Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: jonnyald on September 26, 2009, 09:18:57 am
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im thinking of buying some for my longer ladders. maybe even on my short set . but whats these half-spikes ? and whats the worst that happens with them.? how sharp and do they muck up decking ?
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Why do you want spikes on your ladders?
PK
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Cant help you mate, but there was a post on here yesterday where I was asking similiar questions, the ladder had spikes on the base and was stood on a patio, whats that all about?
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Why do you want spikes on your ladders?
PK
im thinking they might stop me worrying about a ladder slip. on my 9metre ladders i get a mate to foot them,but i often think footing looks good but isnt much cop (is that true?) /these spikes ,,once theyre blunt ,do they slip on regular concrete paths and such?. my ladders all have the rubber feet and have never slipped ,i was just wondering if spikes are more pro if left on all the time
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If you are worried about slipping and falling then why not get a small wfp set up like a backpack for those higher windows, "what`s more important ?"
PK
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So, if oyu have spikes on your ladders feet is that what they rest on when you use the ladder on a patio??
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So, if oyu have spikes on your ladders feet is that what they rest on when you use the ladder on a patio??
This is what I dont get, I cant see spikes on concrete of any sort working.
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Unless they rotate round when you dont need them and then when you work on grass swivel them round so they stick into the grass, otherwise bit of a circus act really.
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I've always had spikes on my ladders ever since I started in the 90's. (I'm mostly wfp now).
I would only ever feel safe with spiked ladders, as they have never slipped in any conditions.
The spikes I use I have made at a sheet metal place, they fit flush to the back of the ladder.
They feel more secure as all the weight is concentrated on the small point. You can work on grass at any angle without worry, or even on the treacherous pressed concrete drives.
Actually just once did my ladders slip, it was on concrete flag stones which the customer had painted over with some gloss paint, nothing would have stood a chance. But as the ladders slid backwards and down the wall with me gripping the top . . .. the spikes stopped them slipping any further as they hit the gap between the slabs!
I'll try and post a picture of my spikes if you like.
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hi there the old window cleaner iv bought the round off always used spikes since 1985 when he started the round put mitts on the top as well he says ,safe as houses only fell of once on varnished decking :o as already pointed out theres a safer way wfp its the rout im going to go just wfp top traditional bottoms with A frame now thats safe as houses ;) just hope i dont lose to many custies.
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ref the spike on patio's
i thought the same thing yesterday, BUT
after having a think about it, they would be great to fit between the slabs, of course they would work if the slabs didnt have the beveled edge ( the bigger slabs that the builders use are just square edge )
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hi there the old window cleaner iv bought the round off always used spikes since 1985 when he started the round put mitts on the top as well he says ,safe as houses only fell of once on varnished decking :o as already pointed out theres a safer way wfp its the rout im going to go just wfp top traditional bottoms with A frame now thats safe as houses ;) just hope i dont lose to many custies.
when i took over all my work, i found the customers were alot more accepting of the WFP if i used it just upstairs, they can understand the safety asspect of it upstairs, now downstairsare done wfp, BUT thats after a few years of them seeing that the upstairs results are not that bad
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Pole King, if you have someone footing your ladder properly, your going nowhere so wont need anything.
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in a poll on here 35% had had falls from ladders stan the man was one of them and he uses spikes so while im sure thay are good not 100% safe. another thought is way the manufacturs/suppliers dont fit them as standard ie spikes/mitts
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I've used spikes for 20 years. Have to watch for making holes in tarmac, when it is hot or on less robust tarmac. Not often a problem though.
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Pole King, if you have someone footing your ladder properly, your going nowhere so wont need anything.
But what if you hav`nt ?
PK
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how come not many know what they are or use ladder spikes.?
matt has just got the point ( ::)) with spikes. they always go between the gaps of slabs, cobbles, gap in the decking, gardens with big pebbles or slate pieces. block pave drives. grass..... i used to climb almost horizontal on some jobs, how about this. ICE ! bang the ladder down hard onto the ice and the spikes dig in. (extra care needed obviously)
work on the principle of PSI, like a stilletto i s'pose.
full spikes are about 2-3" points
half spikes or flat spikes are thin and wide taper like the ones in the dog muck thread
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i use ladder saftey feet suction cup type then for wet lawns i have a thick piece of ply board with 4" nails thourgh it all over then a another strip of wood screwed into the top of that at the back to place feet against dimensions are about 16" x 8" works a treat and can easily be carried with bucket if trad
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spikes?i use normal ladders with the standard rubber feet.i do use the rojak ladderstopper tho quite a bit but if decking or mossy patios i use a TRAD pole and all second storey windows.ican do windows above conny roofs and porches even skylights with an angle adapter.all without WFP.DONT NEED WFP TO REACH AWKWARD WINDOWS tho i will invest in WFP cos i think it could be faster than TRAD pole
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oh by the way ladders WILL NOT SLIP ON GRASS spikes or no spikes
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oh by the way ladders WILL NOT SLIP ON GRASS spikes or no spikes
i think you will find you are wrong there
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oh by the way ladders WILL NOT SLIP ON GRASS spikes or no spikes
EEERRRR yes they will,i had them slip on me years ago when i use to use ladders now i have more sense !
