[shine services]

Hi all, iv just started out window cleaning and hav a couple of questions about buying a ladder.

I dont have a roof rack on my renault kangoo van and was wondering if there are ladders that would fit in the back of the van but be tall enough to reach the windows of a 2 story house. Im using the trad method.
Any advice?

[AuRavelling79]

Yes. Drop the trad. method and go wfp. Use a back pack if money's tight - do it now as every week that goes by is a week wasted if you don't. The money you'd spend on a decent ladder will go a long way towards your costs.

[paul rulton]

reach the windows of a 2 story house
as in ground, 1st & 2nd?

[paul rulton]

Yes. Drop the trad. method and go wfp. Use a back pack if money's tight - do it now as every week that goes by is a week wasted if you don't. The money you'd spend on a decent ladder will go a long way towards your costs.

or as gold has said  this is ur best opption m8 

[Martin ccs]

at least get a roof rack mate - doesnt have to be a top model.

just go to halfords if you want a cheaper option.

there was a guy that used one of those blow up ones from argos - i wouldnt bother with that tho.

[woody1]

mate but one off ebay or at halfords get a double 3.5 meter one from middlands ladders learn to clean windows that way then if you have enough go wfp but def get roof bars

[dazmond]

ive got a kangoo.get a roof rack!i got mine from motorworld near me for £70(£110 in halfords! :)

if your starting out trad youll need a 3.5 metre trade ladder(bout £120) for 1st floor windows(and placing the ladder ABOVE first floor windows on some houses).

if your starting out and doing a lot of dirty first cleans then wfp will be next to useless if they need scraping or their old wooden or oxidized frames.you need to be up close to do a good job.

if you ve no experience trad window cleaning then i would get a few days work with a local windy and learn how to mop and blade to a half decent standard/pace then get a wfp and avoid ladders altogether(apart from some stepladders for reaching over some kitchen extensions/flatroofs with the pole/unlocking/climbing over locked gates etc).

ive been a trad window cleaner for 16 years but im having trouble with one of my knees!so the sooner i go wfp the better for me!!ive also had 2 falls off the ladder.luckily i was ok.i got away with a sprained ankle/back.

best wishes

dazmond

[dazmond]

im sorry GOLD but there is no way £120 is going to go a long way towards paying for wfp set up!!thats how much he can get a set of decent ladders for!!

he ll get a cheap backpack and thats it!he ll still need a pole/brush.means of purifying water.barrels,spares etc.then theres ongoing costs like water bills(if he,s on a meter),resin etc.

[shine services]

reach the windows of a 2 story house
as in ground, 1st & 2nd?

No i mean ground floor and 1st floor, what size of a ladder would i need?

[paul rulton]

just get a 12rung double m8  i used 2use the youngman, very good solid ladder but not like a
lead weight  i think they can take up2 23stone in weight. i got all my ladders from a company
called lapwing. hope that helps m8 

[shine services]

Iv been looking on the midlands website, is ther much diferance in the trad 3.5 and the domestic use 3.4 ladders. the domestic ones are slighty lighter but which are more suitable?

[paul rulton]

u gotta get the trad ladders m8, ur up them / using them all the time.
get urself a good solid d rung  not some wippy cheap thing.

[Nathanael Jones]

Remember,.. whatever anyone here says,.. LADDERS ARE NOT BANNED,.. climbing them when you have other options (WFP) is though!

Seriously, Gold has the right idea,.. a cheap WCW backpack, a harris pole & a DI vessel, a brush & some hose is all you need to get started,.. it will cost a bit more than ladders & trad gear but it won't break the bank. You'll work faster too so you're investment will pay for itself very quickly.

[Scrimble]

dont listen to the crap dazmond spews out on this forum,

dont bother with ladders get a wfp set up asap.

i'm selling my ladders if your interested because i no longer wish to use them, i have a 3.0m tripple forsale, can reach 3 storey houses with them if your brave enough,

i bought them from midlands ladders £127 http://www.midlandladders.com/products/Triple_3_0m_9ft8_Trade_Light_Industrial_Ladder-22-7.html

only used a handful of times to do guttering jobs selling them cheap £70

[jonnyald]

i use a triple 2.0 metre ladder (abru) these fit easy inside a small van and i believe are one of the lightest ladders you can get . real handy and they do ALL  the regular sort of houses  / got mine in Band Q ,  despite wot some say about Abru being cheap n nasty ,ive found the opposite to be true (usually are £100)

 only downside is they are whippy ,but after a couple of weeks i never noticed that and i now fasten with a small bit of line so they dont blow away in the wind

[martinsadie]

Iv been looking on the midlands website, is ther much diferance in the trad 3.5 and the domestic use 3.4 ladders. the domestic ones are slighty lighter but which are more suitable?

i have 3m trade and 3.4 domestic they are great for the few times i need them