Window Cleaning & Glazing

Getting a glass crew to height on a mid-rise curtain wall is a logistics puzzle before it's a cleaning problem. The lift has to reach the glass, fit the footprint, not mark the plaza or the lobby floor, and clear whatever landscaping or architectural feature is between the truck and the building face. Window cleaning and glazing contractors solve this problem dozens of times a year, and the difference between a rental bill that adds up to more than a monthly payment and an owned unit that earns on every stop is usually a matter of doing the math on utilization.

We fund aerial equipment for window cleaning services, glazing installers, and facade restoration contractors from $50k up, new and used, credit history weighed against lift value. Most single-unit deals close in about two weeks. A standard equipment loan owns the unit outright on payoff and keeps the balance sheet cleaner than a lease for most small operators.

The equipment mix for this work runs from spider lifts on tracked rubber that can reach a fourth-floor curtain wall from a courtyard, to self-propelled articulating booms for open plaza facades, to electric scissors for interior atrium glass. The right unit for a given building isn't always obvious on the phone; it's spec'd on site. Owning a small fleet of two to three units in different height classes gives a window cleaning company the flexibility to say yes to more bid types without renting every time the job steps outside the single-unit range.

Platform Types for Facade Access

Spider lifts are the right answer for constrained sites. A Teupen LEO 23T or similar tracked articulating unit sets up in spaces no wheeled boom can reach, including interior courtyards, rooftop terraces, and narrow-footprint building setbacks. They can carry a glazier plus tools and a curtain wall panel on some configurations. The compact footprint is also useful in cities where sidewalk closure permits are expensive and time-limited. We finance Teupen spider lifts and comparable units from other manufacturers.

Self-propelled articulating booms in the 45-to-65-foot class cover most mid-rise exterior glass cleaning work where site access is open enough for a wheeled machine. Electric drive versions are preferred when working near building entrances or in parking structures where fumes would be a problem. A 60-foot articulating boom with a jib reaches glass that a straight boom can't angle into, which is a meaningful capability on buildings with setbacks or overhanging architectural features.

For atrium and interior glass, an atrium lift fits through a standard door opening and operates on non-marking tires without damaging finished interior floors. A glazing crew replacing or resealing interior curtain wall panels in a hotel lobby or office tower core needs exactly this. A standard scissor won't fit through the door, and a wheeled boom is too heavy for most interior decking loads.

Already Own Equipment? Pull Some Cash Out

Window cleaning companies that have been running their own equipment for a few years often have units with no remaining loan balance and solid residual values. A sale-leaseback converts that equity to cash without giving up use of the machine. You sell the unit to the lender, get the cash, and lease it back at a monthly payment that's usually lower than what you'd pay on new iron. The machine stays on your jobs; the cash goes into a truck, a crew hire, or a bid deposit on a new contract.

Refinancing also makes sense when a high-rate note from a few years ago can be replaced at a better structure. Aerial lift refinancing lowers the monthly payment or pulls equity out as cash depending on the current payoff balance and appraised value of the unit. If you have iron that was financed at 12 or 14 percent during a tighter credit period, it's worth a conversation about whether the current market improves your situation.

We want to buy a spider lift from a European manufacturer. Can you finance an import unit?

Yes, as long as the unit meets domestic safety certification requirements (ANSI A92 or equivalent) and has a clean title. Import units from Teupen, Palazzani, and similar manufacturers are financeable. The unit should have its documentation in order and be importable without a customs hold. Confirm the compliance status with the seller before we open the file.

Can I finance a unit I already own to get working capital for a new contract?

A sale-leaseback does exactly that. We buy the unit from you at appraised value, pay you cash, and lease it back so you keep using it on jobs. The cash is yours to use for contract mobilization, crew payroll, or equipment. Call to discuss the unit's estimated value and whether the structure makes sense for your situation.

We're a startup window cleaning company, two months in business. Can we get financed?

Two months is very early and most lenders won't touch it without significant owner equity. Our startup path requires a strong personal credit score, a meaningful down payment, and evidence of signed contracts or committed revenue. It's not impossible, but expect tighter terms than an established operator would see. Talk to us about what you have and we'll give you an honest answer.

The atrium lift we want to buy is a private sale from another window cleaning company. Does that work?

Private-party purchases work. We need the seller's information, the unit's serial number and condition, a bill of sale, and confirmation the seller holds clear title with no liens. If there's an existing loan on the unit, it has to be paid off at closing, which we can coordinate. Most private-party deals add a few days to the timeline versus a dealer purchase.

How does insurance work on a financed lift? We work on high-rise buildings and our policy is already expensive.

The lender requires you to carry insurance covering at least the replacement value or outstanding loan balance on the unit, with the lender listed as loss payee. If you already have a commercial policy covering aerial equipment, adding the unit is usually a rider, not a new policy. Check with your broker; the added premium on a single unit is typically modest compared to the unit's value.