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UK General Cleaning Forum => General Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: M@ttS on August 11, 2009, 02:02:38 pm

Title: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: M@ttS on August 11, 2009, 02:02:38 pm
Hi all,

Just a follow up from my last lot of quesions, Thanks to all who have helped so far.

When doing a exterior gutter clean, (Ladderless of course) do you

1) opt for a powerpole, and pressure wash the exteriors?
2) opt for a WFP soluction, and brush the gutters?

Also, in both instances, what would be the best soluction to use with the water, and would I still need to go down the pure water route?

Thanks
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Richy L on August 11, 2009, 02:12:25 pm
there is no point using pure water for gutter cleaning, as soon as the pure water touches the dirt it is no longer pure.
tfr is good to use. Pressure washer is good for the brackets, they can be fiddly otherwise, and wfp is very effecive, but does't half hurt your arms!
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 11, 2009, 09:41:55 pm
i would love to know what is the best brush to use on guttering and fascias using wfp or best sort of wfp for the spacific job. need to know going to buy another wfp specifically for this job, so ideas welcommed cheers

paul
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: lhayes on August 11, 2009, 11:01:33 pm
i used to pressure wash the gutters and fascia but no need, just use water fed pole, disconnect the resin to save it and brush with a fascia,soffit brush. Dirt will walk off if you wet for a few minutes and come back.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: BDCS on August 12, 2009, 11:22:39 am
I pre spray with tfr and allow to dwell but don't let it dry, then I connect my pole to the customers hose and off you go. Brackets are a bit fiddly but its better than pressure washing and being accused of flooding the loft
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: M@ttS on August 12, 2009, 12:59:16 pm
Hi, thanks for the replies.

As you meantioned, the flooding risk was the big eye opener when using the pressure wash system, and seems that WFP would be a far less risky option, but harder on the arms. 

Would I be able to use a backpack on this kind of work? and what would my height limitations be?  i.e what size pole would be best?

Thanks
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Richy L on August 12, 2009, 08:43:55 pm
a backpack would work, however, there is is no need if there is an ourside tap already. The flow rate would be much slower than a tap, so the job would take longer.

an 18' pole should be ok in most circumstances, might be worth getting a 24' though because of the apex of houses.

If you are going above 2 stories it will be VERY hard to do, so aim for two story houses.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 12, 2009, 09:34:14 pm
so what sort of brush is best for it and any tips on any little tools you may use to complete differant tasks.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Richy L on August 12, 2009, 09:48:40 pm
I just use my WFP, its an old (orange) universal one.

Not many tips to share really ...
I suppose, it will be slightly less of a pain if you change the angle of the brush head when doing the soffits or fascia, use a high water flow rate, and its usually worth wetting an area first and letting the dirt soften before scrubbing it
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 12, 2009, 10:19:36 pm
i tend to use a power washer for the most of the work, but use my longest wfp pole attached to the outside tap to do the highest peaks. this is until i can afford a telescopic powerwashin lance.

I also built myself a telescopic sprayer to apply tfr to all exterior plastic, it speeds the job up soo much.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 14, 2009, 05:05:11 pm
yeah i cant find how to do that diy jobby for a telescopic sprayer for tfr to reach all fascias and soffits, there was a thread on here of how to make one quite cheaply but just cant find it. can anyone show me how to make one or a picture of one to copy and a list of componments you need. cheers

paul
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: drive surgeon on August 14, 2009, 05:24:23 pm
where do youlive paul?
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 14, 2009, 06:16:51 pm
hi Paul,

the main component of the telescopic sprayer is a harris pole, i got the 5m one from B&Q at £14.98. The other components are microbore hosing (B&Q dos ome if you cant get any else) and a sprayer sprayer head. I bought a seperate sprayer lance bought you can dismantle an old sprayer aswell.

I also googled "diy wfp" and used the guide that appeared as the principles are much the same. I can post a pic of my end result, i kind of made it up as i went along and worked with what i had.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 16, 2009, 12:21:56 pm
where do youlive paul?

hello drive surgeon i lives in bristol.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 16, 2009, 12:24:48 pm
hi Paul,

the main component of the telescopic sprayer is a harris pole, i got the 5m one from B&Q at £14.98. The other components are microbore hosing (B&Q dos ome if you cant get any else) and a sprayer sprayer head. I bought a seperate sprayer lance bought you can dismantle an old sprayer aswell.

I also googled "diy wfp" and used the guide that appeared as the principles are much the same. I can post a pic of my end result, i kind of made it up as i went along and worked with what i had.

cheers for that mate im going to have a go myself do you mind posting a pic for me of your end result, i would like to get a good idea of what im doing. cheers buddy

regards
paul
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 16, 2009, 12:49:21 pm
ive alway meant to post about my creation!! im kinda proud of it! i have a bit of spare time today so will try and get them up later.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 16, 2009, 01:39:20 pm
1. close up of spray head
2. full sprayer in closed position
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 16, 2009, 01:42:22 pm
3. Close up to attachment of spray head. i used self tapping screws throught the all ready drilled hole in the pole. these screwed into a collar around the spray head lance.
4. Sprayer fully extended
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 16, 2009, 01:43:28 pm
5. hose used and attachement to back sprayer.
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 17, 2009, 02:06:18 pm
could you possibly give me your components list please and what size pole is that, dose it reach most guttering, what about a-pecks on 4 or 5 bed house aswell ? and finally how much did it cost all in ?
cheers

paul
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 17, 2009, 09:16:03 pm
I'll try and remember the most of it, some of the things i just had lying around the garage.
1. 5m extending Harris pole, from B&Q @ £14.98
2. 10m of black fine bore hosing, from pond/hosing section of B&Q @ £5 or so.
3. 1 sprayer lance and fittings, i got this from a local garden centre/diy store. Cost roughly £12
4. connection between finebore hose and backpack assembly, i already had this from a previous thing. Its basically a push fit connector, a length of minibore hosing and a minibore connector(is it known as a rectus something or other?!)
5. various other bits and pieces like insulating tape, a couple of screws, tools like pliers, drills and files and screwdrivewrs.

For me the total bill came to around £35.

You can easily reach any 2 storey spouting, i can reach the peak of the fascia at the side of our large 2 storey house. But i am 6'4''!! but a small steps will get you the rest of the distance of you are ever stuck. You can see in picture 4 that the pole is leaning against the house fully open and is almost at the spouting already
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: d s windowcleaning on August 17, 2009, 09:36:23 pm
so what sort of brush is best for it and any tips on any little tools you may use to complete differant tasks.
the brush wont make much diffrance but a brush fitted with fan jets will .
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: paul beckett on August 18, 2009, 01:43:38 pm
thank for that. im going to sort one out this weekend , i dont think it will be a problem to make, i will tell you how it went after ive made it ok.
thanks again.
kind regards
paul
Title: Re: Exterior Gutter Cleaning
Post by: Milltown Cleaning on August 18, 2009, 04:32:50 pm
no problem let us know how you get on!