to be challenging my body more than I need to. Because of this, I'm selective about the work I accept. It's as simple as that. There's no suggestion of better or worse or anything like that.

I'm not having a go. It's not in my nature to do that.

Having read the post, I can understand how you might have read it that way. That's my fault. It wasn't meant to disrespect or slight anyone.

If you read my posts, you'll find that, (apart from idle chit-chat) in the main, they do one of three things:

* They give sound advice according to my modest experience.

* The salute and applaud other people's work.

* They give scientific or technical information.

 You'll NEVER find me dissing anyone.

[dazmond]

im only 38 but ive spent 16 years doing window cleaning and crappy gutter jobs!i point blank refuse to do gutter clearing jobs anymore as i have a full round.i do take on outside gutter cleans/fascia/soffit/conny roofs though.but im keeping the ladder work to a minimum!pole/brush on custys outside tap!

when your well established you can pick and chose your work more!also you know which jobs are a nightmare to do and how much you want for the hassle of taking you away from your regular window cleaning work.

when you havent got much work you ll do anything! i know ive done it in the past!

best wishes to you all

dazmond

[Richy L]

I find gutter cleaning jobs are much faster money than window cleaning
... and they are all-weather work!

[sunshine windows]

My rule No.1:  Never turn down work as you'll let someone else get their foot into your door. Price it accordingly instead.

[AuRavelling79]

>Ben Peters

Sounds like you did a good job. How lucrative was it and how long did it take?

[Wizard]

Come come, chaps Wally is a great guy so lets not get up his nose. He is a asset to this forum and a very knowledgeable gent so, respect man. One day he will answer the most difficult questions and save you neck. I for one respect the man from his many posting of pure depth of his knowledge. Keep up the good work Wally.

[rg1]

Gutter vac is clearly the way forward. How do you get on when the guttering is tight to the slates/tiles?

 

Make a smaller bore end piece to fit in the gap. Tried and tested, works all day apart from when the gutters are full of leaves. You may encounter the odd blockage.

[rg1]

I find gutter cleaning jobs are much faster money than window cleaning
... and they are all-weather work!

Yes they are, but not as regular as window cleaning which is a shame.

[Ste M]

this is something i dont undersatnd about some people on here, i would rather be earning anything than nothing, customers will only take you dropping them and also refusing work or over charging them for so long, it wont take long till someone finds out how much you want to charge and will offer to do it for half price, ok this may not bother you at first but it will after a while when they start to take loads of work off you and they can do a good job. Yes it is possible to do a good job for half the price.

If you can charge really high money and get away with it then great, just dont have a go at others who will do the same job for less, he may have less overheads and his profits may actually be more than yours.

Well done mate, keep up the hard work, if its as bad as you say then the customer will be made up and tell her friends.

Is this aimed at me?

We're all different - it's called diversity and it applies to window cleaners just as much as to Somali refugees.

I'm 58 years old and I really don't want to be challenging my body more than I need to. Because of this, I'm selective about the work I accept. It's as simple as that. There's no suggestion of better or worse or anything like that.

I'm not having a go. It's not in my nature to do that.

Having read the post, I can understand how you might have read it that way. That's my fault. It wasn't meant to disrespect or slight anyone.

If you read my posts, you'll find that, (apart from idle chit-chat) in the main, they do one of three things:

* They give sound advice according to my modest experience.

* The salute and applaud other people's work.

* They give scientific or technical information.

 You'll NEVER find me dissing anyone.

sorry wally it was taken out of context, for that i apoligise. 

[Ben Peters]

wasnt expecting so many replies so quick!

Yeah at the moment i would take any job on, be it priced sensibley! i must really see one of these gutter vacs in operation on a really bad clogged up gutters! wish i had took some pics so i could show off

The job i done took about 2 hours altogether and i charged £65 with a very happy customer who has this morning called me and is looking a suite of furniture cleaned and some carpets cleaned so happy days!

[davaw]

I use a guttervac and it can be hard work, but it does the job however full the gutters are. The plus sides to the guttervac are:

1) (the most obvious) You don't need ladders
2) You can reach inacessible areas
3) No mess or spillage onto customers garden or patio etc which would take time at the end to clear up.

hi im just starting up doing utters and dont no wether to buy the omni vac or the cheap ine on ebay for 500 but if i bought that have you any ideas how i can jet the guters or any were i can buy the same thing as the omnivac does for cleaning and the camera part let me no mate or anywere ill find a second hand one