[Cookie]

I have a couple houses I clean where I can't access the windows above the flat roof using WFP.  I have been simply putting the ladder up and walking across the roof, (round the edges), to access these windows - haven't fallen through yet!  However thinking I ought to take safety a bit more seriously I am going to make up some crawler boards.

Does anyone have any advice re: the best sort of material to use, (eg:  12mm ply, scaffolding planks), as well as the best size to cut it to for ease of use? On one of the houses the flat roof is quite large so I'll be using 2+ crawler boards and will need to swap them over as I walk around the windows (so I don't want anything too heavy).

I'd be interested to know what you guys use....

[samson]

It would have to be a really high priced job for me to go to all that trouble !

[Smurf]

Crawler boards seem too time consuming but if I you think a flat roof looks/feels dodgy to walk on best to keep of it and leave those windows out.

[samson]

Crawler boards seem too time consuming but if I you think a flat roof looks/feels dodgy to walk on best to keep of it and leave those windows out.

Smurf did you have a long break from the forum, seem to remember you from a while ago ?

[Smurf]

I come and go on forums like most do 

Crawler boards seem too time consuming but if I you think a flat roof looks/feels dodgy to walk on best to keep of it and leave those windows out.

Smurf did you have a long break from the forum, seem to remember you from a while ago ?

[Smudger]

Papa smurf has been around forever 

Ref crawler boards: I agree with others that's too much trouble for window cleaning, if Jin the rare times we need to access a roof I always ask customer if it's in good repair, ( quite often you find they have been re roofed etc recently ) but never take their word for it,  check out the roof for wear or damp and any sponginess  I use spreader boards if using a ladder on the flat roof to access another level

Darran

[Matt.]

Without seeing a pic of job, I would be a but reluctant to just run across a roof that could collapse an leave u with the bill

I would approach off a ladder up from ground overlapping the flat roof and work off the ladder, have it footed as u will be moving about with the flat roof around ur knee height

[Walter Mitty]

For some years now, the usual material for flat roofs has been marine ply covered by a silicon based material - it usually has a 20 - 25 year guarantee.  It is safer than the old chipboard/felt/chippings roofs because even if the decking gets damp, it retains its strength - the downside being that it can sometimes be a little more slippery.  Any chipboard roofs around will now be getting a bit old because this method stopped some years ago.  Chipboard roofs were meant to be replaced periodically and only usually attracted a much shorter guarantee.
I once stuck my foot through a customer's chipboard roof where water had penetrated - fortunately it was only through the upper decking rather than the plasterboard below.  I no longer have any jobs where I would need to stand on such roofs.
IMO, if a roof seems vulnerable enough to require a crawler board, it would no longer be my problem as I would be leaving the relevant windows.  Using lighter, longer poles uts out most of it anyway but there is always the odd one.

[dazmond]

defo too much trouble for regular window cleaning jobs.

if the roof seems dodgy just refuse to clean them windows above until they get the roof re done.good customers will understand.

if you ve got a good carbon 25 ft pole then you should be able to reach most windows above a flat roof.