Looking to get into WFP. No idea where to start.

[adamangler]

Under £200 for wfp setup? What kit did you use mate? Did you build most of it yourself? I've been looking at constructing a trolley system to get into WFP as cheap as I can.

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It was a d.i.y trolley with Harris pole.

Few barrels and a d.i vessel and a sack of resin

. Depends what bits you can free or second hand...trolley was kicking about in my dad's shed and barrels were 1 quid each from a local valeting firm.

Pump 15, battery 15, d I 35, few fittings, pole came to about 30 with brush and a hose (homemade brush) hose and fittings from b&q

When I wanted an extension I bought another Harris pole (15 quid) took bottom section and shoved it up **** of my pole, gave me about 20ft just enough to reach all houses on my round.

Used this for about 6 months before buying a tank and r.o off eBay for about 150 quid then added an slx pole and a second hand hose reel for 50 quid  and that's still what I use to this day.

 

[seymour sunshine]

It was a d.i.y trolley with Harris pole.

Few barrels and a d.i vessel and a sack of resin

. Depends what bits you can free or second hand...trolley was kicking about in my dad's shed and barrels were 1 quid each from a local valeting firm.

Pump 15, battery 15, d I 35, few fittings, pole came to about 30 with brush and a hose (homemade brush) hose and fittings from b&q

When I wanted an extension I bought another Harris pole (15 quid) took bottom section and shoved it up **** of my pole, gave me about 20ft just enough to reach all houses on my round.

Used this for about 6 months before buying a tank and r.o off eBay for about 150 quid then added an slx pole and a second hand hose reel for 50 quid and that's still what I use to this day.





5

Good for you, mate. You're a man after my own heart.

I can appreciate that some people will only be happy with the best and latest equipment, and good luck to them. If they're making enough money to buy it and make a decent living out of it, that's wonderful.

But all the customer really cares about is having clean windows and a service delivered by a sound bloke who shows them respect. If it costs you £350 or £3500 + to deliver that, and you're reaching your financial goals then it's all OK.

 

[Incheck]

We started a two man business 4 years ago WFP on a budget. we’ve never had a van system, we’ve run entirely off backpacks and been absolutely fine. Very mobile, don’t really have any maintenance issues, if a backpack goes down there’s always a spare. Admittedly the filling up & loading of tanks & changing resin process is a mare. But we have so much more room in the van when we need it (for pressure washers, vacs etc) and some days in the summer we empty the van completely and put the lawn mower/strimmer on and do a mowing round every fortnight. Also do some hedge trimming etc. So it can be done off backpacks and will give you freedom to use vehicle for other things. Admittedly we are only residential and i think if doing a lot of commercial work, big buildings etc then you need a van system and a pump with some oomf in it.


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[adamangler]

We started a two man business 4 years ago WFP on a budget. we’ve never had a van system, we’ve run entirely off backpacks and been absolutely fine. Very mobile, don’t really have any maintenance issues, if a backpack goes down there’s always a spare. Admittedly the filling up & loading of tanks & changing resin process is a mare. But we have so much more room in the van when we need it (for pressure washers, vacs etc) and some days in the summer we empty the van completely and put the lawn mower/strimmer on and do a mowing round every fortnight. Also do some hedge trimming etc. So it can be done off backpacks and will give you freedom to use vehicle for other things. Admittedly we are only residential and i think if doing a lot of commercial work, big buildings etc then you need a van system and a pump with some oomf in it.


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Yes but try a two man van mount and see if you ever go back to humping backpacks and barrels.

 

[Part Timer]

We started a two man business 4 years ago WFP on a budget. we’ve never had a van system, we’ve run entirely off backpacks and been absolutely fine. Very mobile, don’t really have any maintenance issues, if a backpack goes down there’s always a spare. Admittedly the filling up & loading of tanks & changing resin process is a mare. But we have so much more room in the van when we need it (for pressure washers, vacs etc) and some days in the summer we empty the van completely and put the lawn mower/strimmer on and do a mowing round every fortnight. Also do some hedge trimming etc. So it can be done off backpacks and will give you freedom to use vehicle for other things. Admittedly we are only residential and i think if doing a lot of commercial work, big buildings etc then you need a van system and a pump with some oomf in it.


