I don’t use ladders. I either use a wfp or use pole with a squeegee on it. So my problem is that when I do the straight pull with the squeegee, where the squeegee starts, I have about 2" that the squeegee just drags the water. So obviously when it dries it looks like there is a crazy dripping on every top border of these windows.
I hate this with a passion and I just can’t figure out how to prevent this. I have thought of a lot of crap to fix it afterwords but nothing really works.:mad:
This is so stupid but I can’t imagine I am the only one who has/had this problem…
I don’t think you are describing it right unless you are not starting at the top.
The squeegee doesn’t drag the water for 2"… The water hits the top and
comes down. If you don’t hit the top with the water and you start the stroke right at the
top, it should work.
Do you detail the tops with pole/towel after you’re done? Also I don’t know what they call it, but I usually do this little shake on the top before I pull down. More of a fake pull 3 or 4 times. I’m horrible at describing what I’m thinking. Perhaps someone could buzz in with a more detailed description.
This is one way to pole glass and higher stuff with deeper ledges a ledger can be used…
He’s in a shopping mall and not wetting the window like it’s outdoors, when scrubbing you need to do it a little bit more then him in a shopping mall where the glass isn’t as nasty !
Hahaha, seriously that would work awesome! I have tried everything to prevent the issue but I don’t see it happening. Shaking the water off the top ledge makes it less but it still leaves those streaks and crap. I have even tried drying it with a mf rag before the squeegee and it still looks like crap.
I think the only way to have it look the best is wait for it to dry and fix it afterwards. That was about as far as I got, and now I know how to fix it afterwards! It looks as if a goosneck would work good with that clamp though.
Edit: keep in mind I’m talking about windows that are about 15-20’ off the ground. Makes for a corny experience.
I have done a lot of interior work in banks and that method just seems like there would be streeks everywhere. I don’t know…maybe my gg3 just has too much residue in it… I think I am going to try that eco stuff you guys keep talking about;)
Be sure your rubber is in good shape, your channel is not tweaked,dog ear your channel, when you pull down be sure your channel is pointing down on the dry side ! Practice makes perfect.
This first pull across the top makes a dry spot which will eliminate your problem of leaving water at the top !
Learning the process is key and this is a standard process for most poling…It don’t leave streaks unless your not going through the steps and avoiding the points in my first sentence.
We cut the side or top (depending on which way you’re pulling) with our squeegee. For lots of small cut ups it is super fast. Still have to detail where you pull from to make sure there is no “dry” or gray streak left from pulling but that takes no time.
John the Sprayway cleaner has alcohol in it so it would actually do well until it gets pretty cold. Then you might even consider using some isopropyl on the micro as it should dry streak free as well.
If these are windows you do on a regular basis don’t get the top or side your starting from wet. Leave a 1/4 inch dry. Make sure your squeegee blade is dry.
The video is the correct method. If you try this method and get streaks or lines you just need a little more practice. This method is quicker because when you learn it you don’t have to detail the top at all. This is important on large commercial jobs with tons of glass, where detailing every window would cost you a lot of time.
I have used this method for years except I swipe to the left before I swipe right so the left top edge is dry as well. Swiping the top before you begin your pulls will remove all the water from the top edge of the glass and eliminate runs. at the end of the swipe to the right you pull all the way down making your first pull. The next pulls you start just left of the next section of glass you are going to pull. place your squeegee at the top of the wet glass without touching the top frame and swipe to the right before pulling down. This swipe to the right will dry the right side of the squeegee just before you start your pull down and it will keep the squeegee out ahead of the water under the squeegee using the momentum of the movement to the right. So water won’t escape off the squeegee on the right side of the squeegee and leave a line.
On the last pull you do what is called “feathering”, as you can’t swipe to the right anymore. You place your squeegee on the glass just below the wet line and pull down a little. Don’t start your first short pull above the wet line because your squeegee is full of water and it will just leave more water on the glass only now it is closer to the top frame and will not leave room to dry your squeegee on the next short pulls. Then go back up above the the wet line on the glass and pull down again then repeat the second move again once or twice before you pull all the way down. the first short pull removes most of the excess water form the top of the glass so on the consecutive pulls it won’t re wet your squeegee. It also pulls a little water off your squeegee. The next short pulls will remove the rest of the water from the glass and dry your squeegee completely. On the last pull, if done right your squeegee should be so dry that you can start on the glass in the center of the glass just below the top and it won’t leave a squeegee mark. when you get good at this you can actually do this in the center of a window and not leave a squeegee mark, which comes in handy a lot.
Sorry i’m being so technical but it is a technical maneuver to do it right. Once you learn it it is not very complicated and its quick and very handy.
If you watch the video closely the guy actually feathers the glass right before he swipes the top to the right. No offense to Mr. squeegee but this way is much faster as you don’t have to go back and detail the top of every window. That said I do love your trick Mr. Squeegee! I can see where it would come in very handy in different situations. I will definitely be practicing that one.
awesome explanation of the process…I have always had the same problem when polling on residential and thats actually one of the reasons I stoped going for residential work. Another light bulb jus lit up in my head…still kinda dark in there though…lol Thanx
