Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Moderator David@stives on August 03, 2009, 06:52:21 pm
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Does anyone here regularly wfp 6 storeys or more ?
If so what poles do you use ?
Has anyone got the Ionics 70 ft pole ? If so how do you find it
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I used a 65ft pole a few weeks back,
Its not too bad once you get used to it,
The problem was its 9ft sections and a bugger to erect.
Dean
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i use a 40 foot pole and thats hard enough my hat goes of to you guys who go higher than that :o
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Dean was that 65 ft reach and how many storeys was that ?
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i use mine regularly up to 65 feet...its maver modular sections that was made up by Alex, not had one peep of trouble out of it since i got it, except for needing a new top section....brilliant piece of kit.........i was just wondering about this today funnily enough......i know that terry burrows holds the guiness record for fastest window cleaner, i wonder if they will ever do a record for the highest wfp clean in the world........i know Jeff Brimble has had a go at 88 feet i think....but i wonder what the record would be if it was ever attempted ???
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Hi David,
I use a 65ft (Ionic) quite often.
Put it this way......It sorts the men from the boys!
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Dave,
Its an ionics pole and I used it on the front of burnley college which is quite a tall building,
Not sure of the storey in flats sizes.
Dean
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Does anyone use Gardiners SL max at 50 ft and what's your views on the pole.
Is it as rigid as Gardiners SL 25 or whippier like Gardiners SL 30ft jobbie?
I have both Gardiners SL 25 & 30ft and SL2 up to 45 ft but considering wether to buy Gardiners 50ft SL Max simply because of working in confined spaces and not having the hassle of having to use modular SL pole as I'm gaining more high level commercial work.
Highest I've been is 63ft and wouldn't like to work at that height regularly. Hats off to those who do. 50ft is my limit.
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I have some windows to clean at 6 storey about 100 windows at that height which havent been cleaned for 20 years.
How would you approach a job like that ?
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Definitely recommend using a hot wfp system at that height to make lighter and quicker work of the initial clean as it hasn't been cleaned for so long.
I fit 4 jets on my brushes and use plenty of water to loosen the dirt.
I concentrate on loosening all the dirt with plenty of vertical scrubbing action as all the dirt is easier to loosen in vertical movements on the scrub rather than horizontally on the rinse.
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would not fancy using a pole at theta height. reckon it would be dangerous as feck.
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Id say if theyd lasted 20yrs without being cleaned then they can last another 20.
The problem with very dirty uncleaned glass is that it gets damaged.
It would be next to impossible to get acceptabley clean especially at that height.
Its a good challenge though.
Dean
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I have some windows to clean at 6 storey about 100 windows at that height which havent been cleaned for 20 years.
How would you approach a job like that ?
Would a cherry picker be a better option. It's not so much the height as the amount of time since the last clean. I think a cherry picker for the first clean and WFP thereafter so long as they are maintained maybe annually at least. What can look clean from the ground at that height can look awful close up.
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Biggest problem has to be the wind I would imagine. My Superlight at 45 to 50 feet gets to be a real handfull in the lightest breeze.
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Cherrypickers are not an option, too much undulating soft ground and public roads which cannot be closed.
The windows need to be cleaned to a high standard, I was thinking of trying to get some TFR on the windows somehow.
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Dave, Tucker sell a mixer detergent tube (change the connections to easi snap connections) with their pole systems. I use one for very difficult cleans. Put 2 or 3 detergent tablets in and connect it up just before your pole hose. Scrub all the windows with it in one go. Then remove the detergent tube and rinse all the windows but you'll have to rinse thoroughly to remove all traces of detergent on the glass. The detergent tablets do help shift really stubborn dirt.
Cleaned a church in Torquay with the tablets that hadn't been cleaned in 25 years and it came up like new.
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dave i have sent you an email
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I'd love to have work that required that sort of pole!
25ft'er does me!
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I have some windows to clean at 6 storey about 100 windows at that height which havent been cleaned for 20 years.
How would you approach a job like that ?
Dave
I clean quite a lot of apartment blocks which go to that height, I use the Gardiners SL2 and the highest I have been is over 80 feet.
When you are cleaning at that height you need to clean like an escalutator, you send the pole up then you bring the pole down by sections until you get to 40 feet, you then move over to the next row of windows and send the pole up, you kept on repeating this method until the side of the building has been cleaned, you then start at the first row and now you can clean the remaining windows but instead of dropping the pole down you move sideways across the building, kept doing this until the rest of the windows are cleaned.
If the windows are really dirty or stained, what I do is I replace the brush head with a small squegee which I have soaked in Oil Flo or GG3, I then treat the windows and rinse off with pure water later.
It is very easy working at these heights, the only thing you must remember is when you go above 45 feet, do not try to move the pole sideways, or to take it around the corner of the building, also if it is very windy you need to be as far away from the building as possible, with the pole kept at a steep angle, this will prevent the wind wiping the pole away from you.
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i have got over 100 feet (roughly 114 ft) of modular poles, i think in a very still day i am going to go for the record attempt...i can keep adding sections as well if i had them.....although having said that, i did do a test for someone up this way a couple of years back at roughly 75 feet and the pole snapped in one of the middle sections
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hydro how do you apply with squeege?
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I have made a scrubbing pad for really dirty windows, just haven't got round to jetting it up yet.
As you can see it's a Stanley paint pad with an industrial scrubbing pad stuck onto it with Copydex. I have tried to scratch glass with these and failed.
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hydro how do you apply with squeege?
Sorry not squeegie but applicator, I just soak it with what I want to use, then rub the whole window with it, I also sometimes have to use a scraper as well.
I have removed window sealant at 65 feet with the method
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Hydro and Dai, 2 excellent ideas, I had thought similar but i can see more clearly now, as you can see from my gallery, I have cleaned at 6 storey before
http://www.davidmorriswindowcleaning.co.uk/
I was more concerned with long duration and really dirty windows, there is about 200 windows at 5 and 6 storey, I reckon it is about 70 ft to the top, It is part of a huge contract so the windows have to be spot on.
Keep coming with the ideas.
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I fit a swivel gooseneck to all my brushes.
On windy days on high work I lean the pole into the wind at an angle so if a strong gust of wind comes along by surprise and takes hold of the top of the pole I have an extra second or two to counteract the gust by leaning straight back into the wind with the brush head, lowering my raised arms, then rest it into the recessed window frame if possible unless on protruding bay windows and walk back in towards the building to reduce the wind on the pole until the gust of wind has passed. On gusty days I work in the direction the wind is blowing.
Have to be aware of side gusts of wind funneling between buildings. Once you are above all other surrounding buildings that shelter the wind you'll start to feel it on the top of the pole even though it may not appear windy where you are standing.
Biggest no, no is keeping the pole high and walking around the corner of the building with it because it's hard to keep control of it if it's gusty in the direction you are moving towards.
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I've used one of these before
Vikan thread, fits the superlight pole and didn't scratch the glass when I tried it and it swivels. :)
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Dave, I clean this regulary, not 6 story but the mill at the side that is still under renovation is mine to clean when its ready. Thats 7 story in some places. I use a Super-Lite. Piece of p*ss.
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How would you approach a job like that ?
With a scraper!