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As long as the van is a decent size, I have a lwb Vivaro, you will be able to do all of the above with a 650l water tank in. I've had a large stump grinder and my wfp gear in the back.I don't know your jobs but if there isn't huge parking problems then a water tank in the van with a delivery system will be far easier. You can still use the backpacks for the awkward access jobs.

 

[seymour sunshine]

As long as the van is a decent size, I have a lwb Vivaro, you will be able to do all of the above with a 650l water tank in. I've had a large stump grinder and my wfp gear in the back.I don't know your jobs but if there isn't huge parking problems then a water tank in the van with a delivery system will be far easier. You can still use the backpacks for the awkward access jobs.

Going back to the original thread, it's about taking over his dad's business and moving to wfp on what I'm guessing is a fairly modest budget. He's also adamant that it's a one-man-band.

A backpack/trolley system can always be adapted to become the basis for a van-mounted system. You cannot use a van mount as a backpack unless you're quite strong!

Let's go right back to basics. Wfp window cleaning is: 

• squirting very low tds water onto a window and frame, 
  
• agitating it with a brush 
  
• repeating above as many times as necessary to emulsify/dissolve all dirt (usually once is enough)
  
• rinsing; 
  

It really is as simple as that.

You might use a hand-held 3 litre pump-up pressure bottle, rainwater and a household broom on a downstairs window, it's still wfp cleaning. You might use a top-of-the range Ionics system.

As long as the end result is (i) clean windows in safety and (ii) a decent living then that's all OK.

He also asks about courses. The best possible advice here IMHO is to spend hours on youtube. There is so much stuff on there that you can spend a week or more of evenings and get some wonderful information as well as seeing a huge variety of setups. 

In summary, there are plenty of guys who make a decent living with very modest gear. TBH, the living you earn as a one-man-band is much more about: it ain't what you got, it's the way that you use it.

 

[Part Timer]

I agree with the sentiment, and I replied and gave the author my thoughts earlier on. The last post was in reply to someone that said they had been using backpacks for 4 years, and all I was saying was having a van mount would make their lives considerably easier. This is surely what we all aim to do, i.e. maximise earning potential in the easiest possible manner, and as long as you buy sensibly it should mean the more you got the easier it is. 

 

[Incheck]

I agree with both, one way or another. There are pros and cons to most methods of doing things, every business is a little different in what it offers and how it operates, i think this forum is brilliant


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[ClearLee]

I'm in Batley cooperman if you want a look  think Adam is out Rothwell way.

I am also in Batley. How random! Though I work over in Leeds.

 

[ClearLee]

120 houses a week on your own is some going. It would pay you to try and get a few days out with an existing WFP user. 

It might also pay you to start now, while your Father is still working with you. Plenty of information on here if you use the search bar. It might seem quite daunting at first but it really isn't. Where are you based, there might be someone on here local to you. 

Tell me about it. My legs hate me by the end of the week. Hence looking at WFP!

 

[ClearLee]

Going back to the original thread, it's about taking over his dad's business and moving to wfp on what I'm guessing is a fairly modest budget. He's also adamant that it's a one-man-band.

A backpack/trolley system can always be adapted to become the basis for a van-mounted system. You cannot use a van mount as a backpack unless you're quite strong!

Let's go right back to basics. Wfp window cleaning is: 

• squirting very low tds water onto a window and frame, 
  
• agitating it with a brush 
  
• repeating above as many times as necessary to emulsify/dissolve all dirt (usually once is enough)
  
• rinsing; 
  

It really is as simple as that.

You might use a hand-held 3 litre pump-up pressure bottle, rainwater and a household broom on a downstairs window, it's still wfp cleaning. You might use a top-of-the range Ionics system.

As long as the end result is (i) clean windows in safety and (ii) a decent living then that's all OK.

He also asks about courses. The best possible advice here IMHO is to spend hours on youtube. There is so much stuff on there that you can spend a week or more of evenings and get some wonderful information as well as seeing a huge variety of setups. 

