Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Craguss on February 08, 2006, 10:47:34 am
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Thought i would throw this out and see what response from everybody!
what ladder would you recommend for cleaning a 3 story house? Quite high, but couldn't give you exact measurements.
I'm thinking of buying a three tier ladder, but worried about weight etc...
Any suggestions?
Craguss
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WFP ;)
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I do some of these and it's hard work mate. You'd need a triple 3.5m ladder, a double 4m would do it for me but you need to be mega tall to extend it. The triple will give you more stabilty. It's very difficult however carrying a triple 3.5m, ESPECIALLY round the back. If you need to go over a fence, GET A KEY or advise owner to leave gate unlocked. Otherwise, you need a miracle to lift it over a 6ft fence :'(.
WFP is my way for these hopefully in the future.
For ladders, I got some Titan's from www.midlandladders.net. Great price, free delivery. Make sure you get the special feet at the bottom, otherwise, WFP them ;D.
Carl
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Just out of interest, how much does a decent quality three tier ladder cost?
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Just out of interest, how much does a decent quality three tier ladder cost?
I paid £165 for mine.
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LADDERS, WHATS LADDERS,all this talk of triple exenstenders ,A Frames is confusing me ??? THE BEST ONE IS A PIPE UP THE MIDDLE ;D
GAZA
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Just out of interest, how much does a decent quality three tier ladder cost?
I paid £165 for mine.
Well for around another £200 to £300 you could've been up and running with a WFP.
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Well for around another £200 to £300 you could've been up and running with a WFP.
Hmmm, only 3 times the price then.... and it didn't exist when I bought the ladder anyway.
Doubt wfp would have gone 5 years without a single fault either.
People are having problems on here every day.
Much better value. 8)
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wfp 8) wfp :) wfp ;)
brett
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3 storey house with ladders ;D
no chance >:(
im keeping my feet firmly on the ground for 3 storey work ;)
Brett
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3 STOREY ON LADDERS JACK A NORY, JACK A NORY
GAZA
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3 STOREY ON LADDERS JACK A NORY, JACK A NORY
GAZA
Gaza,
I think they mean second-floor, which is a three-story building.
I've done this on ladders.
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Personally, I would not again use a 3 extention ladder. I have done and the one I bought was made by Ramsay and cost about £300 ordered through a local cleaning suppliers but if I was to buy the same again, I'd search the net for it.
I now use a 2 extention A frame if I need to use a ladder. Anything higher and either it doesn't get done or it's done by other methods.
It's also worth remembering that 9m is the legal maximum height for a ladder when window cleaning.
Also, I don't think Craguss was asking a quesion about wfp or whether he should be using it. It's almost like as soon as there is a question about trad methods and the like, the 'WFP is better' crops up. Personally, if I was new or newish to this forum I would find that very off putting if I posted a likewise question.
Cheers
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3 STOREY ON LADDERS JACK A NORY, JACK A NORY
GAZA
Gaza,
I think they mean second-floor, which is a three-story building.
I've done this on ladders.
So have I Tosh but I stopped doing those jobs a few years ago. I just didn't fancy going that high on a ladder any more with or without H & S guidelines.
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http://www.soapnational.co.uk/acatalog/Pulex.html
The above link is were I bought my new ladder from just before Xmas. Very good prices,Wooden sides ally rungs extends to 21'3".
Thats despite me putting an hell of a lot more into wfp.
If the Drought order comes in, I have got my base covered.
Nel.
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TOSH: DO YOU MEAN houses with a basement [below the pavement] then two floors up? :-\ with a nice spiked fence ready to catch you on if you fell?
gaza
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Hi Gaza
I know you mean well but it's not a fact that every window cleaner that ever was, is or will be, who uses ladders, is destined to fall of it and end up dead or crippled for life.
Best not use a car/van/bus/coach/lorry either because that car/van/bus/coach/lorry will get wrapped around lamposts or end up in smashups on the motorway. Car drivers get killed or crippled so if you drive a car, you will die or get crippled.
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ROSS:FAIR POINT, NOT EVERYONNE IN THE PUB IS DRUNK BUT WEVE NEARLY ALL BEEN THERE,IF NOT WEVE HAD HANNGOVERS.
POINT BEING WEVE ALL HAD A FEW HEART IN MOUTH MOMENTS,ME FOR ONE 16 FT HEAD FIRST INTO A YORKSHIRE STONE WALL.JUST COULDNT IMAGINE ANYONE WANTING TO WORK IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES,WITH ADDED DANGERS BUILT IN.
A W/C I KNOW 26 YRS W/CLEANING NEVER HAD A FALL,NEARLY 2 YRS LATER AFTER FALLING OUT OF THE TOP OF HIS WHEELIE BIN HES JUST RETURNING BACK TO WORK,BUT WALKS WITH A VERY BAD LIMP [SO IN THIS TRADE IVE LEARNED NEVER TO SAY NEVER
GAZA
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A W/C I KNOW 26 YRS W/CLEANING NEVER HAD A FALL,NEARLY 2 YRS LATER AFTER FALLING OUT OF THE TOP OF HIS WHEELIE BIN HES JUST RETURNING BACK TO WORK,BUT WALKS WITH A VERY BAD LIMP [SO IN THIS TRADE IVE LEARNED NEVER TO SAY NEVER
GAZA
Sorry gaza - I now you're making a valid and serious point - but how on earth do you fall out of the top of a wheelie bin? ???
