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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Kevin R on July 05, 2008, 11:44:40 am

Title: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: Kevin R on July 05, 2008, 11:44:40 am
Ground floor pole ~ Residential

What poles do you guys use for ground floor on residential houses? what size are they closed?

I use the mini-pole from Omnipole. Its Aluminum with a plastic sleeve and extends from 1m - 1.6m (3.2 ft - 5.2 ft) I find it just the right length not to catch plant pots, furniture etc. Its also is a very hard wearing pole.


h ttp://www.omnipole.com/omnipoles.htm

Is there a true pole that is short enough when closed and long enough when extended to clean the average house well?, or is it a two pole job?

Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: michael papworth on July 05, 2008, 12:33:09 pm
Here's my ground floor pole. Actually, it's more of a bungalow pole, but I will use it if my regular pole won't fit and I can't reach to do it the old fashioned way.

It's a Harris pole! 1.3 m to 2.4 m. As it's for low level work, I haven't even bothered with a gooseneck.

Photo 1 - the complete pole.
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/whole-pole.jpg)

Photo 2 - a single over-the-top jet
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/ott-jet.jpg)

Photo 3 - how the jet is attached
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/jet-details.jpg)

Photo 4 - the tap
(http://www.wally-the-window-washer.co.uk/tap-details.jpg)

As you can see, it's all held together with cable ties and I'm using an Addis brush!

That's OK. It's a work in progress   and I expect it to evolve as I learn more about the way it behaves and I try different brushes and maybe jets.

It was made because i work on quite a few properties where windows are inaccessible to long poles because of walls or other features, but are accessible to a shorter pole. So far it has been fine. And it cost very little to put together.

I can see improvements, notably to the jetting. Maybe others can suggest improvements as well.
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 05, 2008, 12:37:53 pm
Ground floor pole ~ Residential

What poles do you guys use for ground floor on residential houses? what size are they closed?

I use the mini-pole from Omnipole. Its Aluminum with a plastic sleeve and extends from 1m - 1.6m (3.2 ft - 5.2 ft) I find it just the right length not to catch plant pots, furniture etc. Its also is a very hard wearing pole.


h ttp://www.omnipole.com/omnipoles.htm

Is there a true pole that is short enough when closed and long enough when extended to clean the average house well?, or is it a two pole job?



We use the 13ft Xtel poles as they are very light, quick to use, very compact and will still reach 90% of standard two storey houses.
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: windowwashers on July 05, 2008, 12:51:20 pm
we use 4ft extenders 2ft ish closed

xline-systems.co.uk/epages/eshop146176.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop146176/Products/WFPE/SubProducts/WFPE-0001 (http://xline-systems.co.uk/epages/eshop146176.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop146176/Products/WFPE/SubProducts/WFPE-0001)

I have not price shopped so just for an example for you to see.

Ian
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: Mike 108 on July 05, 2008, 01:05:29 pm
Ian (Window Washers)

Your Addis brush looks like it once had 2 jets fitted (one each end along the top).

Why are you no longer using that set-up? (or am I wrong?).

Mike
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: michael papworth on July 05, 2008, 01:16:07 pm
Ian (Window Washers)

Your Addis brush looks like it once had 2 jets fitted (one each end along the top).

Why are you no longer using that set-up? (or am I wrong?).

Mike

Actually it's Wally, not Window Washers.

Yes, well spotted. And if you look carefully, you can see where I'd removed bristles as well.

It did have 2 high-level pencil jets fitted. I used it for a while like this, but wasn't happy with it. 2 reasons:

(i) They were pencil jets and I prefer fans.

(ii) The Addis brush isn't very good for washing windows IMO!!!

A third reason was that I didn't drill the holes very accurately and one jet went higher than the other!  :-[

I'm going to experiment with high-level fans with a different brush when I get a bit of free time.

This pole is as much for playing with as for working.
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: Paul Coleman on July 05, 2008, 05:31:26 pm
Ground floor pole ~ Residential

What poles do you guys use for ground floor on residential houses? what size are they closed?

I use the mini-pole from Omnipole. Its Aluminum with a plastic sleeve and extends from 1m - 1.6m (3.2 ft - 5.2 ft) I find it just the right length not to catch plant pots, furniture etc. Its also is a very hard wearing pole.


h ttp://www.omnipole.com/omnipoles.htm

Is there a true pole that is short enough when closed and long enough when extended to clean the average house well?, or is it a two pole job?



I have an Omnipole 2 x 3ft and an Ionics 2 x 2ft.  Both have their uses as some ground floor windows are a bit high for the Ionics pole and some places are a bit tight for the Omnipole.  I think the ideal one would be 3 x 2ft.  Short when closed but can reach a bit higher when occasionally needed.
Title: Re: Ground floor pole ~ Residential
Post by: dai on July 05, 2008, 07:56:23 pm
Needless to say mines cobbled, the one I use cost a quid from the car boot, the other identical pole was rescued from a skip, one shows it closed, the other fully extended.