Commercial Window Cleaning London

Commercial window cleaning without scaffolding or cradles

Many commercial buildings are too tall for water-fed poles and have no safe space at street level for a cherry picker. Rope access solves both problems. Technicians descend from certified anchors on the roof, clean the glass and frames on the way down, and move across the building one drop at a time. Nothing is parked on the pavement, nothing blocks the entrance, and the work is quiet enough for the building to carry on as normal.

It is also flexible. Rope access works on stepped and curved facades, atriums, light wells, canopies and areas a cradle or boom can't reach. It's often the most practical way to clean buildings with mixed glazing or unusual shapes.

What we clean

Curtain walling and glazed facades: full-height glass on offices and commercial blocks.
Window frames, sills and spandrel panels: cleaned with the glass so the whole elevation is finished evenly.
Atriums, roof lights and canopies: internal and external glazing that is hard to reach any other way.
Signage and entrance glazing: high-level areas that shape first impressions of the building.

Planned maintenance or a one-off clean

Most commercial buildings are best kept on a planned schedule, such as quarterly or twice a year, so dirt never builds up to the point where it etches the glass or stains the frames. We also carry out one-off cleans, for example after construction or refurbishment, before a letting or sale, or ahead of an event.

Working on occupied buildings

We agree working hours, exclusion zones below each drop and any notices for tenants in advance. Where your building operates a permit-to-work system, we work within it. If you manage a residential block rather than an office, see our residential window cleaning page.

Safety and compliance

Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, work at height has to be properly planned, supervised and carried out by competent people, using the right equipment. For rope access, that means trained technicians working on two independent ropes, a written risk assessment and method statement, a rescue plan, and anchors with a current inspection record.

If your roof anchors don't have an up-to-date inspection certificate, we can arrange anchor and eyebolt testing before the first clean, so the building is ready for any rope access contractor.

Pricing

What affects the cost

Every building is priced individually after a look at the facade and roof. These are the factors that make the most difference.

Number of drops: Each vertical run from the roof is a 'drop'. More elevations and wider facades mean more drops and more time on the ropes.
Height & glazing type: Taller buildings take longer per drop. Curtain walling, fins, louvres and recessed windows change how quickly each drop can be cleaned.
Roof access & anchors: Easy roof access with certified anchors is quickest. Restricted access, long walks across the roof or anchors needing a test add time.
Condition of the glass: A first clean after years of build-up, or glass with construction residue, takes longer than regular maintenance cleaning.
Frequency: Planned contracts usually cost less per visit than occasional one-off cleans, because the building stays in better condition.
Site rules & timing: Out-of-hours work, permits, exclusion zones over entrances and tenant notices can all affect planning and price.

How quotes are structured, and how to compare them like for like: our guide to what affects the cost.

How it works

From enquiry to completed work

01
Enquiry
Send the address, the elevations you need cleaned and any building rules or photos.
02
Survey & quote
We check roof access, anchors and the facade, then send a written quote setting out the scope.
03
Plan & RAMS
Dates, exclusion zones and notices are agreed. You receive our risk assessment and method statement.
04
Clean & sign-off
The team cleans drop by drop and reports any defects, damaged seals or anchor issues they see.

What to ask any rope access contractor

Whoever you appoint, these documents should be available before anyone goes over the edge of your roof. Ask us for ours with your quote.

Rope access technician certificates (for example IRATA or SPRAT) for the people on your job, in date
A site-specific risk assessment and method statement (RAMS) before work starts
A rescue plan, and a named supervisor on site
Evidence that the anchors being used have a current inspection record
Public and employers' liability insurance certificates
Clear scope: which elevations, which glass and frames, and what is excluded

FAQs

Common questions

Can you clean our office windows outside working hours?

Rope access is quiet and doesn't need ground-level equipment, so it usually causes little disruption during the working day. Where a building needs early-morning or weekend work, for example to avoid a busy entrance, tell us when you ask for a quote and we'll plan around it.

Do you clean the inside of the windows as well?

Rope access covers the external faces of glazing and frames. If you need internal glass cleaned at the same time, mention it in your enquiry and we'll confirm what we can include.

Is rope access window cleaning priced per drop, per hour or per visit?

Contractors quote in different ways: per drop, per day, per hour or a fixed price per visit. That makes quotes hard to compare. Whichever basis is used, check that each quote covers the same elevations, surfaces and number of visits, and says whether anchor testing is included. We give a fixed written price for the agreed scope.

Can you clean high-rise office buildings?

Yes. Rope access is used on buildings of almost any height, provided there are suitable certified anchors and safe roof access. Taller buildings mean longer drops and more time on site, which we plan for in the quote.

How often should commercial windows be cleaned?

It depends on location and exposure. Buildings near busy roads, rail lines or construction sites get dirty faster. Many commercial buildings are cleaned quarterly or twice a year; prestige frontages and entrances are often done more often. We can suggest a schedule after seeing the building.

What do you need from us before the first visit?

Roof access arrangements, the location and inspection records of your roof anchors, any building rules or permit-to-work process, and a site contact for the day. We'll send a risk assessment and method statement before work starts.

Our building has a cradle. Can you still help?

Yes. Some elevations, such as setbacks, atriums, canopies and areas the cradle can't reach, are often better done on ropes. Rope access can also cover cleaning while a cradle is out of service.

More on safety, pricing and booking in our rope access FAQs.

Commercial window cleaning by rope access