Picture of the Day + Window Cleaning News

Workers from LA Window Cleaning dangle from the top of the Sovereign Bank Building while cleaning the gleaming structure Thursday. Heights. For some people it’s a phobia, for some it’s a thrill, and for others, such as Dan McHugh, it’s just part of the job. McHugh has been washing windows — dangling from high buildings — for more than a decade. Yesterday, he and his co-workers were shining the 24-story, glass-covered Sovereign Bank Building on Main Street. “We had to learn by watching,” Mr. McHugh, 32, said during a break from the job yesterday morning. The crew, from LA Window Cleaning of Stoughton, is using a bosun chair to access the outside of the building. The chair is attached to rope, which is fastened to equipment on the building’s roof. For buildings higher than 300 feet, workers use a swing stage attached to a steel cable, Mr. McHugh said. The project at the Sovereign Bank Building, with its hundreds of windows, began a few days ago and should be completed in five or six days, Mr. McHugh said.
“There are six of us here now, and 12 guys total,” he said. “They’re all great. We’ve all worked together at least three, four, maybe five years.” Window washers are busy this time of year. They take a break in January and February. Unless there is torrential rain or extreme weather, washers will tough it out and finish up the job, he said. Mr. McHugh will most likely stay in the business, but the position will have to change. “I don’t want to do this when I’m 50,” Mr. McHugh said with a chuckle. “There’s always management. This has been in business since about ’92 and every year seems to be getting better and better.”

The Art Gallery of Ontario's fancy new facade could use a bottle of Windex and a little elbow grease. A $276 million renovation of the venerable gallery, on Dundas St. W. between McCaul and Beverley Sts., was completed last fall and hailed by architecture critics as a work of art itself. The exterior is striking, particularly the arc of curved glass panels that are suspended from the roofline and extend along the length of the building on Dundas. The glass panels draw the eye, which may explain why some people have noticed that they have yet to be cleaned since they went up and are getting grimy. An executive assistant to a Toronto city councillor sent us a note about the grubby glass, saying he'd noticed that someone (probably a construction worker, since nobody else would have access to the overhead panels) had traced "wash me" in the dirt on the glass. We checked it out twice and could not find any messages, but confirmed that the panels are caked with a dusty film. The inner side of the panels, particularly the top portions, which hover above the roof, are not easily accessible, which makes cleaning them a difficult job. It got us wondering how much thought was given to keeping the glass clean when the shiny facade was designed.

Altheide has been an ESL teacher for more than 10 years. By day, he operates Hank's Window Cleaning and has been self-employed in that business for 26 years. He got started with the ESL classes when his College of the Desert Spanish teacher invited him to be a classroom helper so he could practice his Spanish. Altheide then started tutoring one-on-one at the Coachella Valley Adult School and at the Indio Public Library. He got his teaching credential last year in adult education so that he could teach in classroom settings. Altheide said he hopes to help his students live a better life. “These people have all come here from Mexico and one from Central America in search of a better life, and I am helping them lay a linguistic foundation that will help them last the rest of their lives,” he said. Student George Solis, 42, said that Altheide is patient and checks in with students when they miss a class.

Window cleaner admits indecency: A window cleaner from the south of Scotland has admitted a charge of having hundreds of indecent images of children stored on his computer. The discovery was made when Peter Broadbent, 57, of Threave Terrace, Castle Douglas, took his computer for repair after it broke down. Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court heard a total of 456 images was found.
Sheriff Kenneth Robb deferred sentence on Broadbent and ordered he be placed on the sex offenders register. Broadbent admitted committing the offence over a three-month period in 2007. Procurator fiscal depute Joe MacPherson told the court that in July of that year the window cleaner had contacted a firm about his computer which was not working. When an engineer had started examining it he was distressed to find a number of images of young girls. On carrying out a further check it was discovered that there were a total of 456 images of young girls in various stages of undress. Mr MacPherson said police carried out a full investigation and obtained a warrant to search his house. Sheriff Robb deferred sentence for four weeks on Broadbent and called for social inquiry and community service reports to be prepared.

