Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: buzzing on November 20, 2014, 07:04:21 am
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1416466857_ladder win.jpg)(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1416466864_ladder win (2).jpg)
Got to clean out these two gutters above an old house, any advice on safety with ladder?
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the proper way to work safely off a ladder is either to have it tethered to an eye bolt in the wall or have it footed by a mate, harness with a short lanyard so that you still have three points of contact as you clean the gutter, short pole with a gutter tool so you can get it all from one position and something to hang a bucket off the top of your ladder
don't spend the money you earn from this, put it into a pot towards a gutter vac, you can get something good enough for 2 storey domestics for £300 ish from guttercleaningsystems
Graham
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I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
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On that one I would position my ladder on the wall above the top window so the microlite standoff fits in nice as close to the guttering as possible. Then set the ankalad outriggers properly so it stops any backward and sideways slip which also happens takes the bounce out of the ladder too.
You will probably find lots of crap, broken motar, bits of tiles and all sorts in both of those roof gulley's too.
Being those downpipes have bends at the top and bottom they will probably be blocked aswell so you may need to take the joints apart to clear them that is if they are plastic and not glued together. If they are cast iron then will need to be vacummed from the top first then jetted through. You can on some ocasions try to unblock them with just using a garden hose attached to a pole with a cone nozzle in the downspot on full pelt. Also attaching a wet/dry vac (guttervac) to the bottom of the downpipe as in this pic.
What ever methods you use it's always best to do a water test to make sure the gutters & downspouts are free flowing.
Hope this helps?
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For goodness sake guys, get the ladder, put it up against the house and get up there. Not hard. We've been doing gutter cleans off ladders for 8 years, never had a problem, just be carefull and you'll be fine! What is going on with all this worry about ladders! People have been using them for years!!
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People have been getting killed and/or seriously injured falling from ladders every year since they were invented too. It’s good to be cautious and use appropriate safety devices when using ladders instead of just saying it will never happen to me. ;D
For goodness sake guys, get the ladder, put it up against the house and get up there. Not hard. We've been doing gutter cleans off ladders for 8 years, never had a problem, just be carefull and you'll be fine! What is going on with all this worry about ladders! People have been using them for years!!
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Exactly, be carefull and you'll be fine, that's the point.
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So are you saying no one foots the ladder for you and you use no safety devices at all for roofline work?
Exactly, be carefull and you'll be fine, that's the point.
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Yep, same as all 8 other window clearners I work closely with. Ladders were designed for use such as reaching gutters etc, after being carful about placement, you will be perfectly safe, it's no different cleaning windows off ladders, your just a bit higher.
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So how do you do awkard jobs say for instance like the fist pic I posted will deep sofitts?
would you rest the ladder on the gutters as there is no other place to put it as the fascia showing is tiny to rest the top of the ladder there safely. What I'm getting at is you need to use the right bits of kit that will make your job safer and easier to do surely?
Yep, same as all 8 other window clearners I work closely with. Ladders were designed for use such as reaching gutters etc, after being carful about placement, you will be perfectly safe, it's no different cleaning windows off ladders, your just a bit higher.
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I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
What's the cost of that kit mate?
Would it fit on a pointed double ladder?
Cheers
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We rest ladder on gutter in those situations, you'll be absolutly fine, all you need to do is be vigilante and carefull
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From the pictures, Wouldn't it be easy I have the added up agaisnt the wall?! Next to the gutter? It's inly a small strip? You could easily reach it?
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That's just raving bonkers if you ask me ;D
We rest ladder on gutter in those situations, you'll be absolutly fine, all you need to do is be vigilante and carefull
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Hi, Best just google both ankalad and microlite standoff separately
I also like bps ladders as are more stable than ladders without the wide stabiliser foot at the bottom of the ladder also they have catches to stop the sections from moving apart when you carry then about etc. Not only that they don't tend to want to twist and become unstable when extending the sections like standard ladders do.
I would not have thought you could fit an ankalad to a window cleaners ladder as the stiles need to be parallel to each other with at least 9 rungs.
I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
What's the cost of that kit mate?
Would it fit on a pointed double ladder?
Cheers
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I do gutter clearing as a living not just an addon to window cleaning so I like to do it as safely and as easily as I can. I also clear roof gulleys too when required as is a bit pointless just trying to clear gutters when they look like this.
