Getting a streak-free shine on windows isn’t easy, but Paul F. Moore of Stanford has been doing that for more than 35 years, 23 of those in the area, as a window washer.
“I don’t believe in leaving streaks behind,” he said smiling.
Moore originates from the Boston area and came to the region in 1990, moving to Lincoln County, after he said he got tired of the winters in New England. He had visited the region some in the 1980s as a Jehovah’s Witness. With that memory, he relocated, settling first in the Waynesburg area, before later buying a house in Stanford in 1995.
“I haven’t regretted the decision,” he said with a smile.
When he arrived here, Moore already had established his business in the North but was forced to “start from scratch” in this region. He started on the outsides of some of the area factories through the help of local janitorial companies.
“The janitorial companies didn’t have anybody that was really good at glass,” he said, noting they would call him and send him to different locations to clean.
Moore also would visit various businesses from Somerset to Georgetown, going “storefront to storefront.” Some of the early operations were in Scott County, where he still cleans, a testament to his consistency, Moore said.
“I basically had to get out there and beat the bushes,” he explained.
Car dealerships, banks and city offices all have been part of his customer base, in about 10 counties across the state. The 62-year-old has been cleaning windows on many businesses in downtown Danville for about 16 years.
“Sometimes that’s how people find out about me, because they see me on the street,” he said. “Everyone wants clean windows.”
While residential window cleaning always has been part of his business, Moore explained that it wasn’t until last year that he really began doing more homes in the area, partially because he snagged a few customers that were more well-known and whose opinions carried weight.
Moore runs a one-man business, Awake Maintenance, although he is training another man to become a window washer. He said the decision to go it alone was one he had to make many years ago.
“Early on, I had to decide, ‘do I want my business to be big, or do I want my business to be just big enough for me to handle?’” he said.
While Moore occasionally recruits people to help, for the most part, he said going it alone is enough to support himself and his wife.
“As long as I can physically do the work, I’m going to be out there working,” Moore said.
Having flexible hours and spending the day outside make the job even better for Moore, who enjoys being able to work outdoors.
“From March through November, I am a happy man,” he said with a smile.
While there are some washers who lower scaffolds down, to hang off the sides of buildings, Moore prefers to keep his feet firmly planted.
Sometimes, he says he will use a boom lift, when necessary.
Originally, he started in the janitorial business, doing the window washing aspect on the side, but ultimately it became the bulk of his work.
As a window washer, Moore has been a proud member of the International Window Cleaning Association, an international trade group, since 1976.
He also recently joined Angie’s List, saying he can be found on that site or by calling him at (859) 749-4168 or emailing him at pfmoore2010@gmail.com.
Another option is to look for him hard at work cleaning someone’s window when the weather clears up.
“I don’t believe in leaving streaks behind,” he said smiling.
Moore originates from the Boston area and came to the region in 1990, moving to Lincoln County, after he said he got tired of the winters in New England. He had visited the region some in the 1980s as a Jehovah’s Witness. With that memory, he relocated, settling first in the Waynesburg area, before later buying a house in Stanford in 1995.
“I haven’t regretted the decision,” he said with a smile.
When he arrived here, Moore already had established his business in the North but was forced to “start from scratch” in this region. He started on the outsides of some of the area factories through the help of local janitorial companies.
“The janitorial companies didn’t have anybody that was really good at glass,” he said, noting they would call him and send him to different locations to clean.
Moore also would visit various businesses from Somerset to Georgetown, going “storefront to storefront.” Some of the early operations were in Scott County, where he still cleans, a testament to his consistency, Moore said.
“I basically had to get out there and beat the bushes,” he explained.
Car dealerships, banks and city offices all have been part of his customer base, in about 10 counties across the state. The 62-year-old has been cleaning windows on many businesses in downtown Danville for about 16 years.
“Sometimes that’s how people find out about me, because they see me on the street,” he said. “Everyone wants clean windows.”
While residential window cleaning always has been part of his business, Moore explained that it wasn’t until last year that he really began doing more homes in the area, partially because he snagged a few customers that were more well-known and whose opinions carried weight.
Moore runs a one-man business, Awake Maintenance, although he is training another man to become a window washer. He said the decision to go it alone was one he had to make many years ago.
“Early on, I had to decide, ‘do I want my business to be big, or do I want my business to be just big enough for me to handle?’” he said.
While Moore occasionally recruits people to help, for the most part, he said going it alone is enough to support himself and his wife.
“As long as I can physically do the work, I’m going to be out there working,” Moore said.
Having flexible hours and spending the day outside make the job even better for Moore, who enjoys being able to work outdoors.
“From March through November, I am a happy man,” he said with a smile.
While there are some washers who lower scaffolds down, to hang off the sides of buildings, Moore prefers to keep his feet firmly planted.
Sometimes, he says he will use a boom lift, when necessary.
Originally, he started in the janitorial business, doing the window washing aspect on the side, but ultimately it became the bulk of his work.
As a window washer, Moore has been a proud member of the International Window Cleaning Association, an international trade group, since 1976.
He also recently joined Angie’s List, saying he can be found on that site or by calling him at (859) 749-4168 or emailing him at pfmoore2010@gmail.com.
Another option is to look for him hard at work cleaning someone’s window when the weather clears up.