Bartering network helps bring in customers, businessman says: A Chandler businessman discovered a way to increase his pool of potential customers by at least hundreds of people in one simple way: joining the Arizona Trade Exchange, a company that promotes bartering. With his wife, Arlene, Fred Gosielewski owns three Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair shops - in Chandler Fashion Center, Scottsdale Fashion Square and Arrowhead Towne Center in Glendale.
Being a part of the bartering network brings in customers, Gosielewski said. "Everybody has a watch," he said. "Everybody has a piece of jewelry or a ring that doesn't fit." Here's the simple way the exchange works: One credit equals one dollar. An exchange member buys a watch battery from Fast-Fix for $19.95, but instead of cash, the exchange transfers that credit from the watch owner's account to the Fast-Fix account. When Gosielewski needs his floors waxed, or needs a phone or security system, he finds the service in the directory published by the exchange. With credits, he has bought business cards, signs and banners, window cleaning and glass counter tops. Rob Miller (pictured), president and majority owner of the Arizona Trade Exchange, started the network in 1999. He had owned a large sports bar in Tempe and joined a trade exchange. "Things I had been paying cash for on a daily basis, all of a sudden I was trading chicken wings and cheeseburgers for," he recalled. He started his own exchange. He has a staff of nine and is hiring more. The 550-member exchange is growing, getting a boost from the poor economy. "People don't have as much expendable income," Miller said. "One of my trade members said, 'When the economy was good, I felt I could afford to trade. Now that the economy's bad, I feel I have to trade.' "

A 63-year-old chimney sweep and window cleaner found apparently murdered in her home in Shropshire was a well-known character locally, police have said. West Mercia Police confirmed that Margaret Wycherley was found inside the property in Castle Street, Oswestry. A post-mortem examination established that she died of multiple injuries, a spokesman said. Officers have been given an extension until Saturday to question a 44-year-old man who was arrested in Shrewsbury. Det Ch Insp Dave Morgan said Mrs Wycherley was a well-known character in the Oswestry area, who worked as a window cleaner and chimney sweep. "She was also known for her karaoke singing," he said. Officers want to trace anyone who saw Mrs Wycherley or had any form of contact with her on either Sunday or Monday, he added.

I'll pay it back if I've done wrong (Southend, UK). James Duddridge (pictured) has said he may pay back some of his expenses which he has claimed under the controversial second homes allowance. The Tory MP for Rochford and Southend East agreed to a full interview with the Echo, in the wake of the scandal, which has dominated headlines for the last three weeks. In 2005, Mr Duddridge used £7,000 of public money to refurbish his London flat, before switching claims to help fund a different property in the capital.Window cleaner Marc Waldron, 40, of Poynings Avenue, Southchurch, was in Thorpe Bay Broadway working, and said he understood why MPs took advantage of the system. He said: “Some have bent the rules, but things have been blown out of proportion. I think they should be given an amount of money and not get expenses. “It’s human nature. You see the rules and bend them to see how far you can take it. If I was an MP, I’d play the system. “I think it’s time James spoke to people. That’s all people want, for him to open up.”

An Irish Success For Pilkington Activ™: A brand new mixed use block on Belfast’s Lisburn Road has been enhanced both visually and practically with the inclusion of Pilkington Activ™ Blue self-cleaning glass throughout. The development by PSM Properties, is named Woodlands Manor and stands five storeys high, containing offices and two and three bedroomed luxury apartments. Architects, Coogan and Co have combined a mixture of window styles and types, with PVCu for the residential units and aluminium for the commercial ones to create an interesting contrast of materials. All glazing, however, incorporates Pilkington Activ™ Blue which not only adds colour and character to the development but provides functional solutions by combining dual-action, self-cleaning properties with solar control performance for a cooler internal environment.

The building is adjacent to the busy main M1 motorway and the accumulation of dirt and pollution from the heavy traffic was a significant consideration. The use of Pilkington Activ™ Blue for both the windows and the curtain walling to the offices has reduced the problem significantly. “Cleaning windows on a multi-storey building is always a major headache,” says Victor Bowman, a director of window fabricator Bowman Windows. “Specifying the Pilkington Activ™ Blue self-cleaning glass meant that the design of the overall structure could incorporate larger areas of glazing for high visual effect without having to worry about the hazards and costs of cleaning.”
Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass works through a dual action function. A microscopically thin coating of titanium dioxide creates two reactions by which it continuously cleans the external surface of the glass: first, a benign chemical reaction is caused by ultra violet light, which breaks down organic dirt particles on the surface of the glass; secondly, the coating causes rain to sheet rather than form beads, thus washing the surface of the glass and preventing streaking. The coating breaks down and loosens any dirt that settles on the glass, ensuring that rainwater covers the surface evenly. Woodlands Manor is now completed and provides a visually impacting structure on the road to Lisburn, with the coloured Pilkington Activ™ Blue glass contrasting neatly and sharply with the red and cream of the brick detailing … and for the building owners, occupiers and residents, the knowledge that the task of cleaning such the vast array of glazing is now a thing of the past brings total peace of mind.

