Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Village Gleam on December 10, 2007, 08:32:36 pm

Title: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Village Gleam on December 10, 2007, 08:32:36 pm: I use ladders quite a bit and thought I knew what i was doing. I had to access a 1st storey roof. Put the ladders up steeply but they slipped about 2' before they caught when I was at top. Re sited them and tried again same thing, came down and told custy couldn't do one window.
The floor was slabs, wet and a bit green and slimey.
Suppose i'd better get some safe ladders, what are my best options?
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: LWC on December 10, 2007, 08:43:41 pm: go wfp
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: SherwoodCleaningSe on December 10, 2007, 08:45:37 pm: For really tricky windows stick a damp folded scrim under the ladders.
If it's too wet though just say NO.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Nathanael Jones on December 10, 2007, 08:46:32 pm: Buy a powerwasher and offer to clean the custies patio for her!! A great sideline, and makes it safer for you too!
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: windowwashers on December 10, 2007, 08:48:51 pm: Quote from: SherwoodCleaningSe on December 10, 2007, 08:45:37 pm
For really tricky windows stick a damp folded scrim under the ladders. If it's too wet though just say NO.
if its slippery just dont do it , dont put a scim under it. DONT DO IT. it is dangerous.

Ian
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: East coast window cleaning Services on December 10, 2007, 08:49:50 pm: Quote from: LWC on December 10, 2007, 08:43:41 pm
go wfp

Im wfp but theres always a flat roof you need to jump on. Like another post said get a jet wash a jet it down most hire shops do a decent one for 20 a day
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: burky-boy on December 10, 2007, 08:49:59 pm: Do you not have spikes on your ladders :o
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Sir Squeaky on December 10, 2007, 09:00:02 pm: Quote from: burky-boy on December 10, 2007, 08:49:59 pm
Do you not have spikes on your ladders :o
Ian Giles's used to have wheels.
Or so it seemed... ;D
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Roy Harding on December 10, 2007, 09:06:52 pm: I used to fill a triger sprayer full of patio cleaner, and spray were you put the ladder feet. This would kill the green slime for about 2yrs.

Roy
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: poleman on December 10, 2007, 09:10:27 pm: Go total WFP, I have and if it can not be done from the ground then it don't get done! why have a WFP for your safety but then risk your neck up a ladder

Andy
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Nick_Thompson on December 10, 2007, 09:20:46 pm: Turn a front door coconut mat upside-down and put your ladders on that. You'll be amazed at how well it will adhere even to a slimy green patio.

Nick
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: matt on December 10, 2007, 09:21:26 pm: i have 2 houses now that i have to get on to flat roof extensions

its only 1 windows

i only carry a small set of ladders, i park my trolley side on ( with the ladder against 1 wheel ) with a full drum of water in it, the rubber wheels dont move
its ideal and safe
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: jouk45 on December 10, 2007, 09:46:13 pm: how ABOUT THESE stabilizers, best on the market
http://www.laddatec.com/
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Village Gleam on December 10, 2007, 09:55:23 pm: Thanks Joe I'd better buy some.

Are these the ones that Jeff used to Mention?
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: jouk45 on December 10, 2007, 09:59:21 pm: yes, jeff has 2 sets, email me, i will give you a code to get a genuine 10%
of, ;D
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Jon-scwindows on December 10, 2007, 10:07:20 pm: if i ever use ladders i use this
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Big-Grip-Ladder-Stabiliser_W0QQitemZ330195926499QQihZ014QQcategoryZ112567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
but wfp is the way to do it
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: NWH on December 10, 2007, 10:07:46 pm: Forget all these gimmicks ladder stoppers etc,just buy a large coconut mat 3x3ft square i`ve used it on the most slippery surfaces and it never slips,i have about 3-4 customers that have milky sash windows and are really good payers so i trad them,luckily they all have these large mats.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Captain Scarlet on December 10, 2007, 10:09:50 pm: NWH, Do you mean one of these?
(http://www.dkimages.com/discover/previews/836/587075.JPG)
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: ps outthere on December 10, 2007, 10:12:01 pm: A fellow window cleaners ladders slipped on him in Jan. 2007, he was in hospital for a month, broken tib, fib, and wrist.
He has now retired, but he came to see me using wfp, he wishes he knew about wfp years ago.