Malc
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A W/C I KNOW 26 YRS W/CLEANING NEVER HAD A FALL,NEARLY 2 YRS LATER AFTER FALLING OUT OF THE TOP OF HIS WHEELIE BIN HES JUST RETURNING BACK TO WORK,BUT WALKS WITH A VERY BAD LIMP [SO IN THIS TRADE IVE LEARNED NEVER TO SAY NEVER
GAZA
Sorry gaza - I now you're making a valid and serious point - but how on earth do you fall out of the top of a wheelie bin? ???
Malc
Gaza
are you talking a load of rubbish ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Perhaps the guy works part time as a jack-in-the-box - curled up in the bottom of his wheelie bin - then BOOIIINNG! He gets fired out by a spring which probably broke leaving him in a heap on the floor.
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3 section Titans from midland ladders 137 quid i think, as Carl suggested.
sturdy set of ladders.
Ben
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Craggus, Ive used a triple extension for years. My first ladder for everyday use was a triple extender. Part of The first one now serves as the rack to carry my trolley containers.
This first one had a stabilizer bar fitted on the bottom.
I subsequently bought one made by Lyte. I found this one vastly superior to the Youngmans. The Lyte has D rungs. The first thing I did when I got it was to fit a large aluminium stabilizer, this has feet made from car tyres each side of it. I never trusted those plastic/ rubber things they fit as standard.
If your handy with the tools this is how you fit stabilisers.
1] Take out the rubber feet that come as standard.
2] Make two pieces of hardwood that push fit [I had to hammer mine in] and push them up inside the ladder as far as the first rung.
3]buy a piece of 3 inch by 1 inch heavy aluminium box section about 3 ft long.
4] cut out a 1 inch by 3 inch slot in the middle of the stiles to take the aluminium box section, leaving the hard wood in place.
Best to cut it a bit small and use a course file to ensure a good fit.
5] drill 8mm holes through the ladder and box section, put bolts through and tighten up. The hardwood inserts prevent the ladder sides from crushing.
6] cut two pieces of rubber out of a car tyre about 7 inches by 4 inches.
7] Using G clamps, fold the rubber over the end of Your stabilizer, secure and drill two 8mm holes in each piece. With the G clamps still in place insert two bolts with large washers and tighten up. Repeat this on the other side.
Job done. You have rubber feet that are in contact with a much greater surface area.
When you set your ladder at the normal angle and get on it, you have a rubber feet that are behind the ladder. you can pull rubber as we know when using a squeegie. See what happens when you try and push it.
I have never had a ladder slip back on me with this arrangement.
The top end of my ladder goes to a point. This too was an adaption. But Ive rattled on long enough. Second floor! Watch out for those nasty, sudden gusts of wind. DAI
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It's also worth remembering that 9m is the legal maximum height for a ladder when window cleaning.
Would like to point out that this height is now not valid, it did stand for many years but when WAHD became law on the 6th of April 2005 it was superseded, ok you could say well it says so here http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/misc613.pdf but like I said this height is now not valid, working at height is now class from ground up.
Because the above was formed before WAHD, a new one has been worked on to be in line with WAHD regulations, so that window cleaners can comply with WAHD, which I personal hope it clears up the confusion that is happening with in our industry and lets hope stops this WFP v Ladders debate. (Well we live in hope)
Andy
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So, what is the legal maximum height now as a temporary working platform? If there is no legal maximum height then ladders are banned.
Are ladders banned, yes or no?
It's dead easy to give a link but please would you state exactly are those regs stating, a) ladders can still be used or b) ladders are banned in terms of window cleaning.
It's either one or the other and if they can still be used, then what is the law governing there usage. If they are banned, then give a HSE link saying exactly that. If you cannot do then.......
So, instead of saying when a law was formed, how about saying what the new law is instead of giving just a link and letting others decide for themselves based on what they read?
Sorry to sound a bit abrasive and I don't mean to sound rude.
Your posting says nothing about what the law is but implies much especially the bit about 'lets hope this stops the WFP v Ladders debate'. How loaded is that statement?
Cheers
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Admitedly I only gave that document a 'speed read', but it seemed to indicate you could work above 9m providing the ladder is secured.....of course you have to climb the bloody thing to secure it to things such as eyebolts :-\
By which time the job is virtually done anyway ::)
But as Ross pointed out earlier, this is a thread about what is the best ladder, it's got nothing to do with WFP or the WAHD.
For myself I always got all of my ladders from a Company called 'Newent ladders and fencing'.
http://www.lfi-ladders.co.uk/
They usually do trade discount too and the quality of their kit is first rate.
Ian
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I've seen a few guys using 18ft extension poles for the applicator and squeegee so could be worth a try, mite be a bit slower doing it right but worth a try, 3x2m extension pole from cleantech, bout £30 I think.
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We had a 3 part wooden pointed ladder made
each section 15ft ,about 15yrs ago Cost £550 + vat
Telboy ;)
Angel C/S
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Hi I use a 16 foot double wooden point ladder for 3 storey house's and find it has more than enough height to spare.
Gordon