Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm

Title: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm: experienced a few windows now, that i can't comfortably get to with my 26ft brodex pole (glass fibre), say, over a conservatory/extension.

i know i am new, and inexperienced, but i am a bog strong lad, yet i struggle to control the pole at full extension.

would you recommend using step ladder for these?

or is it the fibre glass pole flexing too much that causes instability?

or my inexperience?

thanks again!
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: stephen s on July 11, 2009, 09:40:26 pm: whats a bog strong lad ?
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 09:45:18 pm: you should be able to reach most windows over cons with that pole

try a different angle

i can reach 99% with my 18 ft pole

its a modular with a supalite brush

mike
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: John Hewitt on July 11, 2009, 09:47:20 pm: I use a step ladder. I dont get on with my real ladder
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: tomy jackson on July 11, 2009, 09:47:59 pm: hes so strong he can pick him self up in a buckt ;D
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:48:34 pm: Quote from: stephen s on July 11, 2009, 09:40:26 pm
whats a bog strong lad ?
big, big...its the zinfandel...

or fat fingers :-[
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:50:06 pm: Quote from: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 09:45:18 pm
you should be able to reach most windows over cons with that pole

try a different angle

i can reach 99% with my 18 ft pole

its a modular with a supalite brush

mike

any images for examples?

i bought the big fella thinking i would have no probs...so far, i have probs...!! :'(
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 09:59:47 pm: sorry concept no images

i use my glass fibre 28 ft for plastics cons etc

to heavy for me to use on windows day in day out

would rip my arm out of there sockets at them awkward angles :'( ;D
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 11, 2009, 10:02:24 pm: Quote from: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 09:59:47 pm
sorry concept no images

i use my glass fibre 28 ft for plastics cons etc

to heavy for me to use on windows day in day out

would rip my arm out of there sockets at them awkward angles :'( ;D

that may be why my arms are killing...

ach well, broad shoulders and all that!

8)
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 10:03:52 pm: Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 10:02:24 pm
Quote from: elite mike on July 11, 2009, 09:59:47 pm
sorry concept no images

i use my glass fibre 28 ft for plastics cons etc

to heavy for me to use on windows day in day out

would rip my arm out of there sockets at them awkward angles :'( ;D

that may be why my arms are killing...

ach well, broad shoulders and all that!

8)

i would buy nurofen super strenth in bulk mate ;)
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: leapstallbuildings on July 11, 2009, 10:12:22 pm: Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm
experienced a few windows now, that i can't comfortably get to with my 26ft brodex pole (glass fibre), say, over a conservatory/extension.

i know i am new, and inexperienced, but i am a bog strong lad, yet i struggle to control the pole at full extension.

would you recommend using step ladder for these?

or is it the fibre glass pole flexing too much that causes instability?

or my inexperience?

thanks again!

I do an occasional bit of poling from a stepladder when I need some extra elevation over a roof. I make sure I use a lightweight pole though due to the angle.
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 11, 2009, 10:14:50 pm: Quote from: leapstallbuildings on July 11, 2009, 10:12:22 pm
Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm
experienced a few windows now, that i can't comfortably get to with my 26ft brodex pole (glass fibre), say, over a conservatory/extension.

i know i am new, and inexperienced, but i am a bog strong lad, yet i struggle to control the pole at full extension.

would you recommend using step ladder for these?

or is it the fibre glass pole flexing too much that causes instability?

or my inexperience?

thanks again!

I do an occasional bit of poling from a stepladder when I need some extra elevation over a roof. I make sure I use a lightweight pole though due to the angle.

cant afford anything lightweight tho, all my moneys gone on start up costs.

:(
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: ftp on July 11, 2009, 10:47:33 pm: Glass fibre is the problem - heavy and bendy. Get a fishing pole just for those jobs if money's tight (£60) or buy a decent pole (carbon).

Oh, and a Superlight brush from Gardiners. ;)
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: matt on July 11, 2009, 11:04:59 pm: Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 10:14:50 pm
Quote from: leapstallbuildings on July 11, 2009, 10:12:22 pm
Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm
experienced a few windows now, that i can't comfortably get to with my 26ft brodex pole (glass fibre), say, over a conservatory/extension.

i know i am new, and inexperienced, but i am a bog strong lad, yet i struggle to control the pole at full extension.

would you recommend using step ladder for these?

or is it the fibre glass pole flexing too much that causes instability?

or my inexperience?

thanks again!

