[Jackal]

g.b

did you get some sort of safety device for your ladder,think it was you who was asking couple of weeks ago,iv got spikes fitted but gave up tuesday ice is bad enough but with a layer of snow over that it just really aint worth it on your own

[adixon]

Trad guy came in my street yesterday hes just been cleaning downstairs only bit of a wage cut but hes earning something and still getting the tips

[GB Window Cleaning]

g.b

did you get some sort of safety device for your ladder,think it was you who was asking couple of weeks ago,iv got spikes fitted but gave up tuesday ice is bad enough but with a layer of snow over that it just really aint worth it on your own

no mate i still havnt decided whats the best saftey device to get, theres too many to choose from im w.f.p but with the temp not getting above freezing laterly w.f.p is as much use as a paper fire guard! 

[david watts]

iwots give the best advice; for me havent had ladders out lately.
would do up stairs if cold and no snow or ice but if you use ladders in this weather
you must be short up stairs.
lots come on here and spout on about h a s but if they use ladders or spray water all over the place
and its below freezing what good is their advice    forgot to add lol

[Johnny B]

I'm 100% trad, and have been reading some posts regarding ladder spikes and other safety devices with interest.

Round my way, the pavements are still so slippery where the snow has frozen, that I need spikes on my boots. I couldn't get to my van, parked across the road without nearly going butt over elbow, so it's another day inside for me!

John.

[weetot]

iwitot, out of interst was you up 1st floor when you fell or higher?

Sorry GB havent been on here since last night.

Fell from your average 3 bed semi, roughly 12-13 feet high.  I remember pushing the ladders a little further in towards the house, hoping they wouldnt slip, and the next thing I knew I was being carried by the owner of the house to his car and straight to hospital.

Signed a form then they cut me jeans off and I fell asleep.

Sorry if its a bit detailed, as long as it stops some other windy taking a risk!

Laters


PS
I think I counted 87 bricks on the way down.

[GB Window Cleaning]

@ iwitot

Thanks for the info mate, its opened my eyes a bit to ladder saftey! i think because were up and down them soo much we get over confident and thats when accidents happen.

Have a great xmas mate

G.B

[weetot]

Agreed.

All the best mate.

[Feen]

Reading this with interest. We have had snow and/ or ice for a month now, so we have been working whenever possible. Apart from the obvious of wanting to earn, I try to show loyalty to the customers. That's not to say I'm stupid about it. I speak to them where possible. Some say leave it, some get downs only, some are delighted to see us. I have a mate with me so I have a foot on the ladder if I need it and I also swear by the Ladderm8 - excellent piece of kit. We worked this morning in heavy snow to do those customers who had expressly asked us if they could get a pre-Xmas clean. They were delighted to see us. Total tips?? £0. Don't know whether to laugh or cry  
Happy Xmas all

[GB Window Cleaning]

@ feen

I know what you mean about tips mate, suppose the way to look at it is dont expect any, then if you do get some its a bonus.

Although to think like this at the time can be difficult, suppose im not nothered about tips as long as i get paid for the work i do. which is hard enough for some custys to remember!  :

[bobby p]

it would be Great to see somebody do a video of testing these different safety gadgets ,in the real world. different angles,different surfaces etc

  who knows how many? guys have been maimed or even killed  when trusting a safety device,because how can you prove after the fall


Im thinking the only true test is to put a ladder up (with safety gadget) and then open a window and load 10-15 stone onto the upper rungs .   

[GB Window Cleaning]

it would be Great to see somebody do a video of testing these different safety gadgets ,in the real world. different angles,different surfaces etc

  who knows how many? guys have been maimed or even killed  when trusting a safety device,because how can you prove after the fall


Im thinking the only true test is to put a ladder up (with safety gadget) and then open a window and load 10-15 stone onto the upper rungs .   

That sir is an exellent idea, i might have to look into making some vids next year myself! i hope others will consider doing the same

[Feen]

Might look at that too, although I'd need to get my kids to upload any vid 

[cozy]

We do trad pole or do downstairs only. Any ice about, no ladders. We charge 70% normal price for downstairs. Nearly all custies understand we are full time and all year service. The trad pole idea was Dazmonds and that nonce Bateman.

Not perfect, but no complaints from custies. We don't do first cleans when the weather is this bad though.

[Jackal]

i saw what i thought was a good idea the other day reguarding ladder spikes, i saw on some other windys ladder while i was walking across a carpark,that he had positioned his spikes at an angle (not straight down as you normally would) so that when you put your ladder in position on the house the spikes are facing almost vertically instead of at the same angle the ladder is if that isnt to complicated to understand,i did want to take a photo to post but no camera at the time

[GB Window Cleaning]

@ cozy

When you say you do trad pole upstairs or ground floor only, what would stop you doing trad pole 1st floor? the custy ? or just the leaded windows, imposible to reach? and the extremely hard to do with trad pole windows?

I dont think i want to try doing trad pole for 1st floor work as to risk making a mess, missing frames and sills and potentially losing custys! 

[zimzam]

I've been doing bottoms only this week.Still earning and plenty of tips.

[GB Window Cleaning]

i thought about trad pole and just doing bottoms but because ive not got a full round yet i thought id leave them till the temp picks up! cos my thoughts on it are if i just do bottoms only and earn half the money it will be another 4 weeks (8 weeks for some) untill i do them again, but if i book them in when the weather picks up i can earn the full money an the jobs sooner!

but its a tough call really cos if these temps stay around too much longer i'll have no choice but to trad pole and bottoms only and maybe even better ladder safety divices! 

What do others think to my strategy? i need all the moral support i can get at the moment 

[GB Window Cleaning]

well i did what i thought was best at the time soo...  :

[Richard Neal]

If i have to use them a have a bag of sand (like the ones they put over road work signs to stop them blowing away) and wedge it up against the feet, never had my ladder move since, although youve still got to go with you're experience, sometimes when its like this youve just got to tell the customer "sorry bottom windows only" or get a harris decorating pole from B & Q.
Just be carefull!