Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ronnie paton on November 12, 2007, 06:27:09 pm
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iv been asked to price for a mill 6 storeys now my issue is to clean the top level windows i will proberly have to be in the middle of the road, i could get there early and try and do top two levels b4 its gets busy but not sure i could do it that quick.
Anyone with experience Wfp that high?? what advice can they give?
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spread the job over a few early mornings
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thought bout this but its 30-40mins away on way! :'(
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How long do you think the job will take?
Work that one out and then start that much earlier before the area becomes busy
or if you can cordon of an area so you can work
Dean
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start earlier, darker afternoons at 4-5pm means lighter mornings, maybe you could start at 5 or 6am
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it would mean starting in the pitch black!!!
do you have to see the window to clean it?? wot i mean by the way is from the position your going to clean it do you have to see the whloe window?
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round here its getting light bout 7ish(not sur were about were you are ;D0 so couldnt start much earlier
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Ronnie
You just have to get your timing right, get there as early as possible, set up fast & be ready to start as soon as its light enough.
1. Make sure all windows are shut before you start. Simple but can be the biggest mistake starting early.
2. Have cones & signs for road & footpath.
3. Start at the most awkward point to get it over & done.
4. Have other person to step in road to cover back & watch traffic & pedestriam
ns.
5. Swap over regular to keep pole going while you rest.
6. Complete the job as normal & get fried sandwich & coffee. Because the hard parts over.
I,ve a 5 storey & 6 storey to do saturday in town centre before the shoppers start.
Gary
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thanks gary for the advice.
I did suggest a cherry picker for the high level but i dont think they want the extra cost
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if using the 'supalite' pole pick a day that isn't blowing a gale or gusty winds for 6 storey work as it will get blown around otherwise as it's too light.
If it's possible, strategically park your van to protect yourself whilst working at height, ensuring you have adequate hazard warning signs in place for the passing public & motorists and start at 1st light in the morning whilst it's quiet.
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Start early not sure why people are mentioning if its dark or not. When working wfp at six storeys you aint going to see anything even if is light. I start 5.30/6.00 most days even in the winter.
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We have a council offices & the window is like an alloy sash window. If the central lock is not on these windows slide up slightly, so there,s a small gap at bottom & it is realy difficult to see, i have others that are no problem in dark, new build etc.
Its just a case of knowing what to look for & preparing for what could go wrong.
The above office some windows slide open as you clean them aswell, so you realy have to be careful.
Gary
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same advice as most comments above but also is it possible to clean the top two floors on a sunday morning this way there is likely to be less traffic and so less hazzards, we do a few commercial jobs on sundays where traffic and pedestrians would otherwise be a real hastle.
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that is something im considering thanks for all the help.
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ronnie ill ladder it for ya
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I did suggest a cherry picker for the high level but i dont think they want the extra cost
Had the same experience a few times. I find people don't like paying for anything if they think they might not have to ::)
For example might say:
"We really need a cherry picker for that job. Only other way is if I scale the outside of the building using crampons and ropes, risking death, then swing like Wallace and Gromit with a sponge in my mouth wiping the windows as I swing past them."
How would they reply?
"Would the crampons damage my building?" ::) ::) ::)
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everclean its 6 storeys i think your winding me up!
;)
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doing the job next thurs so will post some pics!
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ronnie ill ladder it for ya
Do you want someone to foot the ladder for you. ;D
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ronnie ill ladder it for ya
Do you want someone to foot the ladder for you. ;D
some people have nothing better to do ::)
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Done mine saturday, difficult start, one lad didnt come in & the other late.
Got job done no problem, but, would like to know what pole other members use.
We use ionics carbon ergolite, but still dont rate it at that height.
Favourite pole is Tucker, but, dont like them at 60 foot either.
Ionics/ facelit/ fishing poles etc. Any feedback welcome.
Gary
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im using the unger one thurs so will give you some feed back.
im dreading it!
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Ronnie, how many off you are working. i found at 60ft you want/need to change every couple of windows. The guy resting then swapping. You need breaks aswell.