Queensland, Australia: Charges laid over highrise death fall: Three companies have been charged over the deaths of two construction workers who fell 26 storeys from a Gold Coast highrise last year. Chris Gear, 36, and Steve Sayer, 52, plunged to their deaths from swing-stage scaffolding - similar to that used by window cleaners - while patching concrete on the Pegasus tower at Broadbeach in June. The company responsible for erecting the scaffolding, which was banned from Queensland work sites immediately after the tragedy due to safety fears, Allscaff Systems Pty Ltd, and its company director Ralph Michael Smith have been charged with breaches of workplace health and safety laws. Two other firms, Karimbla Construction Services Pty Ltd and Pryme Construction Pty Ltd, have also been charged following an investigation by workplace authorities.

Hometemps has announced the launch of its new home service advertising and verification site for home service providers and caregivers. The new web site publishes home service provider classified ads and directory listings. Hometemps also offers advertisers verification services, including customer and character references, employment eligibility, licensing and insurance compliance and screens for criminal and sex offender history. The site is geared toward home service providers such as housekeepers, carpenters, nurses, contractors, cleaners, companions, painters, handymen, electricians, lawn care and others. Unlike home and caregiver service referral companies, hometemps.com charges a low flat annual fee. There are no referral fees.

“We have combined state-of-the-art Internet advertising, technology and background investigation systems to create the only classified advertising site with a fully integrated listing and verification service,” explains Hometemps’ Founder, Kirstan Johnson. Hometemps members can list as self-verified or enroll in one of several different verification and screening programs to earn the Verified by Hometemps designation.
“As the economy stabilizes, boomers age and housing growth flattens, we see good growth in the residential services market, especially for the smallest of small businesses or micro-businesses. Micro-businesses are businesses started by no or low overhead entrepreneurs who work from home or in people’s homes as trainers, pet sitters, cooks, companions, home nurses, window cleaners, handypersons, housekeepers, painters, etc. The types of services micro-businesses need, such as advertising, human resources, customer service and scheduling, must be micro in cost. Our micro-business directory listing plan is a great starting place for these no/low capitalized entrepreneurs,” says Johnson.

Window Cleaning News

The future of work is green:Politicians claim we can beat the recession and save the planet in one fell swoop by creating 'green-collar' jobs. But what exactly are they, asks Leo Hickman. Steven Proudfoot, whose company Asset Skills advises the government on the training requirements of sectors such as construction, says that one of the boom areas is facilities management. "It is one of the fastest-growing and most recession-resistant sectors in the country," he says. "Buildings need maintaining, servicing and managing - catering, window-cleaning, grass cutting, boiler maintenance. Ever-tightening regulations mean that we now have tough energy and waste targets, and staff have to be trained and employed to help companies meet them."

Spend and Thrift: My next big investment? A professional window cleaner. We tried to clean the windows once, and the water went through the louvres and soaked my entire sofa with dirty water. I still haven’t gotten over it. My point (and I do have one) is that now, more than ever, instead of just not spending money, I am spending money more consciously. It’s been a pattern that has evolved over the past year, and at this point, it goes something like this:
Support local businesses for your everyday needs. Hand out your business card whenever possible, post it on bulletin boards, and give a few to friends and clients to hand out as well. Give people the opportunity to support a local business. Hire local professionals to get a job done right, and have the satisfaction of both a finished project, and the free time to enjoy it. Don’t punish yourself in the name of saving money. Life is too short. (..More customers like this please!)