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I do gutter clearing as a living not just an addon to window cleaning so I like to do it as safely and as easily as I can. I also clear roof gulleys too when required as is a bit pointless just trying to clear gutters when they look like this.
like the set up !
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Thanks...Me too ;D
I do gutter clearing as a living not just an addon to window cleaning so I like to do it as safely and as easily as I can. I also clear roof gulleys too when required as is a bit pointless just trying to clear gutters when they look like this.
like the set up !
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buy a standoff cant beat them for the price they bring u out away from the house, secure u better and balance u better for the sake of 30-40 quid u cant beat them slip matt at the bottom
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I've used other types of standoffs but that microlite standoff is the only one that is class 1 rated in the UK and designed to be used on roof tiles too. As for using a slip matt I just don't trust them as don't work on slippery surfaces unlike an ankalad.
buy a standoff cant beat them for the price they bring u out away from the house, secure u better and balance u better for the sake of 30-40 quid u cant beat them slip matt at the bottom
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buy a standoff cant beat them for the price they bring u out away from the house, secure u better and balance u better for the sake of 30-40 quid u cant beat them slip matt at the bottom
Got a standoff and rubber ladder matts, put the standoff against the brickwork? To foot the ladder, does someone just stand on the bottom rung of the ladder?
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id much rather a hugh plantpot behind me than a slip matt on slippery surface but only everyday normal surfaces id rather a slipmatt than nothing
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I do gutter clearing as a living not just an addon to window cleaning so I like to do it as safely and as easily as I can. I also clear roof gulleys too when required as is a bit pointless just trying to clear gutters when they look like this.
like the standoff on the roof idea...I normally just stick a a bag of sand on
the ladder and I have those flexible large rubber safety feet on the ladder.
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I find having the ladder positioned higher than the gutters like that makes the job so much easier and safer to do.
I do gutter clearing as a living not just an addon to window cleaning so I like to do it as safely and as easily as I can. I also clear roof gulleys too when required as is a bit pointless just trying to clear gutters when they look like this.
like the standoff on the roof idea...I normally just stick a a bag of sand on
the ladder and I have those flexible large rubber safety feet on the ladder.
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I would rather turn up to a gutter job and when needed to get my ladders of the van use a ladder safety device that is already fitted to the ladder that I know is going to work no matter what surface I'm working on. The legs on the ankalad folds flat to the stiles so is quick to set up and with the microlite standoff combined makes a very stable ladder platform to work from.
id much rather a hugh plantpot behind me than a slip matt on slippery surface but only everyday normal surfaces id rather a slipmatt than nothing
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the proper way to work safely off a ladder is either to have it tethered to an eye bolt in the wall or have it footed by a mate, harness with a short lanyard so that you still have three points of contact as you clean the gutter, short pole with a gutter tool so you can get it all from one position and something to hang a bucket off the top of your ladder
don't spend the money you earn from this, put it into a pot towards a gutter vac, you can get something good enough for 2 storey domestics for £300 ish from guttercleaningsystems
Graham
I've been looking for a Sky/Satellite dish installers harness and short Lanyard but they aren't that common. The harnesses that secure from the back are the common ones. The harness I'm wanting it secured from the front.
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hi Spruce
google-the safety supply company, they have harnesses with front D rings
Graham
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We rest ladder on gutter in those situations, you'll be absolutly fine, all you need to do is be vigilante and carefull
That's nuts. Absolutely.
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buy a standoff cant beat them for the price they bring u out away from the house, secure u better and balance u better for the sake of 30-40 quid u cant beat them slip matt at the bottom
This is what we use as well as someone footing the ladder.
I have hammered a piece of 4" x 2" into decking before now at the foot of the ladder to stop it slipping.
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I have this gear too http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JSxy43fnPA
cssworksafe
the proper way to work safely off a ladder is either to have it tethered to an eye bolt in the wall or have it footed by a mate, harness with a short lanyard so that you still have three points of contact as you clean the gutter, short pole with a gutter tool so you can get it all from one position and something to hang a bucket off the top of your ladder
don't spend the money you earn from this, put it into a pot towards a gutter vac, you can get something good enough for 2 storey domestics for £300 ish from guttercleaningsystems
Graham
I've been looking for a Sky/Satellite dish installers harness and short Lanyard but they aren't that common. The harnesses that secure from the back are the common ones. The harness I'm wanting it secured from the front.
