So I see companies are coming out with these automated window washing machines and I am wondering if high rise is going to be on the decline, as far as people going over the sides of buildings? When I first saw these I thought, well that machine can’t get everywhere and how does it get around architectural glass and inset windows that are back a few feet? Well then Skypro came out with the skypro mini just for that situation and it looks like it handles all of that with no problems.
I was contemplating learning high rise but I think instead I am going to get my certs from the scaffolding association and just purchase these units and go that route. They are not cheap but I figure if I can charge 50% or more less than a company sending a crew over the side and not risk any lifes then I can make the money back no problem. Plus that means I don’t have to really hire anymore people to handle large buildings.
There may be some truth in that, but when the machine gets hung up, breaks down, etc, you still need to get to it. And there will be plenty of facades, especially older buildings, that need human access. We just did a 8 story building that had to have the screens removed and replaced from the outside.
High-rise window washing customers have a duty to reduce risk & decrease liability by choosing a window cleaning company that utilizes cutting edge safety practices. Choose the company which has a highly skilled team have advanced knowledge in all aspects of abseiling.
I think you need two guys to operate that thing anyway.
And there are so many buildings that it won’t work for. I think the best purchasers are those who know the high rise industry.
It’s unlikely that u will want to charge 50% less. Take forever to get your investment back. Why not get what u can? Your value. You still need to spend money getting the jobs.
It’s been a while since I posted on this topic but I thought I would follow up. Skypro now has a machine to deal with odd shaped buildings, deep recessed windows, etc. They call it the skydro, kind of looks like a UFO. They are almost done getting Cal-OSHA’s approval/guidelines for these machines in California. While I do know that these machines won’t handle all situations, like screens that have to be taken off from the outside, it appears that they will handle 80%+ of the buildings that are out there. A big eye opener was that a lot of the vegas casinos are purchasing these machines themselves and training or hiring staff to use them. Wynn does most of their casinos with these machines now.
In response to the money question and why charge less. Well charging less is because no matter the job size, you only need two people to operate the machine, the machine cleans about 40% quicker than people do and setting up the rigging to put the machine over the side is far simpler than setting up swing stage for people to go over (just in case anyone didn’t know, you can only clean windows using swing stage in california, no chair work). Also, if the pricing is more affordable, the goal would be more services throughout the year. So for the cost of one service the property owner could get two or three cleanings, while the company still makes a hefty profit.
Correct. It’s not outright banned but close. The building has to be built pre 1970 or 75, something like that and then you need an additional approval from OSHA which is only good for that building and approval has to be given every time you service that location and a laundry list of other items. So no not banned, but sure not worth the headache.
Property owners aren’t dumb. They know that the machine is doing all the labor and you probably have less than half the people that used to be needed to do the work.
My costs would be far less. Not only would this machine not have a big impact on my workers comp if any, I would only need additional GL coverage. Also, I would only have two people on site for the job. Those two people will finish the building quicker than an entire crew would. I am making the same margins as anyone else, hence, I am not low balling. I am earning a fair price for fair services being rendered at a healthy margin. Better margins than sending a crew over the side.
Again, I will be selling on more services per year as well. That will earn more income quicker than trying to get the price that they are paying now and them doing the service less often due to the higher cost.
(just in case anyone didn’t know, you can only clean windows using swing stage in california, no chair work)
Not entirely true. There is a grey area in Cal-OSHA, actually there’s two.
Even where the OPOS says stage work, I know of quite a few buildings where a couple outfits chair them on the weekends and at night.
I say; go for it. You just might be the Fish window cleaning of the high rise market.
What happens when the machines break?
How will you clean the windows?
Why not just sell the machines to building owners if there so easy as you say to operate?
Why not rent the machines?
Better yet private label your machine from china and sell them?
I’m sure I will think of other pros and cons after I have a few more guiness.
Sent from my iPhone using Window Cleaning Resource mobile app
Ofcourse there would be automated machines coming every time with some having great facilities and some with little less, but we cannot deny that they will definitely affect our work and way of executing those works.
