So every once in a while, as you all have probably experienced, a residential customer’s windows will have old flaky paint on the sills. In fact, I just quoted one today (classic, old cut-ups with storms) and noticed a few of the windows had really old paint. Usually when we do those jobs we’ll let the customer know first that the paint is flaking off, then we just deal with paint flakes being everywhere, its really messy and hard to clean up after yourself effectively, even if you use a drop cloth, when you pick it up the flakes go airborne.
Does anyone have a solution or technique for avoiding this? Do you charge customers more if you notice this (usually its not noticed until we have already bid and started the job)? I’ve searched the threads for info but didn’t see any.
In the great Northeast I have to deal with this on occasion. I will mention it to the home owner. Then I will detail with the rubber points of the squeegee only. When the problem is severe I have learned that I actually get a better looking job when I don’t wipe with a huck or towel of any kind. No flakes. But then the problem is usually outside.
Here is an extra word of caution for everyone. Those little panes are held in by small metal points on the outside. When these points fall out the panes are not held in very well. And can be easily pushed out from the inside. I have done this before. The glass can break at the same time and cut your hand/wrist really bad when you pull back your hand out of surprise. That fortunately never happened to me. But I have had to get out the putty and replace glass. NOT fun! Man I could write a book on cleaning windows in old Newengland homes.
what henry said,but i will add,i use my back pack vac with the little horse hair brush and go over the whole window first and price that extra time in the job.
