I went to bid a large house today that had all large windows consisting of approximately (15) 1 sq ft panes of glass per window … total of approximately 366 panes of 1 sq ft glass in approximately 25 windows. I’ve done interior doors with french panes but never a house with exterior windows like this. Has anyone done this type of job before and what is a fair price to charge and about how long should it take me? There is some ladder work involved on upper story windows The client wants and exact price, not an hourly rate. He wants pricing for just outside and both inside/outside. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You going to have a helper??? I would charge $1.00 a pane and what is the other 25 windows?? Double hung?? If its double hung then I would charge $6.00 dollars a window. Id really have to look at the job… Got pics???
1 sq ft panes are above average size. More glass, mullions - more time. Use your best judgement. Figure out your speed. How long each of the panes takes to clean inside and out/ exterior only and charge accordingly. It’s funny - I just did a customer for the second time around who had 372 french panes throughout his 1905 house. Nice modern thermal glass though. In 2009 I cleaned them I/O in 7.5 hours. This year it took me 6.5 hours. I’m no speed demon but I can clean - on average- 45 to 50 panes inside and out in an hour. I charge $1.45 per pane inside and out. .96 for exterior only. I focus on my speed and how much I want to earn. Hope this helps.
There are about 25 total windows with approximately 15 individual panes in each window. That is a total of approximately 375 individual panes of glass to clean and detail on the outside and 375 panes of glass to clean and detail on the inside … grand total of 750 if doing inside and out. I was thinks about charging $1.00 per pane for outside only and $1.75 per pane for outside/inside. I’m working alone on this one so I’m sure it’s going to take a couple of days to complete
Bruno,
If you can get that price, you should make out real well. I’d be charging $1.00 per pane i/o. Maybe I should go higher!
Im trying to get my head around what you are describing and the best I can come up with is 25, eight over eight windows(16 panes) At a foot sq per pane they are larger than normal, but that doesn’t make a lot of difference, I don’t work alone but 2 of us would do that in 2-2 1/2 hrs for about $18-20 per window, maybe less if theres not much dirt
I count the windows as normal then x2 and then by normal window rate. then i would clean the outside with wfp!!
2 dollars a pain and WFP.
I recently bid a french job - 1700 panes. I bid it at $2100 and they went with someone else. TBH I am not the least bit disapointed and will stand by my price. I used to bid them at $1 a pane and just recently raised to $1.25 - Even at $1.25 we aren’t making the same as our normal resi’s.
Waterfed Pole was not an option, they wanted all of it done by hand.
1.25 for inside/outside or just per pane per side?
I’m assuming this is addressed towards me. We charge $1.25 per french pane (both sides)
Concerning French Panes I just did a bid for a house that had nothing but FP’s on floors 1 and 2 and I wanted to check here to see what the pros were doing…I wound up bidding $1.50 a pain for Floor 1 (193) and $2.00 (142) a pain for Floor 2…so $573 Ins/Outs and he wouldn’t comment on how it compared to previous bids (they have had them cleaned “many” times). I think I should have gone $2.50 for 2nd Level…Or get a WFP!
I’d shoot at $1.00 a pane I/O. One issue I had recently on a all French pane/newer window job was the silicone and or oil paint residue that oozed from the mullions and left a film on the windows. It was a pain in the arse. The would look clean and then as the day progressed and the sun showed me the film and reality set in. I’m just mentioning that as a possible thing to think about. Several of the guys on here mentioned magic eraser as a handy tool for that situation. Next time I would charge more per French pane. However on standard sized French Panes I’ve been happy with a buck a pane.
Eric J
Interesting how much price differs by geographical area, and actually probably even quite a bit between companies depending on how big or small they are (or how desperate for work) in the same town. We charge $2 per french window for In&Out until there is 200 panes and then give a discount ($1.50 per pane) thereafter. We still get most every job we bid at that rate, and my town is FAT with other window cleaning companies. I guess my company just looks super professional? 
Maybe my competitors can answer that for me… ha ha. Anyone? Doc, Powerhouse, Squeegee, Diamond? Ok, I guess they’re all still out cleaning french panes (at a lower rate).
Not to go off subject, but speaking of French Pain’s does or has anyone used the Squeege Sorbo has for them? It look’s time saving
Anyone could ask $100.00 per pane if that makes them happy. A Fair price seems to be $1.00 per pane for me and I’m not desperate for work. I’m fast and thorough and still make bank on French panes. With that being said I would like to flirt with the idea of a $1.50 to $2.00 a pane and see how I fair. If I landed a majority of the work at the higher price than I know that would be fair. Not being desperate doesn’t mean I want to lose work though. I know that at $1.00 I’m charging more than my business mentor and now competition charged but then again he hadn’t raised his price in 12 years until last month.
Eric J
Does it make a difference if you are doing them on ladders and roofs on the 2nd story or do you guys just calculate them ALL at one price? This last bid I did was the first one where the WHOLE house was FP’s…
Eric,
My price does go up for 3rd floor windows. As far as 1st or 2nd …they share the same pool. I’m going to be on a ladder for 90% of the houses I do and just figure that is part of the deal. I don’t have a WFP yet, so ladders or pole work are my options.
Eric J
A Fine Reflection, Seattle
Ahhh…Interesting. That would affect (effect?) my bidding…
Thanks Eric!