I do an occasional bit of poling from a stepladder when I need some extra elevation over a roof. I make sure I use a lightweight pole though due to the angle.

cant afford anything lightweight tho, all my moneys gone on start up costs.

:(

get yourself a fishing pole, 20 quid for a pole for normal houses, if you want anything longer it will be 60 quid

seriously, they are really light
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: chris@c.m.s on July 12, 2009, 12:10:03 am: Matt to make my 24ft Gardiner fibreglass pole redundant and perhaps reach up to 30ft, how can I do it? I asked this before and you linked me to a diy pole that would do 18 ft approx and tbh I'm fed up with straining my b@llocks waiting for the 35ft SLX, much as I love them and will buy one when they are ready.
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: Londoner on July 12, 2009, 06:42:47 am: Coming back to the original question. I put a ladder up against the extension, go up till I can reach over the top of the extension roof and do the windows that way.
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 12, 2009, 07:04:43 am: Quote from: matt on July 11, 2009, 11:04:59 pm

get yourself a fishing pole, 20 quid for a pole for normal houses, if you want anything longer it will be 60 quid

seriously, they are really light

would you make me one at a price?
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: Sapphire Window Cleaning on July 12, 2009, 09:13:29 am: I use an xtel 24ft pole and I haven't encountered any problems over conservatory roofs.
I stand to the side and use it that way.
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: Alex Gardiner on July 12, 2009, 11:36:41 am: Quote from: concept on July 11, 2009, 09:36:38 pm
experienced a few windows now, that i can't comfortably get to with my 26ft brodex pole (glass fibre), say, over a conservatory/extension.

i know i am new, and inexperienced, but i am a bog strong lad, yet i struggle to control the pole at full extension.

would you recommend using step ladder for these?

or is it the fibre glass pole flexing too much that causes instability?

or my inexperience?

thanks again!

It really would not be a good idea to use a step-ladder with a pole, just not stable enough. The main problem you will be experiencing is lack of rigidity, most of your effort will be spent fighting the pole not cleaning. The picture below shows a 25ft Carbon pole being used at full extension to clean over a conservatory. Nearly all the effort used is translated into cleaning power. Ultimately the only mainstream material that will provide this level of rigidity and lightness is Carbon Fibre. You will then also need to think about your brush and gooseneck choice. Any brush that weighs more than about 300g is too heavy for these type of jobs. Some goosenecks on the market weigh in excess of 1/2 a kilo. There are many routes to achieve lightness and rigidity (DIY or off-the-shelf) whichever you choose they are worth looking at.

(http://www.gardinerpolesystems.co.uk/acatalog/alex%20slx.jpg)
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: matt on July 12, 2009, 01:26:22 pm: Quote from: chris@c.m.s on July 12, 2009, 12:10:03 am
Matt to make my 24ft Gardiner fibreglass pole redundant and perhaps reach up to 30ft, how can I do it? I asked this before and you linked me to a diy pole that would do 18 ft approx and tbh I'm fed up with straining my b@llocks waiting for the 35ft SLX, much as I love them and will buy one when they are ready.

you will need the

Grandeslam Formula 11m Pole ( 50 quid )

you will lose the last few sections, it might be a touch short for you, if thats the case, add to it the Grandeslam Formula 8m Pole ( 20 quid ) and you will use the end 2 sections for that little bit of extra reach
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: matt on July 12, 2009, 01:29:12 pm: Quote from: concept on July 12, 2009, 07:04:43 am
Quote from: matt on July 11, 2009, 11:04:59 pm

get yourself a fishing pole, 20 quid for a pole for normal houses, if you want anything longer it will be 60 quid

seriously, they are really light

would you make me one at a price?

seriously, it would be worth the money, its a Really simple 30 min job

you will need :

a fishing pole
a unger angle adaptor
a unger to vikan cone
some superglue
some electrical tape ( in 3 colours )

seriously, look at the site, it really is easy

http://diywfpole.webs.com/
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: concept on July 12, 2009, 03:39:16 pm: after my harris pole issues, i am worried at making my own.

i would pay you whatever you wanted to make one.

pretty please?
Title: Re: wfp difficult access=step ladder?
Post by: Rob.Hall on July 12, 2009, 04:05:02 pm: Hi Matt

If I used the Grandslam 11 and the 8 what reach should I get?

Thanks.

Are you back to being fully operational after your little stay with the NHS! ;)