Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: monkeyman on February 01, 2009, 09:02:41 am

Title: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: monkeyman on February 01, 2009, 09:02:41 am
i have a  few windows above conservatories where my pole is nearly fully extended,i find it really hard to manouver the pole to properly scrub the frames and to lift the brush off to properly rinse,how does everyone else dealwith these types of windows.thanks in advance guys.
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on February 01, 2009, 09:05:26 am
Bigger pole?
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: trevor povey on February 01, 2009, 09:07:54 am
carbon pole
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: DaveG on February 01, 2009, 09:37:37 am
step  ladder
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Mike 108 on February 01, 2009, 10:21:09 am
Swivel connector, between angle adapter and brush
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: paulscotney on February 01, 2009, 11:48:01 am
You'll do your back in,  trying to rinse off. Just accept that they are lucky to be getting their above con windows done and rinse on the glass, thoroughly. The custys will be very impressed anyway. The windows had been filthy for years before you came.
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: chrisyg on February 01, 2009, 12:53:54 pm
Bigger pole?

simply put.  :)
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: brett walker on February 01, 2009, 01:00:29 pm
I use a 34ft face lift pole, it gets to all awkward windows, even skylights in roofs

Brett
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on February 01, 2009, 01:32:23 pm
I've a really lightweight DIY fishing pole for these windows. I find I can reach further and clean better as I'm not struggling with the weight. It is slower to setup than the telescopic ones, but its a lifesaver for some of the real awkward ones!
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: wightsurf on February 01, 2009, 01:36:29 pm
I put a ladder up the side of the con and clean the windows.I find it alot easier.
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: macmac on February 01, 2009, 01:39:49 pm
A good carbon pole slx or facelift, superlite brush, angle adaptor & swivel. jobs a good'un!

Tony
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: dd on February 01, 2009, 02:22:50 pm
Adjust the angle adapter on the pole so the bristles on the brush get a full contact with the glass.
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Paul Coleman on February 01, 2009, 03:09:30 pm
i have a  few windows above conservatories where my pole is nearly fully extended,i find it really hard to manouver the pole to properly scrub the frames and to lift the brush off to properly rinse,how does everyone else dealwith these types of windows.thanks in advance guys.

I use a very light carbon pole that dare not speak its name.
Seems to work OK for such jobs.  I do such windows from the side if I can.  For the final rinse, I just lift the upper part of the brush off and zigzag down the glass.  That way, the water jet is the last thing to hit thew glass and it's less strain than lifting the whole lot off the glass  (only applies if working from the side).  If I do them face on, he rinse usually must be done with brush on the glass with adjusted brush angle.  I reckon that this is far better tham previous W/Cs managed (i.e. not at all).
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: chrisyg on February 01, 2009, 03:42:08 pm
I put a ladder up the side of the con and clean the windows.I find it alot easier.

Yes, but its not really a sensible idea as its not really working safely. The idea of poles is to minimise the use of working at heights - considering the ladder is placed on plastic (slippery) guttering, and as you have 2 hands on the pole you are not maintaining 3 points of contact either. You might as well just buy a longer pole, rather than risk an accident.

Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: dai on February 01, 2009, 05:02:15 pm
It's on these type of windows that the swivel comes into it's own, I would hate to be without mine, it's a pity that suppliers don't make them with WFP in mind. My swivel is an adapted stanley paint pad handle.and IMO the best bit of kit in my box.
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: wightsurf on February 01, 2009, 05:02:50 pm
Chrisyg
Have you ever done a manual handling course , there was a bit in the one i did that explained what can happen( and has happened but only slightly ) by putting stress on your back.

(Quote from manual handling website:

Just to illustrate, if you lift a 10-pound weight at arms length, it will put 150 pounds of pressure on your back. )

I use a step ladder although not 100% safe i feel it outways stress on my back. It will not slip and the only other danger is me falling off lol.

Regards
Martin
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Bobs Window Cleaning on February 01, 2009, 05:31:15 pm
Oh dont forget the old favourite.......A Stella crate  ;D
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: DaveG on February 01, 2009, 05:34:32 pm
Oh dont forget the old favourite.......A Stella crate  ;D

lol ive used this method too!!
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: chrisyg on February 01, 2009, 06:04:23 pm
Chrisyg
Have you ever done a manual handling course , there was a bit in the one i did that explained what can happen( and has happened but only slightly ) by putting stress on your back.

(Quote from manual handling website:

Just to illustrate, if you lift a 10-pound weight at arms length, it will put 150 pounds of pressure on your back. )

I use a step ladder although not 100% safe i feel it outways stress on my back. It will not slip and the only other danger is me falling off lol.

Regards
Martin

yes, which is why i use a Gardiner's sl brush and a fishing pole for most of my work, since this is what most of my work is.

These together are much lighter than any pole on the market. Most guys that use these combo's do so from a bad back issues anyway.

BUT if you using a ladder doing the same you are making things worse for yourself, as you are trying to counter balance on a ladder, which is not fastened or being used properly, potentially a higher risk.

BTW, since i see you have started a thread on another forum, i wont continue on this subject here, far too many stupid posts on the idea, which give bad advise - i will continue proper debate on the other forum!
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: macmac on February 01, 2009, 08:37:29 pm
It's on these type of windows that the swivel comes into it's own, I would hate to be without mine, it's a pity that suppliers don't make them with WFP in mind. My swivel is an adapted stanley paint pad handle.and IMO the best bit of kit in my box.

Ditto, i use my swivel for everything, it's a permanent fixture on my pole. Mine's the MKII (modified) one though.

Tony
Title: Re: AWKWARD WINDOWS?
Post by: Mike 108 on February 01, 2009, 10:32:15 pm
Dai/Tony

Does the Stanley paint pad handle screw straight onto a plastic angle adaptor?

Thanks

Mike