FAQ

Yes, we qualify for one of the lowest WCB rates in our industry due to our excellent safety record. We adhere to and exceed all WorkSafeBC standards. Moreover, we are fully covered with Commercial General Liability insurance.

If you need a WCB Clearance Letter click HERE > FG WorkSafeBC account number: 902315.

Our safety record speaks for itself, but specifically, all our technicians are given regular training in ladder safety, working around electrical lines and roof safety (and all our technicians are enrolled in a fall protection training course). Nevertheless, we invest heavily in tools and equipment that keep our technicians on the ground when possible.

We are usually booking about 2 weeks out, but this can extend to about a month in our busiest times (spring through fall).

Windows are either soaped up with an applicator and squeegeed clean, or we use a water-fed extension pole with de-ionized water. Both methods yield great results. 

Friendly Giant uses a two-step process to first remove and then treat the moss with our eco-friendly moss spray. We offer a 2-year moss-free warranty when both steps are completed. We NEVER use a pressure washer to remove moss from an asphalt roof.

Yes. Our email invoicing system allows you to pay online directly via our secure gateway (or over-the-phone). Other methods of payment include: an e-Transfer to info@friendlygiant.com, or a mailed cheque to our office. Cash is not accepted.  

Yes, we have several different programs for the volume discount that comes with a “one stop” job for our crews. Contact us for details

Yes, we can tailor our services to meet your exact needs. If monthly, seasonal or annual service is what you need, we will make it happen.

Please note that for most of the work we perform, with the exception of interior window cleaning, you do NOT need to be home; however, our technician will give you a courtesy call to let you know when he's on his way (on the scheduled day of work). We'll send you an invoice (by email), which will include a list of payment options, once completion of the work has been confirmed.

For jobs that include gutter scrubbing, pressure washing, moss sprays (to fill our spray tank), or any work that requires the use of a water-fed pole, please ensure that an outside water source is available (this is especially important in the colder winter months).

Most townhome and condo complexes request inaccessible window cleaning. This includes all windows that are inaccessible to the residents. The accessible windows are those that are on the ground floor (although we include ground floor windows, too) and balconies. We can also provide cleaning for skylights, awning glass, and railing glass. If inaccessible railing glass is requested, we would clean the outsides of the railings (inaccessible to the resident). If the client would like accessible glass on the balconies cleaned, we would need to have access by ladder or rope descent system (or be granted inside suite access).

We usually make this distinction because most strata typically cover the cost of inaccessible window cleaning, leaving the cleaning of the accessible windows; i.e., windows easily reached by individual residents, up to individual tenants or condo owners.

With the island (Victoria in particular) experiencing unseasonal rains and temperatures the way it can, especially during the fall and winter months, homeowners are left wondering if this is the right time to get their windows cleaned. After all, there’s a common misconception that rains can only make your windows dirtier.

However, this is far from the truth. In fact, rainy weather may just be the perfect time to get your windows cleaned and be ready for the sparkling sunshine (in spring and summer).

The theory that rain could make your windows dirtier stems from the industrial era when the air was saturated with pollutants which would come down with rain, staining windows.

Today, the scenario is quite the opposite. Many professional window cleaners harvest rainwater to clean windows; we use DI (deionizing) tanks. Because rainwater is mostly soft, it’s pure, deionized and hardly contains any dissolved salts or minerals.

Absolutely, if you're looking for rough estimate of how much your window or gutter cleaning, or pressure washing, will cost (moss removal will require a site visit from our estimator) please feel free to use our online estimator. With a little info from you, our handy little calculator will give you an idea about what you can expect.

Alternatively, feel free to send us an email or call our office and we'd be happy to provide you with a "ballpark" figure of what your work would cost (with a few details about your home's characteristics from you). A "ballpark" figure is an estimate of what your work might amount to numerically (as a dollar value) when a more accurate number can be assessed when we're on-site. For your convenience, and in an effort to provide you with a more hassle-free experience and faster service, providing you with a ballpark estimate (eliminating the need for an on-site visit from an estimator) can be helpful in establishing a placeholder, for purposes of conversation or estimation, when a more precise number is not available.

NOTE: Our online estimator does not cover every eventuality. With all of our roof services, prices can vary depending on age of roof, excessive moss growth, overfull gutters (growing plants), steep pitch, and difficult surrounding terrain. To obtain a more precise estimate, call our office to discuss your situation.

(Click below to view online estimator)

Yes, in fact, we also provide snow removal (clearing) and de-icing services in those winter months when the island does actually receive snow. We've got the equipment and the manpower to handle most jobs of any size and would be happy to provide you with an estimate. Please send us a message or give our office a call.

Just before the beginning of the pandemic we’d actually expanded our business to include locations in Nanaimo and in Vancouver; however, COVID-19 caused us to delay our original plans to expand into Vancouver (and the lower mainland). Our expansion into Nanaimo, on the other hand, has been successful and we’re already growing a list of loyal customers.

