Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 15, 2006, 09:09:36 pm

Title: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 15, 2006, 09:09:36 pm
How would youse clean the middle window as shown below. Currently I hang off the window and stand on the porch. Not safe I know, just wondering how others would tackle it. Buildersclean by the  way so approx 4 mins working time.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: jeff1 on October 15, 2006, 09:13:25 pm
Be nice if we could see the window  ;D ::)
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 15, 2006, 09:27:10 pm
Must be really clean already. ;D
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 15, 2006, 09:28:02 pm
Sorry, having trouble attatching the picture :-[ ;D
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 15, 2006, 09:35:16 pm
Yeah, that's all you can do really.

Only difference is I'd put the ladder at the front and step over, rather than up the slopey roof.

In fact it looks like quite a shallow porch, so you could probably over-extend by a few rungs and  do it from the ladder. :)
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 15, 2006, 09:46:55 pm
If I put the ladder at a more severe angle would this not increase the risk of the ladder slipping away at the bottom and I dont think H&S would agree either way
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Sir Squeaky on October 15, 2006, 09:48:36 pm
Yes, but I'm talking about being steeper, not flatter.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: mogy on October 15, 2006, 10:18:31 pm
Ive  beentelling customers I dont walk on tiles so as not to risk breaking any / or me slipping , and so far no ones thought this unreasnable.
  Nigel
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Johnboyfree on October 15, 2006, 10:33:21 pm
Hi,as its a builders clean,I would do it from the inside,the porch is not designed to take youre wieght,(they do I know,but it is dodgy)if you dont believe me ask the Architect,we have the same problem on the ones we do, :'( :'(
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: pjulk on October 15, 2006, 10:42:53 pm
Put your ladder above the window with someone footing the ladder
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 15, 2006, 10:45:44 pm
I work on my own usually so have to tackle it as a single operator. The porch is pre fabricated so is not roof tiles
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Easyclean Windows on October 15, 2006, 10:47:06 pm
what about invsting in something like these you could maybe get them as near to the porch as possible
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: P®oPole™ on October 16, 2006, 08:37:32 am
 :o :o :o omg that second step ladder pic :o :o :o I swear I wouldnt climb that thing past the v point if you paid me five figures.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 16, 2006, 08:40:56 am
Me too, but is it actually safe. I have seen a couple of pictures similar advertised by ladder companies so presume it is

Cheers
Neil
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: P®oPole™ on October 16, 2006, 08:42:25 am
is it resting on the wall, or just in mid air?
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Archy136 on October 16, 2006, 08:54:05 am
That second one is not safe. I dont care what they tell you.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: [GQC] Tim on October 16, 2006, 10:40:46 am
Not possible to do by pole? I mean, I think I have 1 like that and I do it with my 6m Pole.....doesn't clean as well as app + Squeegy, but still, a fall is a fall, and can have disastrous consequences.... :)

I have one or two with a window with a sloped slate roof at a slight incline.....VERY slippery, so if it's not dry (dry is perfectly save) I always use my pole...yes it doesn't clean that good, but it's clean, and I still have both my legs when I'm finished.

Your life or a window....easy choice.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Toff on October 16, 2006, 11:36:42 am
Put the ladder on the porch then go up to the height of the porch then use a pole if you have one of those squeeges that you can change the angle of, then when you do the bottom pane you can have the squeege at say 45 degrees.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Easyclean Windows on October 16, 2006, 04:39:00 pm
He can probbably clean it from teh floor but if you look it has the protective tape all around the frame so hes got to get up somehow....if it was me i would charge for a platform and normally they have them on site anyway.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: JohnL on October 16, 2006, 04:47:34 pm
In that first ladder pic the mfrs instructions say do not climb beyond the V so I would have assumed the second ladder pic must have a similar instruction.

Whatever - its not safe! - no way

JohnL
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: windows_chepstow on October 16, 2006, 06:21:05 pm
As Squeaks says, that porch looks quite shallow, so I'd position the top of my ladders to one side of the window, or just above it and have the feet resting on a Rojak ladder stopper.

My Rojak has holes drilled in the corners and I can use tent pegs to peg it into soft ground (a tip from this site).

If you wanted to be doubly safe, you could also tie the ladder off, using the wooden brackets that support the porch.

This advice may not be HSE acceptable, but common sense tells me I'd be safe.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Paul Coleman on October 16, 2006, 06:44:47 pm
Neil.
I'm assuming that you have no WFP or prefer not to use it as it's a builder's clean.
There are two possible ways I could do that.  Neither of them entail positioning a ladder the way that ladder is leaning against the porch.

1)  The ladder could be positioned facing the house and extended quite a way above the window thus reducing the angle.  Hopefully you would be able to reach the glass by hand.  Ladder mitts on top of the ladder would be good to avoid sideways slipping on the brickwork.  You could then clean in the normal way.

2)  You could use a non-WF pole and attach your hand tools onto the end of them cleaning the window from ground level.  There are scrapers that fit into a squeegee handle and onto the pole (I use an Unger one) which should allow you to scrape the glass while it is soaking wet.  As there is probably builder's debris, you may also want to consider getting an applicator sleeve which is abrasive on one side (can't recall the name).
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: dai on October 16, 2006, 08:42:28 pm
Sod the sign that says keep off the lawn, go from the front of the porch with the top of your ladder up near the pale colour bricks. I have a stabliser bar across the bottom of my ladder, and I put a spike the size of a poker in the ground behind it.
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: marc on October 16, 2006, 10:37:34 pm
id change over to wfp then you wont have these problems
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Johnboyfree on October 16, 2006, 10:44:00 pm
id change over to wfp then you wont have these problems
[/i]Hi,You cant really use WFP on Builders Cleans,it just doesnt work......(you have to take off a plastic/cellophane type material that protects the window)
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: Neil Mc Anulty on October 17, 2006, 08:08:37 am
marc
Impossible. You also have to take the stickers off around the frame and sometimes the manufacturers sticker is on the outside which requires a spray of solvent. I have access to a wfp system but it would just not be suitable for the initial cleans I do, you need to get up to the window 
Title: Re: how would you tackle this?
Post by: marc on October 17, 2006, 07:31:00 pm
i know i was trying to start wfp v trad fight for my own amusement ive just smacked my wrist