In the same month a scaffolder, who lives down the road from me, his ladders slipped , broken tib, fib and ankle. As I was passing at the time he very nicely asked me to take his broken leg from under the ladders which he was lying on.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: tacky on December 10, 2007, 10:20:51 pm: if in doubt .leave it .for anoter day . lets not risk ar bones etc .
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: NWH on December 10, 2007, 10:23:37 pm: Yes Luke but the mats i use are bigger 3ft square so it`s a bigger area for the ladder to go on therefore less chance of it slipping,like i say i`ve used this on very dodgy surfaces in the past and never had any trouble though i must say with WFP it`s not really worth taking a chance,how would you feel now if you fell off the ladder knowing you have all the kit to do it from the ground.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Elginn on December 10, 2007, 10:33:49 pm: You may find your Insurance is void if the correct safety device isn't used, check your policy's.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Captain Scarlet on December 10, 2007, 10:35:08 pm: I dont use ladders at all anymore but I will need to soon. We have rojaks and ladder mats, and they work great but a mat like that would take too much room to carry round! Luke
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: jouk45 on December 10, 2007, 10:45:19 pm: just use the custys door mat, ;D ;D
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: [GQC] Tim on December 10, 2007, 10:49:17 pm: LadderM8rix all the way. I have used it on Decking, mossy, slimey patios. Everything.

http://www.ladderm8rix.co.uk/index.htm
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: cvdewsbury on December 10, 2007, 11:32:03 pm: health and safety officer let us use ladders on a job as the tenants did not want wfp so in soft ground we use ladders with safety spikes on , on hard ground we use a safety mat good advice is to work in a 2 man team and have your ladders held or if in doubt miss them
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Londoner on December 11, 2007, 07:28:30 am: Life is too short for all this rubbish. My ladders are purely for decoration on the top of my van. If I can't WFP it then its a no.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: cat9921 on December 11, 2007, 04:06:06 pm: I love my reach & wash, I relly do :)
But there are times the you just need A ladder.
So What I say is this if you need a ladder to get access to a roof then Ok, But I will not work off a ladder..

and before anyone says it can be dangerous using a ladder to get on to a roof ( you're right ) but If its not wet and slippery its safe ;)
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Paul Coleman on December 11, 2007, 05:04:21 pm: Quote from: Vince Green on December 11, 2007, 07:28:30 am
Life is too short for all this rubbish. My ladders are purely for decoration on the top of my van. If I can't WFP it then its a no.

Yes indeed. I'm thinking of wrapping tinsel around mine this year.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: alanwilson on December 11, 2007, 09:53:27 pm: what a load of pansies!

firstly using ladders for access is fine as long as you take precautions (ie limpet bars etc)

I've used coconut mats a few times, works well but have a set of limpet bars which offer a little more stability.

How'd you lot manage to get by on ladders in the past? No need to take risks but seriously, toughen up a little.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Scrimble on December 12, 2007, 05:03:37 pm: Quote
what a load of pansies!

completely agree,
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: cleantecross on December 14, 2007, 04:34:35 pm: if in doubt use a rojak or just get someone to foot the ladder [if you are a 2 man team] but dont go fully wfp as you can lose customers as it doesnt clean until around 4 cleans
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: Londoner on December 14, 2007, 05:25:41 pm: Actually, if you read the original posting on the topic you will see that he was using the ladder to access a single storey roof.

That is THE most dangerous thing you can do with a ladder but because its not very high we are all a bit cocky about it.

Shifting your weight off the ladder onto the roof and then the reverse when you go down are the two times when a ladder is going to kick out or slide.

Two of the most pants filling experiences of my window cleaning life involved flat roofs. The third, was when a ladder blew sideways with me on it due to a sudden gust of wind.

In all three cases I never saw it coming.

I now am almost entireley WFP although I was on my ladder today. The truth is WFP is better, better for me, better for my bank balance and better for the windows. The customers love the results.

I don't understand cleantecross's comment about 4 cleans. My windows are bang on first time although there was a steep learning curve at first.
Title: Re: Ladders slipped today
Post by: NWH on December 14, 2007, 05:30:25 pm: Cleantecross the window`s should come up ok on the first or second clean but after that the only reason we say that 4-5 cleans is because it`s a lot easier for us as WC`s time wise,to get them up to a standard on the first clean you have to take your time more where`s when they`ve been done 4-5 times upwards you will fly round them,that`s why it`s not until about 6 months before you here WC`s saying it`s a lot quicker than traditional cleaning.