'Torrent of abuse' for pensioner from van driver: A BARNSTAPLE pensioner says she will have to stop shopping in the town unless North Devon Council apply greater scrutiny when policing disabled parking bays in Bear Street. The 74-year-old woman, who wished to remain nameless, had a bad experience while trying to park there last week and is tired of having to walk further than necessary to get to local stores. The woman suffers with heart problems and frequent pain in the left hand side of her body. She said: "I try to park in the disabled bays on Bear Street whenever I can as they are the most convenient for town. "On Wednesday last week I went into town to do some shopping but all the disabled parking spots had been taken up by trade vehicles. "One of the vans, which was owned by a local window cleaner, need only have moved a few yards to allow me to get in so I decided to have a word with the driver." After asking the driver of the van to move, she claimed she received a torrent of verbal abuse from the owner who said: "I don't care whether you're disabled, I'm parked here now." She said: "He was so rude about it, swearing and everything – I'm 74 years old, I don't deserve to be spoken to like that. "After finding somewhere else to park I called the police to complain but was told that they couldn't do anything as tradesmen were allowed to use those bays for unloading.

Window cleaner: People spend a fortune on window cleaning materials (or window cleaning men) that almost ubiquitously leave the window dirtier, or streakier, than before. All you need to use to clean windows is two tablespoons of washing soda and half a cup of vinegar to a bucket full of water. The non foaming liquid will clean away the grease and the vinegar will stop the streaks. The best piece of equipment you can get is a squeegee for washing away the excess water. (....Yep, OK - some people will never learn!)

Lake County forest district selling rain barrels: bucks or help the environment? You can do both by ordering a rain barrel from the Lake County Forest Preserve District. The 55-gallon barrels collect rainwater that can be used for household chores, such as lawn watering, car washing and window cleaning - but not for drinking. Collecting rainwater for such tasks reduces water bills and conserves water. And because the collected water is untreated, it's free of chemicals such as calcium and lime, which get into the water supply from the limestone in the ground, and chlorine, which is added to our water during the treatment process. "It's soft water," said Lynn Hepler, the forest district's outreach and youth stewardship manager. "Why pay for treated water when you don't need it?" The sale started this month. As in years past, the forest district is teaming with the Lake County Soil and Water Conservation District and the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission on the project. The barrels cost $79 each are available in two colors: terra cotta and gray. You can order a barrel online or by calling (847) 968-3321. Order forms found at the Web site also can be faxed or mailed to the forest district. They are only available by prepaid order. The deadline is April 29.

Back to the sponge. A Glasgow woman was entertaining her lover, Tam, in her top flat apartment in a high-rise block. Thinking, mistakenly, that he heard the footsteps of Senga's husband outside, Tam decided to exit the scene via a window. In his haste, he slipped and fell 50 feet to the pavement below. Senga's neighbour rushed into her friend's apartment to see what she could do to help. "Grab a sponge," instructed Senga, "and stick it in Tam's hand." Thus was a Glasgow marriage saved, as a living lover morphed into a window cleaner in free fall. Do not underestimate the role of the humble sponge in history. It has miraculous powers.

FORT LAUDERDALE - A Fort Lauderdale office building is back to normal today after firefighters removed chemical fumes. One or more window-washing workers failed to properly store ammonia-based cleaning chemicals, whose fumes then circulated on the fifth floor of the seven-story building at 1000 Corporate Drive. Workers arrived this morning, smelled the odor and complained, prompting Fort Lauderdale firefighters to arrive at 8:15 a.m., Fire Battalion Chief Jermaine Frazier said. Firefighters initially didn't know what kind of fumes were in the building, so they evacuated everyone for precaution. It turned out to be "less significant than what we thought," Frazier said.

Brian Johnson set up his business to help others start their own. Johnson opened his first shop, My Office Business Center, in Surprise in December, and a second in January. He's already got three other stores in the works all because of the quick interest in his idea. "We've seen an influx of people who used to work in corporate America or have lost their jobs and want to be entrepenuers," Johnson said. Johnson's stores help people start their own small businesses. Out of his shops, he can help people with everything they need to begin. "We can do their incorporations, their LLC," he said. "We try to give them the most value as opposed to just packing a package."So far, Johnson said he's seen a variety of business ideas come through his doors. "We've seen pet trainers, another gentleman started an auto dealing company, and one guy even started his own window cleaning business," Johnson said. Johnson's said he's enjoyed getting people going. In some cases, he's already been able to save people thousands of dollars.

