Howdy window cleaners!
What is the safest, easiest way to clean dormer windows? Everyone here in Texas has metal roofs (yuck), and dormers that set back too far to reach with a ladder. They are also hard to reach with a pole without pulling your arms out of their sockets. Then again, is the problem with removing the screens from outside when you can’t reach them?? Most of the metal roofs have too much slope for this Grandpa to be on. Any help would be appreciated.
Thank you,
Jim
Water fed pole? I know some people use ladder hooks but I don’t have that style of roof down here.
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If you can’t reach them with a pole or WFP and cannot walk on the roof, set up an anchor on the roof and rope up. If that doesn’t work, walk away.
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[MENTION=12729]JaredAI[/MENTION] Thanks for your reply. I am not sure if a water fed pole would get the hard water stains off, at least for the first time cleaning. I am finding that most of the homes have a film of dirt that is baked onto the windows and they need a good scrubbing if not using a scraper to clear them. But, what do I know. I’ve never seen a water fed pole used other than in video. I’m still learning by trial and error! Not too many errors 
I probably will look into water fed poles at some time in the future, as I like the concept and ease of use.
I’m also concerned about the tight water restrictions in this area. Water is becoming scarce here, so not sure if they are even allowed?
Any restrictions on their use in your area?
Thank you
Jim
We don’t really have restrictions, but you can get a backpack and a boars hair brush and you can get the glass really clean. I deal a lot with baked on dirt as well. But a house with a handful of dormers probably wouldn’t use more than four gallons.
But you’d still need to scrub hardwater stains by hand.
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[MENTION=35890]Bigblue[/MENTION] Hi Blue, Where does one tie an anchor on the roof? I’m real new here, so this is all foreign to me. Other than throwing a rope over the roof and tying it off onto a tree or something, not sure how to go about this. Sounds like an excellent idea, if I knew where to tie it too.
Thank you,
Jim
Are they not accessible from the inside?
[MENTION=36566]Jon Mark Trammel[/MENTION] Hi Jon, Most seem to be accessible only from outside. I don’t know any way to remove a standard double hung dormer window from inside. I’ve seen it done with sliders, but not double hung. But, what do I know?
If I open the lower half from inside, I can reach up and clean the upper portion, but that leaves half the window still dirty. These are mostly the vinyl clad IG windows.
In your experience can most dormers be cleaned from inside? I’ve only had a couple of higher end homes that had the Euro style crank windows that could be cleaned that way. Any help is appreciated.
Thank you,
Jim
Jim,
I guess my experience with most double hung windows is that at least the lower window tilts in (I believe this would technically be a single hung window) in order to clean. There are a number of ways double hung windows are designed to tilt in and some are designed to easily take out.
That’s what I do. I throw a rope over the roof
Most newer windows tilt in in some way.
This space for rent!
Yeah if they’re double hung they either have two sliding latches on top of the lower window or a little metal clip near the top of the upper track. With the clip you flip it out and rip a fingernail then you can raise the lower window all the way up and pull it out.
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[MENTION=36566]Jon Mark Trammel[/MENTION] I will have to look into that! I have so much to learn about window cleaning. That would certainly solve a lot of problems for me.
I’m not crazy about getting up on roofs, especially the steep metal ones. It is kind of fun to watch the squirrels sliding off our metal barn roof when they decide to run across it! I’ll see if I can find any videos on windows that tilt in…not much else to do today, it’s flooding outside!
Thank you,
Jim
[MENTION=330]hunterst[/MENTION] If I can figure out how to get them to tilt to the inside for cleaning it would solve my biggest problem! Thank you!!
So glad I found this site!
Jim
[MENTION=12729]JaredAI[/MENTION] Yes, this could work! I’ll look for that clip and the two latches on the dormers! Do most windows have these latches and clips?
I just ordered a ladder hook, not sure if I’ll need it now, and went to the mall last week and bought some Vans (skate board shoes) they have the gummy, waffle pattern soles to keep kids from sliding off their skate boards. A roofer friend told me all his guys wear them on slippery metal roofs. I’m not sure what the sales girl thought about a 62 year old grandpa was doing buying Vans. I think I heard her mumble something about, “I hope he doesn’t break a hip” as I was leaving ;). I really want to stay as safe as possible. I am so glad for your information!
Thank you,
Jim
Is the roof steeper than the pic Bumblebee sent?
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[MENTION=171]bumblebee[/MENTION] Thanks for the picture! Do you charge extra when you have to go to this extra trouble?
I could always park my truck on the opposite side from where I am working and tie onto that. Just have to remember to take my keys with me so nobody gets in, takes off and drags me over the roof! Ouch!!
Thanks, Much appreciated!
Jim
[MENTION=35890]Bigblue[/MENTION] That looks about right. It seems every third house I do has dormers, and all the newer homes have gone to the metal roofs.
A lot of times the dormers are on an attic, and the homeowner tells me not to worry about them.
I used a harness tied to a tree when I put the roof on our barn. It worked pretty good until I finished. I took the belt off before coming down off the roof. Yep, I fell and landed on a rail road tie right across my back. Still have the harness, so now I need to get a good rope. I’m too old to be falling today!!
I thought of extra tall sheet rock stilts, cherry pickers, trained monkeys, my neighbors kids, all seem to have some drawback.
Thank you for your input,
Jim
Honestly, if you think your too old to be climbing on roofs, then strapping into a harness roped up will just slow you down. My advice would be to focus your strategy on homes that don’t have this problem. You can then build up the client list over time and not dread going back to the house with the ‘pain in the ass’ dormers. Just my opinion. Good luck.
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[MENTION=35890]Bigblue[/MENTION] Very good advice! I too think I will stay off roofs if at all possible. Jared from Albuquerque told me about the latches and clips that allow the dormers to be opened from inside. I am so thankful for all the help from you guys! If you couldn’t tell from my posts, I was dreading doing the dormers from outside.
It is funny, I get calls at least once a week from other window washers wanting me to be a sub contractor for windows 40 ft. up that they can’t reach.
Too many homes in the hills built on cliffs way out of my reach, and comfort zone. Better to be safe than sorry!
Thank you,
Jim