It seems weird but when you get down to about 45ft its almost like working first floor.
I,ve never tried the unger, so cant comment, but is it not heavier than the ionics, thats heavy enough.
Gary
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two of us so will swap regular, not sure iv borrowed it for the job on the view to but if its decent.
i have a 45ft brodex pole(its not carbon fibre) and that is really heavy.
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Herses some pics of the job being done
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here they are
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weel i used the unger pole and it was resonabley light but over 5 storeys it was like a snake and very difficult to control. it also is screw in sections and with the moving of the pole the sections unscrew and the water goes all over you(i got soaked)
Now the job its self.... well the windows hadnt been cleaned for 15 years and the widows were extremly weathered after cleaning the windows were still quite bad(i did explain the prblems that i may come accross) i tried a saple window with trad and sfter cleaning it several times it still was bad.
im quite please with my first 60 ft experence but its hard work and scary at times and im sure they will give me problems with payment but we will have to just see.
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It's a completely different experience cleaning 6 storey windows in comparison to 4 storey. Have to work for your money so to speak. After 6 storey, 4 and 3 are a doddle and feel like cleaning ground floor windows :)
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weel i used the unger pole and it was resonabley light but over 5 storeys it was like a snake and very difficult to control. it also is screw in sections and with the moving of the pole the sections unscrew and the water goes all over you(i got soaked)
Now the job its self.... well the windows hadnt been cleaned for 15 years and the widows were extremly weathered after cleaning the windows were still quite bad(i did explain the prblems that i may come accross) i tried a saple window with trad and sfter cleaning it several times it still was bad.
im quite please with my first 60 ft experence but its hard work and scary at times and im sure they will give me problems with payment but we will have to just see.
Like the van ronnie WHERE IS YOUR WEBSITE ADDRESS on it???
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on the front1 the van is filthy and i only cleaned last friday >:(
been waiting for a call off the director of the building to see if hes happy but no response, but gladly i checked my email and i did explain about the standard of the clean considering how long they have not been cleaned for and the state of the frames and glass so that should cover me!!
while on the subject is there any way of getting rid of the weathered dirt that seems to stain the windows and make them look kinda of frosted ???(if you know what i mean!)
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on the front1 the van is filthy and i only cleaned last friday >:(
been waiting for a call off the director of the building to see if hes happy but no response, but gladly i checked my email and i did explain about the standard of the clean considering how long they have not been cleaned for and the state of the frames and glass so that should cover me!!
while on the subject is there any way of getting rid of the weathered dirt that seems to stain the windows and make them look kinda of frosted ???(if you know what i mean!)
a scraper but at that height sod that.
IMO get your web address on all sides m8, front you cant see fromt the side or back ;)
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i tried with a scraper(low level) still not much joy thougght there may of been a easy way!!
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i tried with a scraper(low level) still not much joy thougght there may of been a easy way!!
Not that I know of m8 sry
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Gary Evans, the Gardiner 60ft Super-lite weighs only 2.58 kg, that less than my 25ft Brodex!!!!! I have a 50ft Super-lite 2 and its not a problem at that height, my disabled mum could hold it up without it being leaned against a building!!!!! not as scary as a Brodex/Ionics Carbon 60ft, I thibk they weigh around 5/6kg!!!! Luke
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2.58kg is that with the brush ?
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Yes I think so Jeff will have to ask Alex though, Luke
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its not the weight in my opion its if its too flexible that makes it more difficult!
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(http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/SL2_45_Treg_500.jpg)
what flex?!!! it does have a bit but this pole is fantastic
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i didnt say it did but thats hardley 60foot
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Ronnie nice pics, hopefully you made good money, by the looks of the building its the usual left 10+ years (15 as you said) then all of a sudden they want it perfect. Tucker do a chemical which have not tried yet that supposedly would do it, but it would be by hand. That pole looks quite good, for flexability. i might look at one, theyre 5 mins away from me. But dont like the issues about the water with it.
