Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Llaaww on March 26, 2019, 08:05:46 pm

Title: Ladder servicing
Post by: Llaaww on March 26, 2019, 08:05:46 pm
I had a look through back posts but couldn't find what I want. I have a double ally pointer that is 11 years old. I want to be sure it is in good nick as it is now getting more use.

Have any of you had a ladder serviced or re conditioned and if so where can I get it done?
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: nathankaye on March 26, 2019, 08:18:55 pm
Nope, ild normally buy a new one.

Sorry thats not much help
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: P @ F on March 26, 2019, 09:13:35 pm
How can you even service a ladder , I wouldn’t know where to put the oil and water 😁
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: SB Cleaning on March 26, 2019, 10:19:19 pm


This has got to be a wind up ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: Llaaww on March 26, 2019, 10:53:54 pm
No mate it's not a wind up. Hooks and guides wear out and could be replaced. With a replacement costing over 300 I thought I would look at replacing these parts. On the whole the ladder is in good shape but these parts are now fairly worn.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: deeege on March 27, 2019, 06:34:19 am
Grippa and Ionics both service them. £600 and £900, including changing the burner.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: Smudger on March 27, 2019, 07:31:58 am
Take no notice of the p!ss takers,


You should be able to get spares from the ladder manufacturer - young man or whoever this will be on side of the ladder

Failing that contact the ladder association and they can point you to the right place to get replacement parts.

Darran
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: NWH on March 27, 2019, 09:10:37 am
Mine are round the back of the house now,I bought a cheap short double just to get onto the odd roof a few times every 6 weeks,if I can’t pole a window or unless it’s a low flat roof I don’t do it.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: Stoots on March 27, 2019, 11:59:58 am
Chuck it off the edge of your nearest cliff and buy a wfp.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: Spruce on March 27, 2019, 12:24:15 pm
We were taught on our window cleaning nvq course that ladders should be visually inspected and a note made of an defects. A record should be kept for inspection and should be done regularly. Bent ladder rungs or cranked supports would mean the ladder should be taken out of service. Ladder feet shoes are available but the new ladder regulations could come into play.
I still have a lite domestic ladder on the van that we used in our early trad days as they were lighter to carry around.
From the beginning of this year ladder regs changed and in a commercial application we are only to use industrial ladders manufactured to EN131.
If we are using these domestic ladders and there is an accident, would insurance companies use this as a reason not to pay a claim?
I think we have used these ladders twice in a year, but I do need to replace them with new ones.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: NWH on March 27, 2019, 12:37:35 pm
Or not used at all when you are able to do a job that doesn’t require them,I still know a couple of guys I see regularly that work off ladders it’s like putting needles in your eyes for fun cleaning windows with ladders these days.
They all have the same attitude I’m happy sticking to what I know,I think to myself what red fingers in winter stuck to the side of an aluminium ladder lol,yeah crack on then.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: nathankaye on March 27, 2019, 12:58:52 pm
Or not used at all when you are able to do a job that doesn’t require them,I still know a couple of guys I see regularly that work off ladders it’s like putting needles in your eyes for fun cleaning windows with ladders these days.
They all have the same attitude I’m happy sticking to what I know,I think to myself what red fingers in winter stuck to the side of an aluminium ladder lol,yeah crack on then.

A chap who works in doncaster who I know (often have a chat etc), fell off the last few runs of his ladder and broke his shin bone and did damage to his ankle. He jokingly said maybe its time to use the pole............nope, he still uses the ladder
🤔🤔
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: NWH on March 27, 2019, 01:21:38 pm
Houses I do now I’d have to miss 10 or so Windows because I wouldn’t be able to reach  with ladders.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: Smudger on March 27, 2019, 02:50:18 pm
While wfp is the way to go - ladders are still widely used and circumstances may dictate wfp is not an option - a chap around our way does not drive so water fed pole is a no no he goes from village to village by bus and has a customer who stores his ladders for him where he walks around cleaning for the day

Darran
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: NWH on March 27, 2019, 04:36:02 pm
I just think they must be complete fools with almost every other window cleaner using a pole and then not,halllo hallo anyone in there.
This job couldn’t be easier these days why on earth would you want to climb a ladder, the old job must have turned them into manic depressives the way some of them look when I drove past em
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: dazmond on March 27, 2019, 06:27:00 pm
I still need my ladders for the odd job for cleaning glass roofs on some large domestic properties and opening gates...I wouldn't be without them...(3.5m trade ladders)....

As for wear and tear mine will last many years yet as they only get used a few times a week... :)
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: G Griffin on March 27, 2019, 06:49:13 pm
I just think they must be complete fools with almost every other window cleaner using a pole and then not,halllo hallo anyone in there.
Don't you mean Hailo Hailo?
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: NWH on March 27, 2019, 07:23:06 pm
Yeah something like that or maybe the open mouthed dribbling look,it baffles me when I see a few I know climbing metal.
I think some feel they actually need to go home half dead to feel like they’ve done a days work,I can remember not feeling like doing a lot at the weekend after a week on ladders.
Title: Re: Ladder servicing
Post by: robbo333 on March 27, 2019, 07:39:44 pm
Found this on the internet, it may be helpful.


'Ladder and Step Ladder Repairs

In the majority of cases most ladders cannot be repaired as doing so may invalidate their compliance with the standard in which they were certified to. This is why any repair should be carried out by a qualified person to ensure the repair work conforms to that standard. If a repair is carried out to an unacceptable standard then you would be liable for any potential claims against you for the ladders no longer being certifiable.

In those cases where the ladders can be repaired it might not be cost effective to do so and may actually be cheaper to replace them. For example, if the aluminium rung needs replacing then this will involve separating the rung from the stile, welding in a new section then re-certifying it; the labour cost and time involved may cost more than a replacement ladder. If any damage is caused to the stile then the whole stile would need replacing as the inegrity of the entire ladder could be compromised with a localised repair.

For these reasons we recommend that if a ladder is damaged then the whole ladder should be replaced. However, in saying that, with the proper care most ladders go on for years of use without any problems at all.

The same concept applies to step ladders as the production of the steps is similar to that for ladders. However, on some step ladders that have a platform step it may be possible to replace this if it becomes damaged. This would have to be inspected by a qualified person to determine if the platform step could be replaced.'

Sounds like, if you are unsure, then it may be worth replacing them.