The Aerial Water Fed Brush from Tekbuk

Do you use a professional window cleaning brush that is effortless to use? Introducing the "Aerial Brush" from Tekbuk.

The 1st Window Cleaning Brush with a built in Scraper: The Aerial brush is the latest brush to be offered to window cleaners; it’s a new design that has been made specifically for fast window cleaning, the brush is made to use against a predominately flat vertical surface. Most brushes used for window cleaning use a standard brush design, most commonly based on the sweeping broom brush which is made for horizontal surfaces.

Richard Sorrel (pictured) returned to window cleaning almost five years ago and started to use wfp systems, it didn’t take long for him to to realise each brush has limitations and consequently those limitations means it takes longer to clean. So in 2009 he started development on the Aerial brush rather than try and make a brush that’s able to cover different types of work. He decided to focus the on the use of the brush and just have it clean windows exceptionally fast.

Richard decided from the start to work with an established brush maker, with their background, skill and knowledge of brushes, it made sense to work with an expert brush maker from the start. Although he provided all relevant information from a window cleaner’s perspective, prior to this, he also sought the views of other established window cleaners, for what they thought are the most important features for an authentic window cleaning brush.

The Aerial brush does have a replaceable non scratch scraper, although this is a very useful feature; it’s not the most important. The majority of time is spent cleaning windows, so the most important aspect of the brush is its ability to clean fast. A window cleaner’s time is more valuable than the difference in the price of a brush. Anyone using this brush for the first time will need time themselves to adjust and revise there cleaning method as well as build there confidence in the brushes ability, learning when to stop cleaning is the hardest part when using the Aerial brush. This is especially so if you have only ever used modified or adapted brushes, when used correctly the Aerial brushes clean windows amazingly fast and won’t be like anything you have tried before.

The brush attaches to the generic angle crank/adaptor with a tapered screw thread. They come in 3 types of different monofilament/bristle which are Polyester, Nylon monofilaments and Natural bristles commonly called Boars hair.

During development it became apparent that you cannot have a single brush for two different types of work and expect to complete work just as quickly as a brush made for a single purpose. The Aerial Polyester monofilament is for maintenance cleans and the thicker and more absorbent Nylon monofilament is for initial cleans. Richards advice for any window cleaner "is to have a range of brushes at your disposal," "Some brushes you will use everyday, others may only get used a few times a year." "Select the most appropriate brush that is able to complete the work the quickest, ultimately window cleaners provide a service based on time and completing any work sooner is more profitable."

Rinsing the glass after cleaning isn’t always necessary with the Aerial brush; used correctly the brush is able to maintain a consistence pressure, so with maintenance cleans he personally only rinses the glass when it is necessary, which is never more than 30% of all the windows he cleans in any given week. Combine this with working methodically with the brush, you should save a huge amount of time over using a conventional brush; the Aerial brush is often able to clean the window spot free with just a couple of passes. The 40mm narrow brush stock combined with a much wider monofilament splay also makes it much easier to clean window sills and again, these can be cleaned in just a few seconds for windows that are maintained on a more regular basis.

Developing and making the brushes combined with testing has been a real eye-opener for Richard. Working with a brush specifically made for cleaning windows saves a tremendous amount of time, opposed to a brush that has been jetted then is used for window cleaning. After many prototypes, he would never have put the Aerial brush into production if it didn’t work, likewise he could never go back to using a conventional brush for window cleaners having now gotten use to the speed and efficiency of the Aerial brush. 

If you would like more information from Richard and to see more pictures, please visit "Tecbuk Water Fed Pole Brushes." These brushes are available for sale in the UK. If you an overseas distributor interested in the brushes please contact Richard directly. Contact details are on the website.