Window Cleaning in Anjou for Bungalows, Splits and Duplexes

Almost every house in Anjou sits within easy reach of a water-fed pole, so most homes here are a straightforward exterior flat-rate job. The bungalows and split-levels that fill much of the borough are one or two storeys, and even the duplexes rarely come near the three-storey limit. The real questions are timing, since the exterior season is nearly over, and how much road dust has built up on the glass.

Below is how a visit usually goes on each common type of Anjou home, what is and isn't part of the rate, and how to plan around the cold.

The housing mix in Anjou

Anjou grew mostly after the war, and that shows in the streets. Long rows of brick bungalows, split-levels and cottages share the borough with semi-detached homes, duplexes and some low-rise condo buildings.

• Bungalows. Single-storey homes with wide living-room windows and basement windows near the ground. These are the quickest homes to do from outside. The basement wells are often the dirtiest glass on the property.
• Split-levels and cottages. A second floor, sometimes a dormer, and windows on several heights. The pole handles all of it from the ground, though a sloped yard or a deck can change where the technician stands.
• Duplexes and semi-detached homes. Two units stacked or side by side. Front glass is simple. At the back, check for balconies, outside stairs and fences that sit close to the windows.
• Low-rise condos. If the exterior is a common part of the building, the syndicate usually decides who washes it. Owners can still book interior glass on their own.

Highway dust and what it leaves behind

Autoroutes 40 and 25 both run along the borough, and busy arteries like boulevard des Galeries-d'Anjou and rue Jean-Talon carry steady traffic. Homes close to these roads tend to collect a grey film faster than streets farther in, particularly on the side facing the road. In winter, salt spray and fine grit from snow clearing add to it, so ground-floor and basement glass is often in rough shape by spring.

Pure deionized water lifts this kind of road film without leaving residue, which is why the glass dries clear instead of spotted. What it won't fix in one pass is long-standing mineral buildup, the hard white marks left by sprinklers or runoff over several seasons. That treatment is quoted separately. A photo with your request is the easiest way to tell which you have.

What the exterior flat rate includes

You choose a tier based on how many windows the house has on the pricing page. The rate covers the outside: glass, frames and sills, cleaned with pure water on a water-fed pole, with screens rinsed in place. The full scope is on our residential window cleaning page.

Outside the flat rate, things fall into three groups:

• Optional paid add-ons: interior glass, screen removal and washing, and track cleaning.
• Quoted on their own: skylights, solariums, heavy mineral stains and post-construction cleanup.
• Not something we do: screen repair. If the crew spots a torn or bent screen, you'll hear about it so you can have it fixed.

For homes taller than three storeys or with hard access, a site visit comes first. In Anjou that is uncommon, but it does happen with some additions and with houses on a steep lot.

Getting a bungalow or duplex ready

A little prep keeps the visit short and means no window gets skipped.

• Clear the basement wells. Pull out leaves and debris if you can, and move anything stored against those windows.
• Open the side gate. Many Anjou lots have a narrow passage beside the house. Leave it unlocked, or tell us how to get to the backyard.
• Move items on the deck or balcony. Furniture, barbecues and planters pressed against the glass block the pole and the brush.
• Mention trees and wires. Mature trees are common on the older streets. Branches touching the windows or wires near the back are worth noting in the request.
• Talk to the other unit. In a duplex, let the upstairs or downstairs occupant know the date, especially if they share the yard.

Timing the visit this late in the year

Exterior work runs from about March to November, and it depends on the glass staying above freezing long enough to dry. In Anjou, as elsewhere in Montréal, those days are getting few. Our article on when it's too cold to clean windows outside explains where the line falls.

If you miss the window, the plan is simple. Interior glass can be booked at any time of year, and the darker months are when smudges and fingerprints stand out in low sun. The exterior can wait until spring, once the salt is done flying and the road film has stopped piling up.

How often Anjou homes need it

Twice a year, spring and fall, suits most houses in the borough. Our bi-annual program handles the scheduling with automated reminders. An annual spring clean is enough if your windows stay fairly clean between visits. Homes right next to a highway or a busy boulevard may want more, and recurring plans come with a discount: 10% for quarterly, 15% for bi-monthly and 20% for monthly service. The bi-annual and annual programs carry no discount.

Frequently asked questions

Can a water-fed pole clean the upstairs windows of an Anjou duplex?

Yes. The pole reaches up to three storeys from the ground, and a duplex is well within that. Rear balconies, stairs or fences close to the glass are the usual complications, so describe them in your request. If something can't be judged from photos, a site visit sorts it out.

Are basement windows included in the flat rate?

They are counted like any other exterior window when you choose your tier. The glass, frame and sill are cleaned from outside. Clearing leaves and debris out of the window well beforehand helps the crew reach the whole pane.

Is interior window cleaning available in winter?

Yes, interior glass can be booked all year as a paid add-on or on its own. Many Anjou owners do the inside in winter and the outside in spring. Someone needs to be home for interior work.

What happens if there are streaks after the visit?

Let us know within 24 hours and the crew comes back free of charge. Check the glass in daylight soon after the visit, since low winter sun makes any streak easy to see.

Book a visit in Anjou

Altara has cleaned more than 7,800 homes across Greater Montréal, and Anjou is in our regular service area. Choose your tier on the pricing page, or send us a request with photos if your home has unusual access or stained glass you'd like us to look at first.