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Virgin WFPer Seeks Guidance.

dmw

Well-known member
Messages
864
Location
North Manchester
So, having been following your forum for the past few months and tradding for some 25 years I have revaluated my whole business. I have now decided to get a 350 litre van mount (looking at the wcw one C Rose has). Or new van and build. Anyway 25 years without hurting myself is pretty good, but now I want to future proof the round and myself or the next 20 odd years and invest in this .To be honest it's quite daunting so I'm looking at an April changeover ( this allows me to implement my March biannual increase) and with the worst of the weather and shorter days upon us this seems the most logical way to go ahead. One question I have for you guys is having to clean years of muck and fairy off the frames would it be wise to start wiping the said frames down now in preparation for the changeover? Anyway thanks for reading my essay, you seem a very helpful bunch. Darren.

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Hi mate, I am still quite new to WFP after switching from trad, although I still trad a fair few jobs. Let me tell you, I was sceptical at first but I now see how good WFP systems are. You'll be surprised how clean they can get the frames and glass, its truely astonishing.

My advice - never buy an aluminum pole. Yes they are cheap but they are cheap for a reason. They will murk your arms and you'll feel like you've been at the gym all day. Get an RO if your in a hard water area (look on window cleaning warehouse website and they explain all about ROs and DIs if you dont know what Im talking about). Get a backpack aswell. They are portable and easy to take out the van and round the back of houses. That way you dont have to worry about trailing hose lines and cars running over them.

Tell your trad customers that your changing methods and go over the glass extra to start with. This is because after all the years of tradding, there will be a thin layer of soap on the glass and this can react with the Pure Water at first, causing a few spots. Its happened to me. If your custys are loyal and sound people, they'll overlook it.

Hope it helped bud

 
magic sponge all the sills and magic sponge across the top of all the glass. Carry a bottle of pure water or just tap water and get all the frames, vents spotless. Keep them spotless until you swap over.

 
when you change over give them double clean gd rinse that will be fine

information pack explaining the new system how it all work goes down well

gd luck you will never look back

 
On the frames topic if you aint bothered for 25 years why start now?

Leave it till you go WFP so if you get any gripes about wfp you can throw in the benefit then 'Yes Mrs PITA but look how nice it gets the frames up as well.'

Also I assume you have a sizeable round after 25 years so I would advise at least 500L tank otherwise wont be long til you're upgrading again.

 
Sound advice off you all, would I be looking at a larger partner type van or transit size, also will be going the carbon route with the pole. To save me buying twice.

 
get yourself gd pole gardiners ,if you have the dosh 22ft as your standard all day pole short light and 25ft for your higher graft

if you have any really high graft 47ft will cover it but it is a beast ( we call it the killer pole}

if your on budget 25ft gd pole covers almost everything but abit heavier,if your grafting six days with **** pole your going to feel the pain arms shoulders

 
Having given the April wfp changeover a lot of thought,and with guidance from you guys, I'm looking at a newish Peugeot partner (850kg) payload and a 500 litre van mount, my Tds reading is 70ppm so a DI should suffice. I'll be looking at a xline installation probably with their hoses and reels . I'm getting a Gardiner SLX. 25 pole, as I don't really have any high reach, so this should be a good all rounder and a Gardiner ultimate flocked brush. I'm debating whether to get a telescopic ladder for getting on roofs etc. As I don't really want the customers to see a ladder on the roof of the van as they might see it as an option to trad (which it isn't). Also I clean quite a lot of compact residential work on suburban streets. will the hose be up to being driven over? Or should I do one side then drive the van across the road and do the other? Finally we've got fairly good water pressure up here and just wondered how long to fill a 500 litre tank, and ( might be a daft question) is it purified as it goes in the tank or when you use it on the job. Again thanks in advance. Darren.

P.s.also getting a backpack for a few back of terrace ones.

 

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