I had some fun this week. I was asked to help a friend in the industry solve a problem. You see, he works for a large, predominantly high rise company and was on a fairly big project that came up late in the season. His high rise guys were doing this seven storey condominium complex but, due to poor installation of the roof anchors, they couldn't access some areas of the building.
I went in, planning to clean what I could for him, but not knowing what we could get at. I called my supplier (Waterfed Canada) and they dropped off a couple of extra sections for my Gardiner Super Lite water fed pole. I set it up, and kept adding sections. Eventually, we made it all the way up to the full 7 storeys!
As well as reaching the height we did, we used our back pack delivery system, essentially a mini resevoir and pump, to gain access about 500' from the accessible hose bib.
Here's where I hope you'll allow me to gloat. There was NO other way to get these windows cleaned. Lifts couldn't get to the back of the building and the roof anchors were unsafe. It felt pretty good getting this done for my friend. It also felt really good pushing the limits of my equipment.
Showing posts with label WFP. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WFP. Show all posts
Friday, December 11, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Cleaning with Pure Water
By far the most exciting new tool in our industry is Pure Water. Ok, it isn't a technology but a product. If it is coupled with a Water Fed Pole, it IS the most exciting thing to happen in our industry in a very long time.
If you think about the final rinse that a GOOD car wash gives you and couple that with a quality brush and pole, you've got the makings of Pure Water Window cleaning.
I am typically asked a couple of standard questions when I introduce the concept to clients.
1. How can you lift a pole that long and how do you control it? The older poles were pretty challenging to say the least. I still have a couple of friends that are dedicated users of them, although I am not, I suppose, man enough for that. My new poles are both made from Carbon Fibre, giving a surprising combination of strength and ease of use.
2. Do you use a squeegee? No. After the window is scrubbed and rinsed correctly, the water is left to dry on the glass. No squeegee or towels are needed. This is just as revolutionary as when the squeegee was introduced decades ago when clients were accustomed to seeing their window cleaner using a chamois (cowhide) and cloth (or 'scrim', irish linen).
3. Why use this instead of the squeegee? The finish is remarkable. We can clean the entire frame as well as the glass- removing cobwebs, etc. There is never an issue of dirty water being used too long as fresh water is constantly being sent through the system and onto the glass. The glass stays clean longer. The glass is cleaned without the use of chemicals or detergents. This means that there won't be anything left behind on the glass that will grab airborne dust and dirt. If you're interested in hearing about glass being made of sand, making it a rough surface at a microscopic level, blah blah blah, just ask me and I will regale you with all of it.
The other part of this new tool that excites me is the opportunity to take on taller work. I think nothing now of saying 'yes' to commercial or residential clients that have 4th or even 5th storey windows. In fact, we did some the other day that were a low 6th storey! In the past, we were hemmed in by the length of our ladders and strength of our character. In all the years we have been in business, it was very rare to reach the 4th floor to clean windows, let alone the heights we get to now!
Thanks for reading this. I hope it helped explain what we do a little bit. Visit our Pure Water page on our website for more information.
BTW don't get the impression that this is all we use. We have been cleaning windows for quite some time and have picked up a few things along the way. We can hand polish when necessary, squeegee others, but try to use our new toys / tools whenever feasible.
If you think about the final rinse that a GOOD car wash gives you and couple that with a quality brush and pole, you've got the makings of Pure Water Window cleaning.
I am typically asked a couple of standard questions when I introduce the concept to clients.
1. How can you lift a pole that long and how do you control it? The older poles were pretty challenging to say the least. I still have a couple of friends that are dedicated users of them, although I am not, I suppose, man enough for that. My new poles are both made from Carbon Fibre, giving a surprising combination of strength and ease of use.
2. Do you use a squeegee? No. After the window is scrubbed and rinsed correctly, the water is left to dry on the glass. No squeegee or towels are needed. This is just as revolutionary as when the squeegee was introduced decades ago when clients were accustomed to seeing their window cleaner using a chamois (cowhide) and cloth (or 'scrim', irish linen).
3. Why use this instead of the squeegee? The finish is remarkable. We can clean the entire frame as well as the glass- removing cobwebs, etc. There is never an issue of dirty water being used too long as fresh water is constantly being sent through the system and onto the glass. The glass stays clean longer. The glass is cleaned without the use of chemicals or detergents. This means that there won't be anything left behind on the glass that will grab airborne dust and dirt. If you're interested in hearing about glass being made of sand, making it a rough surface at a microscopic level, blah blah blah, just ask me and I will regale you with all of it.
The other part of this new tool that excites me is the opportunity to take on taller work. I think nothing now of saying 'yes' to commercial or residential clients that have 4th or even 5th storey windows. In fact, we did some the other day that were a low 6th storey! In the past, we were hemmed in by the length of our ladders and strength of our character. In all the years we have been in business, it was very rare to reach the 4th floor to clean windows, let alone the heights we get to now!
Thanks for reading this. I hope it helped explain what we do a little bit. Visit our Pure Water page on our website for more information.
BTW don't get the impression that this is all we use. We have been cleaning windows for quite some time and have picked up a few things along the way. We can hand polish when necessary, squeegee others, but try to use our new toys / tools whenever feasible.
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