Nanaimo Office Details
Address: #203 - 335 Wesley St. Nanaimo, BC. V9R 2T5
Phone: (778) 744-0454
Email: info@friendlygiant.com

Please feel free to contact us anytime.

Glass Guys was another local window and gutter cleaning company that offered services similar to those provided by Friendly Giant (and owned and operated by the same owners of Friendly Giant). However, Glass Guys has since ceased its operations and has been absorbed by Friendly Giant Window & Gutter Cleaning (“sister company”), who would be more than happy to take care of your home maintenance needs. If you are a former customer of Glass Guys, Friendly Giant is here to continue to provide you with the same array of services, and quality of service that you’ve come to rely on from Glass Guys.

Please feel free to contact us anytime.

We often hear the terms power washing and pressure washing being used interchangeably. But are they really the same thing? Or are they completely different? It might seem a bit confusing, but the short answer is this: they are the same, but different.

The main difference between pressure and power washing services is the water temperature. Power washing uses hot water to accomplish the cleaning. Pressure washing uses normal temperature water and high-pressure equipment. It can remove dirt, algae, and grime. However, the basic function is the same: they both use highly pressurized water to help remove dirt and other materials from hard surfaces, only a power washer includes a built-in heating element to heat up the water.

To make the proper distinction, we provide pressure washing services.

NOTE: we will NEVER use a pressure washer on an asphalt roof.

No, dealing with the myriad vagaries associated with that aspect of the business became too complicated and unprofitable. Therefore, in an effort to provide a better quality of service to its customers Friendly Giant gave up the gutter installation and repair part of its business (and sold all its parts and equipment) so it could focus primarily on providing the very best window and gutter cleaning, and moss removal and roof cleanup services.

Regular window cleaning is very important because it helps to remove contaminants and pollutants that have stuck on the glass and have prevented natural light from penetrating inside. Dirt, dust and grime usually tend to settle on windows over time if they are not regularly cleaned.

If dirty windows are left long enough, the layers of debris and grime can cause discoloration. Over time this can permanently harm the opacity of the glass in the window. Moreover, windows can get etched and stained owing to an unkempt appearance to your home. Ultimately, windows that are not properly cleaned and maintained can become damaged due to the presence of pollutants, potentially resulting in one or more of them needing to be replaced, which can be an expensive proposition.

Getting your windows cleaned by a professional is not as costly as you might think. In the long run, it will most likely save you money. By reducing the normal wear and tear with regular cleanings, you will have to replace your windows less. Also, spotting potential damage early can save you money as well.

Please feel free contact us anytime to schedule an estimate or to book an appointment.

Gutters are designed to collect rainwater from the roof and carry it away from the foundation of the home through downspouts.

If gutters are not cleaned and water overflows from the gutters, it will fall along the foundation of the building. This can soften the soil under and around it which will lead to foundation cracks. In extreme cases, water damage can cause structural failure in a building.

If the water has nowhere to go, it will naturally fill up the gutter and eventually overflow onto the foundation of the home – and it won’t stop there! Depending on the amount of water and the condition of the foundation, water could seep into your basement or crawl space.

Clogged gutters can also pose a weight strain on your roof and the fascia (the boards behind the gutters). If the gutters are too full, they could possibly collapse off the roof of your home, causing damage to the shingles of the roof and the exterior of the house.

To summarize: A routine cleaning of your gutters can prevent damage to your roof, exterior and foundation, saving you thousands in possible repair costs.

Please feel free contact us anytime to schedule an estimate or to book an appointment.

While a small layer of thin moss isn't too troublesome, large clumps of moss can degrade shingles, get beneath them and create opportunities for leaks. Further, many of the methods of removing moss that are recommended online actually damage the shingles, which could significantly increase your odds of getting a leak.

To avoid expensive repairs, moss should be removed from your roof tiles quickly if it is covering a significant area of your roof. Avoid pressure washing your roof to remove moss (you should have misgivings about anyone willing to pressure wash your roof), as this could cause damage to the tiles and lead to the drenching of your roof interior.

Roof moss removal is essential to ensure that your roof stays in pristine condition even after completing its life. Moss grows in shady damp portions of the roof and is harmful to the structure (as moss acts like a sponge). Since water content builds up and moss feeds on moisture, the roof starts to absorb water, causing the wood underneath to rot and decay.

For asphalt shingle roofs, moss becomes a deteriorating factor if not treated in time. The growth cluster can raise the shingles on the roof, which makes the structure vulnerable to water, resulting in leaks. Also, debris gets trapped in the moss cluster, which triggers water buildup and leads to rotting of the material, becoming a cause for roof leaks.

NOTE: we NEVER use a pressure washer to remove moss on a roof.

Please feel free contact us anytime to schedule an estimate or to book an appointment.