Luke thanks for that i,ll give Alex a call, that does look good at flex., compared to ionics 60ft, i,d almost be touching the parapit of the lower floor with my pole.
There is another manufacturer bringing one out so hopefully they are robust & have a good brush, because they all seem to have something wrong.
Gary
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(http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/SL2_45_Treg_500.jpg)
what flex?!!! it does have a bit but this pole is fantastic
Luke, can you tell me, is that you working with in that picture?
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It's my hunky husband :)
Mrs A
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Hmm, well, thing is, that pic looks photo-shopped to me.
The top 1/3rd of the pole looks in far too clear contrast by comparison to the rest of the picture. The pole appears to be far too clear considering how far up it is and distant from the camera. In short it looks like a line drawn on a pc's picture editing software. Much too clear.
Also, why is the pole lighter in colour where it pases the brick-work above the arch behind it, as that brickwork is also lighter, makes me wonder because of that too.
Matt
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Hmm, well, thing is, that pic looks photo-shopped to me.
The top 1/3rd of the pole looks in far too clear contrast by comparison to the rest of the picture. The pole appears to be far too clear considering how far up it is and distant from the camera. In short it looks like a line drawn on a pc's picture editing software. Much too clear.
Also, why is the pole lighter in colour where it pases the brick-work above the arch behind it, as that brickwork is also lighter, makes me wonder because of that too.
Matt
What complete rubbish!
The picture was taken on a Samsung U600 3.2mp camera phone by one of my workmates. This was then uploaded to my computer and all that was done to it was it was cropped to make the whole picture slightly smaller. I do not even own Photo-Shop. Zoom in closely and you will be able to see that it has not been enhanced in any way.
The reason that it looks so straight is that it is propped against the glass at the top. Unlike some other firms posed pictures though it is completely ready for work. It has the hose fitted to it and the hose is even full of water, as I am actually using the pole.
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Hmm, well, thing is, that pic looks photo-shopped to me.
The top 1/3rd of the pole looks in far too clear contrast by comparison to the rest of the picture. The pole appears to be far too clear considering how far up it is and distant from the camera. In short it looks like a line drawn on a pc's picture editing software. Much too clear.
Also, why is the pole lighter in colour where it pases the brick-work above the arch behind it, as that brickwork is also lighter, makes me wonder because of that too.
Matt
I would say thats shadows making the top of the pole darker not editing in photoshop., maybe just maybe it is just a good pic, I get them sometimes ;)
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What complete rubbish!
Calm down.
I was mearly an observation, Luke, posted the pic, anyway, I was asking him, for all I knew he could have got the pic from any site on the net, it may be any ol' run-of-the-mill pole; and IMO the observations are what I see.
Matt
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What complete rubbish!
Calm down.
..........and IMO the observations are what I see.
Matt
Well I was pointing out that your observations are complete rubbish. As this picture is taken from my retail website and is being used to promote a product (Super-Lite), it is quite reasonable to defend its authenticity as otherwise I could be done under the Trade Description Act.
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alex what is the pole like at 60ft?? is it still as stiff???
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alex what is the pole like at 60ft?? is it still as stiff???
As I mentioned earlier the pole does look stiffer than it is due to the top resting against the window. 60ft is only another 4 sections on the bottom, as the pole in the picture is a 40ft Super-Lite. The sections that have the most flex are the (from the top) No.2, No.3 and No.4 so these are not affected by more extensions below, the base sections are the most rigid of all of the sections. The one thing that you need be careful of when using these type of poles at 60ft is wind strength, because they are so light a strong wind will exert quite a lot of force on the pole.
The majority of the Super-Lites that we have sold are the 55 and 60ft reach versions. The great thing about them is that if you only need the full reach for occasional work you have still got the rest of the pole for lower work.
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I'm sorry but I also do work restoring old photographs on Photoshop and I can tell a photoshoped picture instatly, that picture is clean. I also have a Super-lite and that is what it is like against a building, its brilliant. Thats actually quite a big accusation as it comes under false advertising laws!!! Luke
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I'm sorry but I also do work restoring old photographs on Photoshop and I can tell a photoshoped picture instatly, that picture is clean. I also have a Super-lite and that is what it is like against a building, its brilliant. Thats actually quite a big accusation as it comes under false advertising laws!!! Luke
It isnt 'quite a big accusation' at all.
