Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Londoner on March 16, 2008, 08:28:08 am

Title: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Londoner on March 16, 2008, 08:28:08 am
Has anyone got any views on the best place to get a conservatory ladder from?

I was looking at  www.ladderstore.com but it seemed a bit dear to me.

This is going to be the year of the conservatory. You guys have got me all fired up.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Chris Cottrell on March 16, 2008, 08:33:24 am
try  HSS the hire centre they are around £25 for a day collected

http://www.hss.com/g/87101/Conservatory-Roof-Access-System.html
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Londoner on March 16, 2008, 08:37:22 am
Thats a good idea. It will give me a chance to try one out and see how I get on with it.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: twt on March 16, 2008, 05:29:03 pm
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Conservatory-Ladder_W0QQitemZ380006774179QQihZ025QQcategoryZ112567QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

ive just oder a set of these i offered 250 which i didn't think they would take but they did(so could maybe get it even cheaper) so it came to 270 with the postage. not recieved them yet but when i get them will post about quality.

phil
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 16, 2008, 06:42:57 pm
Wouldn't it be easier to use WFP/pressure washer and a mini scaffold platform to do an awkward reach conservatory clean. What's the benefit in using a conservatory ladder because I can't see the advantage.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on March 16, 2008, 06:49:43 pm
would make cleaning the finial easier and less likely to damage it ,some are real flimsy.It is lot of money to lay out unless you know it is gonna be worth it,personally i will try the hire option first and see ;D
the one on midland ladders site looks real good but well dear
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: tacky on March 16, 2008, 07:00:40 pm
 i m with wayne thomas .on this one .done quite a few conservs no ladders n no complaints. but each to his own.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 16, 2008, 07:00:57 pm
Is that the only good reason to buy a specialist conservatory roof ladder.......to clean finials by hand? If so, wouldn't it make sounder financial sense to modify some brushes for this same purpose and just use TFR together with HOT WFP with modified poles or pressure washing equipment or a mixture of both methods. I have been following these conservatory cleans at £100 a time and can't see the point in cleaning the conservatory rooves (roof's) by hand as it is so time consuming in comparison.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on March 16, 2008, 07:16:41 pm
Is that the only good reason to buy a specialist conservatory roof ladder.......to clean finials by hand? If so, wouldn't it make sounder financial sense to modify some brushes for this same purpose and just use TFR together with HOT WFP with modified poles or pressure washing equipment or a mixture of both methods. I have been following these conservatory cleans at £100 a time and can't see the point in cleaning the conservatory rooves (roof's) by hand as it is so time consuming in comparison.
i think your probly right but if you can hire a set for 25 quid then i might try it just to see what they are like.They do look impressive and maybe customers will feel better about parting with large sums of cash if you turn up with specialist gear like this (even if you dont really need it ;D) if you hire some and have got 4 or so cleans lined up on one day maybe they might be worth a go ??? as for finial brushes dont vikan do a bog brush type thing,i am sure someone (luke probly)posted a pic of their whole range once
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 16, 2008, 07:20:03 pm
Vikan do a bog brush style. I've fitted 4 pressure washing wide fan spray jets in them to make life easier. TFR the finials by pressured spray and hose off using customers tap with fan jets on a bog brush is sufficient to do all but the most stubborn of jobs.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: L.J.Thorpe on March 16, 2008, 07:27:39 pm
cheers wayne ;D i am still gonna hire some of those ladders tho,just to see ;)
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: twt on March 16, 2008, 09:35:18 pm
some really filthy roofs won't come up with wfp they need to be done by hand.wfp is good for rgular cleans but to restore you need a ladder.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 16, 2008, 09:51:40 pm
some really filthy roofs won't come up with wfp they need to be done by hand.wfp is good for rgular cleans but to restore you need a ladder.


On stubborn cleans I use TFR and detergent tablets in a mixer bowl, very hot WFP and very hot pressure washer and haven't come across one I haven't been able to clean yet, although I may one day. I'm looking into steam cleaning alternatives for the plastic to make life easier.

