We arrange window cleaning services with approved contractors at Great Places properties, this includes cottage flats, bungalows and buildings with communal areas.
The appointed Contractors and the areas they will be delivering window cleaning services too are as follows:
Incredible Window Cleaning – Lancashire, Prenton, Stockport, Manchester & Cheshire, Yorkshire.
Ultra Cleaning Services – Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Tameside.
Great Places appointed contractors use 3 methods to clean the windows and frames at schemes which are detailed below.
Reach & Wash revolutionised the window cleaning industry as the benefits outweigh other cleaning methods. It allows windows to be cleaned from the safety of the ground using long reaching, telescopic poles, removing the need and additional costs associated with ladders, cherry pickers etc.
The water used in the water-fed pole system is pure de-ionised and de-mineralised water. This method is also more environmentally friendly, no detergents or secret ingredients added just pure clean water. It’s better for the buildings, less likely to speed up the decay of paintwork (detergents are bad for painted windows), doesn’t matter if some of the liquid spills on awnings, or flowerbeds, because it’s just de-ionised water it will just evaporate away without leaving any marks or stains.
The soft-filament brush attached to the hose helps to dislodge any stubborn particles, ensures the glass and frames aren’t damaged, and the constant stream of water washes away all the suspended dirt to leave a streak-free finish.
Rope access window cleaning, also referred to as abseil window cleaning. It is used to reach the highest windows on a building” to “it is ideal for high rise buildings, and those that pose challenges in architecture.
This is the traditional method of window cleaning involves the use of a bucket of water and deter-gent with a pad which is applied to the windows, and a squeegee is used to remove the water, deter-gent, and dirt. An absorbent cloth is then used to wipe off excess water from the surface of the glass to ensure the window is dry.
This method is used on ground floor windows which are accessible, it is also commonly used with the “rope access window cleaning” method.
Charges vary according to where you live i.e. property size, approximate annual time the contractors spend at your site.
Health and Safety rules are changing to discourage the practice. Since 2005, there have been regulations in place about working at heights. In turn, insurance companies have begun to charge an increased premium if ladders, cradles or elevated platforms are used it can be very costly, unfortunately meaning window cleaners have to increase their prices to their customers. The abseil and water fed pole method eliminates this meaning no increased premiums and no increased cost for customers.
Schedules will vary from monthly to bi-monthly etc depending on where you live. You will find the schedule for your area on Great Places website and noticeboards if you live in a property with a communal area.
Unless the weather is exceptionally poor, or if conditions are simply too unsafe ie high winds or frost, in these instances they may have to attend on a different day.
The abseil method still uses detergent, it is not needed for the water fed pole method as it makes use of tap water that has been stripped of its mineral, deposits, calcium, and any other chemicals using a technique called reverse osmosis which is a filtration process with the end result being 100% laboratory graded pure water.
Due to the pure water used in the poles, the windows will dry naturally with no streaks or smears. By wiping them with a cloth, this would spoil the finish and possibly make the window smudged again.
Where ground floor windows are accessible these will be cleaned using the traditional method, reach and wash is not required for these windows. It is also the best method for high-rise buildings, even those with unique and challenging architecture.
Yes, the frames and sills are cleaned during each visit.
Our Contractors schedules have been developed to take into account all the bank holidays, this ensures no customers are impacted.
If you feel something has been missed, you can contact our Facilities Management Team using the online form below or our Customer Hub using the live chat facility through “Chatabot” who will make sure your enquiry goes to the right place.
Yes, audits are carried out by the contractor and well as Great Places Facilities Team, some will be joint visits and we would encourage customers to be involved in these as well.