Rubicon Technology, Inc. is an advanced electronic materials provider that is engaged in developing, manufacturing and selling monocrystalline sapphire and other crystalline products for light-emitting diodes (LEDs), radio frequency integrated circuits (RFICs), blue laser diodes, optoelectronics and other optical applications. The Company applies its proprietary crystal growth technology to produce very high-quality sapphire in a form that allows for volume production of various sizes and orientations of substrates and windows. Rubicon is a vertically-integrated manufacturer with capabilities in crystal growth, high precision core drilling, wafer slicing, surface lapping, large-diameter polishing and wafer cleaning processes, which the Company employs to convert the bulk crystal into products with the quality and precision specified by its customers. The Company is actively developing larger diameter products to support next-generation LED, RFIC and optical window applications.

Pilkington Activ™ Is Academic!: A highly unusual window replacement scheme has taken place at Leicester University. Pilkington Activ™ Blue glass has helped transform the Attenborough Tower, a 19-storey tower block built in the early 1970s on the main campus. Named after the father of Richard and David Attenborough, the tower is the tallest building in Leicester and is home to the University’s Faculty of Arts and Humanities. Distinctive in its stature, the University wanted to retain the overall appearance of the tower block and replicate the idiosyncratic windows using the most technologically advanced glazing systems. Reaching a height of 52 metres, the tower is constructed with a concrete frame, cast in-situ, and clad with pre-cast concrete panels. The building makes use of slanted aluminium-framed windows that protrude outwards at the bottom to aid draught-free ventilation throughout the tower all year round. The University’s hilltop location makes the top floor of the tower one of the best vantage points in the city, creating the perfect, stimulating environment for learning - an environment that will certainly reap the benefits of having self-cleaning glass installed. In high winds, the top of the tower can be felt to sway significantly which always caused problems when it came to cleaning and maintaining the building.
According to Tony Beall of Queniborough Aluminium Services, who manufactured and installed the new windows, the shape of the units made for a challenging task. “These are very unusual windows with a large front vision panel which slopes back onto the building leaving two triangle opening light returns either side,” he explains. “We supplied and installed over 400 of these as well as full height curtain walling to the landing, stairs and toilets. For all of these, we used argon filled insulated glass units manufactured with Pilkington Activ™ Blue glass for the external pane. One of the primary requirements in the specification was the ability of the glass to clean itself. Pilkington Activ™, the world’s first self-cleaning glass proved to be the obvious solution for the project."
The secret of Pilkington Activ™ is its special coating, which works in two stages. Firstly, the coating reacts with ultra-violet (UV) rays from natural daylight to break down organic dirt. The second part of the process commences when water hits the glass. Rainwater runs down the glass to wash loosened dirt (both organic and inorganic) away. Compared with conventional glass, the water dries very quickly reducing unsightly streaks or marks. In order to help keep the building cooler, Pilkington Activ™ Blue was specified. An attractive blue tinted glass that combines self-cleaning properties with solar control helping to maintain a comfortable environment all year round. The refurbishment of the campus building is now completed and the installation of the glass will ensure that the structure has a brand new, contemporary look and a fresh aesthetic appeal, as well as contributing to temperature control and a significant reduction in maintenance costs accrued through costly cleaning programmes!

High level window cleaner achieves ISO 9001:2000 certification: Leading high level window cleaning company J V Price has been awarded ISO 9001:2000 Certification, as provided by ISOQAR with the help of Linden Management Services. ISO 9001:2000 is an International Standard Certification in Quality Management which is applicable to all sectors of the business world. Companies that are certified under ISO 9001:2000 have improved access to local and international markets, and benefit from the following augmentations.
· International recognition through the ISO 9001:2000 syste
· The 'feelgood service factor' that customers experience when they know they are getting quality service
· The ability to submit applications for work whenever certification is a customer requirement
· The chance to implement a management system that leads to more effective processes, and assists in improving the objectives of the company.
· Recognition from the certification body that the company meets the requirements of the standard and is regularly assessed.
· The confidence that comes with knowing all processes are reviewed and improved through comprehensive audits.
"J V Price has been an exceptional young company to work for," says Geoff Burn, Director of Linden Management. "The company is an extraordinary example of what makes a company stand out from all the others." Charlie Price, Director of J V Price is pleased that the company has achieved certification, saying: "We are delighted to have achieved this accreditation as it shows customers our commitment to quality," said