In summary, there are plenty of guys who make a decent living with very modest gear. TBH, the living you earn as a one-man-band is much more about: it ain't what you got, it's the way that you use it.

Hours and hours on Youtube is needed I think. I don't have a particularly modest budget, just want to know which is the most efficient and what seems to be the most common system, with the idea that it will be common for a reason.

I'm not planning on being a one man band forever, but relying on workers has had a lot of pitfalls in the past. You just don't know who you're going to get and in this game, reputation is everything. One bad worker means many complaints!

 

[ClearLee]

Can not believe I have never noticed this forum before. Never expected so many replies. People are genuinely helpful.

 

[CleanerWindows]

This is the forum to use if you want genuine information. [emoji106]

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[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

Going back to the original thread, it's about taking over his dad's business and moving to wfp on what I'm guessing is a fairly modest budget. He's also adamant that it's a one-man-band.

And right there is the key @seymour sunshine,  ''on what you're guessing''

For all we know he could be driving his Porsche to work with a ladder on the roof and bucket dangling off the back.  

There advice is pretty simple.   

First off you need to know your water TDS to determine if you are going to go DI only or RO.  (Again could be a simple personal choice could have a TDS of 40 and still decide to buy an RO just cause he can) 

Next off decide if you are going to go the backpack / trolley route or go for a van mount.  

Next two points are key and I.M.O.  

1: A backpack is a handy ADDITION to a van mounted system..  If I had been in a position where I had to do 20 jobs a day from the off with a backpack I would be working as a shelf filler in Tescos by now. 

2: There more a system can handle, the more work you can get done.  Just a fact.  A 500 L van mount holds 20 times the water a backpack does, every time you have to stop and refill your backpack that's 5 minutes lost, times that by 20 and that's 1.4 hours of lost work time every day. That's 7 hours a week just filling a backpack.   In effect a whole days revenue lost to filling a backpack. 

___________________________________________________________

There is a huge culture among window cleaners of them  seeming to be adamant that the way they do things is the 'right' way or even the 'only' way and it's quite irritating to be honest.  

The OP stated he wants to convert a round of 700 jobs to WFP well why the hell would you even consider starting out with a backpack to begin such a chore?     OK. I concede, if that's all the budget allows then give it a try but I would personally stick to a ladder if it were a matter of messing about with a backpack on such a large daily grind. 

 

[Cristian]

700 on the books and going with a back pack would be detrimental to ones health! As Darren has mentioned above the amount of down time mucking around filling, not to mention carrying the thing backwards and forwards you would soon see a van mount is the way to go! Do this first and have a back pack for back up and for awkward jobs! 

 

[seymour sunshine]

Hours and hours on Youtube is needed I think. I don't have a particularly modest budget, just want to know which is the most efficient and what seems to be the most common system, with the idea that it will be common for a reason.

I'm not planning on being a one man band forever, but relying on workers has had a lot of pitfalls in the past. You just don't know who you're going to get and in this game, reputation is everything. One bad worker means many complaints!

Yes, youtube has an incredible wealth of information. My missis accuses me of "spending your life watching window-cleaning porn" whereas I describe it as research.

And everything that everyone has said on this thread has been perfectly valid; there are advantages and disadvantages to every approach.

You're doing exactly the right thing by asking the questions and gathering so much information. There's no such thing as useless knowledge. I wish you every success.

 

[adamangler]

Backpacks are not fun.

I curse getting mine out, hump it out, trifle it down a muddy back alley full of dog *****, up a couple of steps, then the thing runs out of water half way through a job.

Luckily I only have a handfull if jobs where it needed. Hate using mine.

 

[Lawrence Morgan]

I totally agree with above I also got a handful of jobs I need my back pack for and they are a pain.

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[steve garwood]

Yep, don’t like using mine either. 

I get my worker, jake to do it, he’s 30 years younger than me ?

 

[Incheck]

Haha [emoji23] you guys are so funny. You’d hate our lives then. We have 27 tanks (25 litres) and spend most days “humping” backpacks around if we aren’t pressure washing or gutter cleaning. I’m sure we wouldn’t know we were born if we had a van set up. But anythings got to be better than the ladder days right?!


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