It APPEARS to me to be a manipulated image, thats all, nothing else, Im not suggesting anything else. NOTHING !!
ZILCH !! NOUGHT !! BUGGER ALL!!
Theres manipulated images all over the internet, it DOES NOT mean that those that post them are in breach of any law, it means theyve posted a manipulated picture on the internet. Which isnt illegal.
Oh btw, it still doesnt look quite right to me.
BUT thats just my opinion, which also isnt illegal.
Matt
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Oh btw, it still doesnt look quite right to me.
BUT thats just my opinion, which also isnt illegal.
Matt
No, but it is slanderous. I realize you are entitled to your opinion, as we all are, but because of what you have said, you have inferred that the photo is not genuine which in turn infers that I am being dishonest or at the very least I am trying to give people a false impression.
Despite my response, assuring the genuineness of the photo, you go on to state that in your opinion the picture has been manipulated. Questioning someone's integrity, despite their assurances, is not something you can do without expecting a response!
I can categorically state that this picture is not manipulated in any way and I do take offense that you still feel it necessary to question it, even though I have clarified in an earlier post that this picture has not been manipulated in any way.
I may be many things, but I do not try to deceive people and take pride in my honesty.
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You made me jump then Matty i have a job almost identical to that one in the pic.
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Sorry i meant Alex,where`s that job i have a job like that in Kent,it was where Simon Cowell took his group from Xfactor last year.
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The one thing that you need be careful of when using these type of poles at 60ft is wind strength, because they are so light a strong wind will exert quite a lot of force on the pole.
Hi Alex
Is this merely because the pole is diff to handle in the wind or is it because it may break. (No offense meant, just interested)
We are using Ionics ergolite as you would probably expect. But, I am always open to new technology if it will help our business.
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Slander refers to the falsely spoken word.
Liable might be what you really meant ;D ;D
As for the photo, I wasnt aware you posted it, it was in Lukes post wasnt it?
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Sorry i meant Alex,where`s that job i have a job like that in Kent,it was where Simon Cowell took his group from Xfactor last year.
Cornwall. It's a very large and well maintained stately home, we clean the windows every 2 months. Used to take 2 of us 15 hours off of Ladders, it now takes us 3 hours!
The one thing that you need be careful of when using these type of poles at 60ft is wind strength, because they are so light a strong wind will exert quite a lot of force on the pole.
Hi Alex
Is this merely because the pole is diff to handle in the wind or is it because it may break. (No offense meant, just interested)
We are using Ionics ergolite as you would probably expect. But, I am always open to new technology if it will help our business.
It is because they are so light they have very little resistance (inertia) to high winds and as a result they become harder to handle. In high winds I would stick to the Ergo-Lite or just leave the job (which is what I do) until it is more moderate. Having said that I have worked with a Super-Lite at 45ft in a howling gale, where the wind has been so strong that you had to have the pole at 45 degrees into the wind to move it across the building.
Slander refers to the falsely spoken word.
Liable might be what you really meant ;D ;D
As for the photo, I wasnt aware you posted it, it was in Lukes post wasnt it?
I might be 'liable' to do anything (ask my wife), but you're right 'libel' is what I should have put. :)
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The service you have givem me in the past is as good as anyone could of done Alex but i must admit my pole was not as ridgid as that one.
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The service you have givem me in the past is as good as anyone could of done Alex but i must admit my pole was not as ridgid as that one.
As I have mentioned previously on another thread, the brush is propped against the window which makes the pole look stiffer and the photo was taken as I working pulling the pole back down which also will have an effect on the perceived flex. The photo was not really taken to demonstrate its rigidity (an un-propped photo would do that better) but just to show one being used on a real job.
It's a shame that the S2 wasn't the pole for you, but then we are all different (fortunately!).