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I've completed many gutter clearing jobs using ladders were the surfaces have been very slippery including decking no probs with an ankalad & microlite standoff. Surfaces can also be dry and ok one min the with the least amount of water on them turn into an ice rink so at least I know the ladder is not going to go anywhere.
Better to be safe than sorry and all that as they say :)
buy a standoff cant beat them for the price they bring u out away from the house, secure u better and balance u better for the sake of 30-40 quid u cant beat them slip matt at the bottom
This is what we use as well as someone footing the ladder.
I have hammered a piece of 4" x 2" into decking before now at the foot of the ladder to stop it slipping.
-
I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
Smurf, is this what you recommend- http://www.laddersafetysupplies.co.uk/stabiliser.shtml
?
Is a triple ladder better than a double? Which triple, do you recommend?
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Yes that's the one but I think the new ones are not blue now.
The ladder I use most is a bps 12 rung combi tripple which suites the work I do best used as a normal ladder.
You can get longer ones but I stay clear of 3 storey ladder work now.
I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
Smurf, is this what you recommend- http://www.laddersafetysupplies.co.uk/stabiliser.shtml
?
Is a triple ladder better than a double? Which triple, do you recommend?
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Yes that's the one but I think the new ones are not blue now.
The ladder I use most is a bps 12 rung combi tripple which suites the work I do best used as a normal ladder.
You can get longer ones but I stay clear of 3 storey ladder work now.
I use an ankalad stabaliser fitted to my triple ladders & microlite standoff that can rest on roof tiles.
It's the safest set up I have used to date and never do any ladder roofline work without them now.
As far as keep having to move the ladders I also use progutter tools on a pole if/when required.
Smurf, is this what you recommend- http://www.laddersafetysupplies.co.uk/stabiliser.shtml
?
Is a triple ladder better than a double? Which triple, do you recommend?
Do you need the triple for 2 storey gutters? Would the double be ok for accessing the first storey windows? I am thinking of getting either a double or triple ladder and not sure whether to get 3.5metres (closed)- 6metres open or 3 metres closed and bit less open for my car?
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On that one I would position my ladder on the wall above the top window so the microlite standoff fits in nice as close to the guttering as possible. Then set the ankalad outriggers properly so it stops any backward and sideways slip which also happens takes the bounce out of the ladder too.
You will probably find lots of crap, broken motar, bits of tiles and all sorts in both of those roof gulley's too.
Being those downpipes have bends at the top and bottom they will probably be blocked aswell so you may need to take the joints apart to clear them that is if they are plastic and not glued together. If they are cast iron then will need to be vacummed from the top first then jetted through. You can on some ocasions try to unblock them with just using a garden hose attached to a pole with a cone nozzle in the downspot on full pelt. Also attaching a wet/dry vac (guttervac) to the bottom of the downpipe as in this pic.
What ever methods you use it's always best to do a water test to make sure the gutters & downspouts are free flowing.
Hope this helps?
I have a normal standoff, it would be ok to put that just above the window, right? Doesn't have to be a microlight one does it?
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Normal ones are ok too but you can't rest them on roof tiles or flat roofs if you needed to.
On that one I would position my ladder on the wall above the top window so the microlite standoff fits in nice as close to the guttering as possible. Then set the ankalad outriggers properly so it stops any backward and sideways slip which also happens takes the bounce out of the ladder too.
You will probably find lots of crap, broken motar, bits of tiles and all sorts in both of those roof gulley's too.
Being those downpipes have bends at the top and bottom they will probably be blocked aswell so you may need to take the joints apart to clear them that is if they are plastic and not glued together. If they are cast iron then will need to be vacummed from the top first then jetted through. You can on some ocasions try to unblock them with just using a garden hose attached to a pole with a cone nozzle in the downspot on full pelt. Also attaching a wet/dry vac (guttervac) to the bottom of the downpipe as in this pic.
What ever methods you use it's always best to do a water test to make sure the gutters & downspouts are free flowing.
Hope this helps?
I have a normal standoff, it would be ok to put that just above the window, right? Doesn't have to be a microlight one does it?