PK
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Why not get some feet like these:
(http://www.machinemart.co.uk/images/library/product/large/05/050310275.jpg) (http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/catwalk-light-trade-extension-ladder-3)
(Click on pick to link to machine mart, where the picture is linked to)
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maybe its cos im 17 stone but ladders normally sink in to the lawns on my round and i dont charge them extra for airation ;D.well unlucky to slip on grass.must of been at a daft angle fella
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i have always had spikes on my ladders and there as good on concrete even better on soil and grass i would always advise to have them on we use ladders less m
now as we are water fed but you always need a ladder for flat roofs and odd backs
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If you take time to pitch the ladder correctly, not to steep or shallow. Make sure the top is flush on the wall and dont over reach the a ladder should be fine. Always best to re pitch it, rather than stretch for somewhere because then your asking for trouble. Always helps to give it a little rock with your hands before you go up to make sure its stable.
Follow those rules and cant go far wrong
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I've never tried spikes so I can't comment. Personal preference, I prefer extra large rubber feet with stabilad safety legs fitted where necessary.
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maybe its cos im 17 stone but ladders normally sink in to the lawns on my round and i dont charge them extra for airation ;D.well unlucky to slip on grass.must of been at a daft angle fella
20 years ago I put ladder on grass, pushed up to close the upstairs sash window and the ladder slipped down and landed on the bottom window sill (downstairs window), breaking the downstairs glass in process.
There was a frost so ground was hard, could also happen with very dry ground. Ladder was at a sensible angle.
Very soon after this got spikes fitted and not fallen off since.
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Ladder spikes are great on decking as they stick between gaps in wood. I would advise see them before comments. They do fold away when not in use, THEY WILL GRIP IN WET CONCREAT AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT SET TO DEEP, AS WELL AS TAR DRIVE WAYS THEY ARE NO DANGER AS THEY ARE NOT SHARP.tHEY SURPORT THE FEET ON THE LADDER ALREADY SO GOOD ON GRASS.i LEAVE THEM ON EVEN WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN USE JUST MOVE THEM UP. fOR THE PRICE IT WOULD RECOMMEND THEM.
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Another thing I have added to my arsenal of safety is mits .a stand off and 2x2 foot long tent pegs that I us to nock into the groung and they hook over steps on the ladder I also peg them to the sides if the top slides on fascia board that are wet when doing gutters with stand off,I always hear about WFP but they to have faults They window are not always so clean after and the corners do not always get cleaned and there is also spotting so there is a place for traditional
we need to agree they both are needed in W C.each has its advantages.There will always be a risk what we need is to reduce that risk.COMPLACENCY is the killer in this game and them just bad luck.
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iv had a look for whats available online and im still not even sure which way they are fitted .on ebay theres a HAILO ladder spikes set for only 3 quid ,maybe i will buy it and try it . from what ive gleaned here,theyre better than the original feet anyhow.
thanks for the info fellahs !
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spikes all the way even on ice
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If spikes are the way to go why do they put rubber feet on them.
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because of cost and you can do what you want then
Like saying why dont all cars come with alloys because there better? Cost and choice
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If they are safer cost hasnt anything to do with it surely?
Also if ladder manufacturers fitted JUST spikes without rubbers would it cost ANY more?
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spikes are the best thing going all the lads around here use them ,i tried rubber feet earlier this year ,after slidng 2 foot down a wall the ladder is in the yard waiting for spikes on
if you spike a ladder the guarentee is void because its not a regonised safty device,probley because ladder firms dont make money,i only use blunt spikes which were made in a local engineering shop 20 years ago,its the ladders that wear out ;D
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So, if oyu have spikes on your ladders feet is that what they rest on when you use the ladder on a patio??
This is what I dont get, I cant see spikes on concrete of any sort working.
only struggle on that shiny poop ;D
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oh by the way ladders WILL NOT SLIP ON GRASS spikes or no spikes
what about grass slopes
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in a poll on here 35% had had falls from ladders stan the man was one of them and he uses spikes so while im sure thay are good not 100% safe. another thought is way the manufacturs/suppliers dont fit them as standard ie spikes/mitts
i didnt vote i was on holiday :D
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wot a windy who can aford a holl ;D ;D ;D,i all so dident vote as i wos on jollys
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got those adjustable yellow feet on my ladders from midland
ladder.co nice big surface area on them plenty of grip dont think i would
trust spikes for all surfaces not enough touching the ground for my liking.
not that i use ladders much these days anyway :)
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mate the spike penetrate the ground and stop when the rubber feet reach the ground .They stop slides and trwists by holding the rubber feet in the ground even in the case if moving feet on the green ladders that is why one needs to see these spikes.On decks the sit in the slits in the wood ( stops slides)