If you was doing a normal clean, not a heavy duty, filthy, black or green clean would you WFP it? If it was a really bad clean would you WFP the easy bit and hand clean the worst off?

Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: D.Salkeld_Ltd on March 16, 2008, 10:11:10 pm
Phill,

Now YOU know you won't get me on one of them :o :o :o :o :o

(Mablethorpe - Storm damaged chimney ;) :-[ :-[)

David
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: 007 or what on March 17, 2008, 07:49:07 pm
Hi guys i used one the other day very impressed made a difficult job a piece of... well you know ;)
would definatly use one again but not every con roof needs it.
I've done hundreds of conservatory cleans, but this was the 1st time i'd needed it.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 08:18:27 pm
Hi guys i used one the other day very impressed made a difficult job a piece of... well you know ;)
would definatly use one again but not every con roof needs it.
I've done hundreds of conservatory cleans, but this was the 1st time i'd needed it.

Just out of curiosity, what is your preferred method of cleaning? Is it WFP, pressure washing or something else?
Also do you use TFR or some other chemicals and if so what other chemicals/ cleaning solutions do you use? I'd love to know please.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: NWH on March 17, 2008, 08:24:17 pm
What ever you do don`t pressure wash a con roof it will leak
 like mad,plastic aswell as wooden.With a pressure washer the water gets into all the nooks and crannys.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: jaykie on March 17, 2008, 08:26:03 pm
Is there a weight restriction on conservatorie or these ladders as not to sure id feel safe at 15 1/2 stone on top of con with this ladder. Anyone know?
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 08:30:48 pm
What ever you do don`t pressure wash a con roof it will leak
 like mad,plastic aswell as wooden.With a pressure washer the water gets into all the nooks and crannys.

NWH, I use a pressure washer but not in the normal sense like you would normally pressure wash up close. I keep the nozzles well back from the job. Just use it to rinse TFR off quickly form above, (not from ground level pointing upwards, as that would be asking for trouble with all the water going inside either at the back or in the centre).
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: NWH on March 17, 2008, 08:38:20 pm
I don`t need to pressure wash con roofs at all,TFR and WFP they come up like new.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 08:45:48 pm
I don`t need to pressure wash con roofs at all,TFR and WFP they come up like new.

Agree, WFP does it, but quicker with pressure washer.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 08:46:53 pm
NWH, are you going for that retro fit heater?
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: NWH on March 17, 2008, 08:50:16 pm
Yes it`s booked in for 2 weeks time.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 09:09:31 pm
Yes it`s booked in for 2 weeks time.

If they are going to fit a return feed to your tank, (as well as to the hosereel), make sure they fit 2 non return valves which I suggested to them. One close to the heater and one close to the tank if you have a hig level tank otherwise you have too little water flow going back into the tank because it struggles to climb the distance if that makes any sense.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: NWH on March 17, 2008, 09:50:34 pm
I have a 500ltr upright tank,he did say that yours was quiet tricky to do.Surely he will know what is best for my setup,he certainly sounded like he new what he was on about on the phone.Are you talking about pre heating the water on the way to the first job wayne or in general use.
Title: Re: Conservatory Ladders
Post by: Wayne Thomas on March 17, 2008, 10:03:21 pm
I have a 500ltr upright tank,he did say that yours was quiet tricky to do.Surely he will know what is best for my setup,he certainly sounded like he new what he was on about on the phone.Are you talking about pre heating the water on the way to the first job wayne or in general use.

Mine was quite tricky to get at because my tank is covered in insulation with a 18mm ply board on top where I've mounted a second hosereel, battery box, battery chargers, battery inverter and a few other bits and bobs.
Yes he does know what he's doing, rest assured.
I was on about pre heating the tank. I only pre heat my tank when I'm doing delicate glass when I don't want to use hot water direct from the heater and when it's freezing so that my pump will start in the mornings and to stop my hosepipe from freezing.