Selling Windows On 164,000 Ladder Accidents Per Year

Loose the Ladder: Cleaning second floor windows is an arduous, time-consuming task that usually involves climbing on a ladder. Dragging heavy buckets of water and slippery cloths up the ladder is a risky proposition to say the least. Window washing is one of the reasons why more than 164,000 Americans visit the emergency room each year after tumbling off of ladders, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission as reported by Marvin Windows and Doors.
Avoid using a ladder for that type of cleaning by installing Marvin's new Ultimate Replacement Casement windows. The window swivels to let the homeowner easily wash it from inside the home. The product is suggested as a replacement for old, drafty, double-hung windows since one of the designs is a simulated check rail that matches the style of that traditional look. The window has a narrow jab and is easily installed as a frame-in-frame insert into old vinyl, aluminum or virtually any other existing window. The product also is suitable for use in a tear-out or new construction. Low E II glass with argon keeps heat in during the winter and out in the summer, lowering heating and cooling bills.

Pilkington Activ™ Moves Into Programme Sponsorship To Step Up TV Presence: Pilkington is boosting TV support for its market leading Pilkington Activ™ self-cleaning glass through sponsorship of some of Britain’s favourite property design and home improvement programmes. In a deal with leading digital broadcaster UKTV Style Pilkington Activ™ will sponsor their “Home Sweet Home” strand of programming; a combination of internally produced shows & popular repeats from the BBC archive. Set to reach more than four million homeowners across the six-month period September to March, the campaign offers the opportunity to see the messages an average of 28 times. Programmes being sponsored include DIY SOS, Colin & Justin’s Home Show and The WOW Factor. Pilkington Activ™ will join such iconic brands as Marks & Spencer, Cadburys, British Gas and Focus Do It All by choosing the sponsorship route as part of its consumer marketing mix, which with UKTV Style, ideally associates the product with home improvements and lifestyle. Following on from past TV commercials a humorous approach continues to be the thread for the idents which will be shown at the beginning and end of commercial breaks around each programme within the strand. A series of ten-second films show the lengths to which people will go to keep their newly clean windows free of obstructions - with seemingly house proud individuals suddenly removing whatever object is obscuring the view through their self-cleaning windows. Two Christmas ‘special’ idents will also be broadcast in the run up to the festive period. Julia Berkin, Marketing Communications Manager for Pilkington Activ™ says that programme sponsorship moves the game on for the product, which has revolutionised the way that window glass is marketed: “Our television advertising campaign has been very successful with many window installers enjoying excellent extra sales by taking advantage of the exposure the advertising has generated. But it is important to develop fresh ideas to reach new audiences and, having researched all options, our new programme sponsorship deal provides exciting new opportunities for any company offering Pilkington Activ™ to its customers.

Pilkington Activ™ Self-Cleaning Glass

Pilkington Activ, the World's first self cleaning glass uses the forces of nature to maintain its clear appearance without leaving unsightly streaks. In a dual-action process organic dirt is broken down by daylight and is then washed away by rain, thus making it environmentally friendly and very easy to maintain. The benefits of self-cleaning glass are numerous. If you clean your own windows you will save time and energy as cleaning windows will be a thing of the past; if you currently employ a window cleaner, you'll save money to spend on things you really enjoy. Managing director Karl commented "I'm very pleased to announce the availability of Pilkington Activ glass in our range of conservatories. I have this glass throughout my own home and I haven't had to clean them since the day it was installed, it gives me more time to do other things." Trade Price Conservatories are a leading supplier of DIY conservatories nationwide in the UK. To see their range of conservatories available with Pilkington Activ self cleaning glass, see the company website.

Comment: And "very easy to maintain" - You mean; clean, don't you? I thought it was self cleaning? And another thing - I thought the name was changed to "low maintenance glass?" Some very dirty Pilkington Activ glass (pictured above, courtesy of John at Majestic Window Cleaning, Blackpool, UK). INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING THE GLASS CAN BE FOUND HERE.