[sunshine windows]

Hi All,

Don't know if any of you have had experience using cherry pickers when cleaning windows.

I've just been to Oxford to have a look at a job. The lady there said last wfp'ers were crap and left all the corners dirty, so she would prefer it to be done trad.

This site is probably around 60ft high. Four storey office building with windows around 3.5 - 4 metres tall. 280 in total.

I will need a hcerry picker to clean outside and an adjustable scaffold platform to clean in the reception area.

What i'd like to know is, how awkward is it to clean the windows using the picker. Is it very time consuming because of moving the machine around. She said she's happy to go back to wfp providing it's done properly but i haven't got the equipment.

Any suggestions grateful.
Sunshine

[Majestic]

I have just used a 17mtr one, I have used smaller ones in the past.
I got 30mins tuition on this one and  its very easy to use.You just have to get used to the sway, and be gentle with the controlls. I wanted to go 55 ft and that got me to the height no problem. I payed £150 for the day. I wanted it for the Sunday , I was told that if I wanted it for that day it would have to pay for a extra day. So I told him I would pick it up on Saturday and drop it off at tea time the same day, as they close at 12 I would have to keep it until Monday . So I got it for the Sunday for free.

[windows_chepstow]

John,

I assumed you needed some formal training and a licence to use a cherry picker.

I've never even considered hiring one before; I thought it would be 'big bucks' before you even started a job.

I take it I was wrong?

[Majestic]

The only training I have had was the 30 mins from where I hired it from.
You can go on a ipaf 1 day course, prices range from £150 to £235 it all depends which company you go with. You get a card to say you are ipaf trained details from
http://www.ipaf.org/

[alansavvi]

I use them and have a IPAF certificate. They do take longer and will push the price up considerable on the job.

My advice is dont use them unles you have to and only use one if you have the IPAF license. I am not trying to be difficult but these machine can be operated after 30 minutes but not safely.

If you had an accident HSE will take you to the cleaners because in there eyes no license no chance! There are so many different points to take into account, overhead powerlines (not touching but the electricity jumping!) is the ground strong enough (these babies weigh tons!) etc.

You could not drive one on a building site without a license, thats the law.

There are too many hire companies that will gladly hire them out knowing that you take full responsibilty.

My advice, don't use them unless you have to. WFP missing corners how do you do that with a round brush!

[windows_chepstow]

So I told him I would pick it up on Saturday and drop it off at tea time the same day,

Thanks for the information so far guys, but how do you 'pick it up'?  They look (am I thinking of a bigger version of what we're talking about?) big beasts to me that look like they should be transported by truck.

Have I read your post incorrectly?

I'm a Geordie by-the-way.  Type slowly.

[alansavvi]

[

Thanks for the information so far guys, but how do you 'pick it up'?  They look (am I thinking of a bigger version of what we're talking about?) big beasts to me that look like they should be transported by truck.

They drop of by truck although some are truck mounted which means that you have to learn how to secure the truck before you operate.

[squeaky-clean 1]

check your insurance guys as i have £5 mill insurance but not covered for cherry pickers absailing or cradles.

you may not have the cover you think

[Majestic]

The one I used has a tow bar hook up, so I could tow it. When I got my insurance I told them I needed to use a cherry picker 4 times a year. They added that onto my insurance.
This is something like the machine I used

http://www.facelift.co.uk/machine_finder/machine_details.cfm?machine_ID=280

[abacus]

Hi all
I had a contract that we had to hire a cherry picker till we got the pole system truck mounted with driver very handy when he broke the very big spot light to the car park they had to pay not us not easy to clean through the cage as we had 6ft sloping paynes to clean in the end we had a camera cage dropped the front off and used a harness to hold us in worked quite well but was quicker with wfp
If you dont have wfp split the job with someone who does  your contract his wfp and both clean  every ones happy even the customer and like the man says how do you miss the corners?

regards grant

[acleanerplace]

Hi Mate

You need to have a pal licemce if you do not you r insurance will not cover you

Hope this helps

Mike Collins

[poleman]

Here is one of my jobs

[sunshine windows]

I'm now thinking of pricing this job up 2 ways.

1st quote: Hire a cherry picker for the external tops, scaffold platform for the internal reception area and clean the lot traditionally.

2nd quote: Sub out external work to someone with wfp, hire scaffold platform for internal reception area and clean inside traditionally.

Would any of you be prepared to clean the outside for/with me, using wfp. I would need someone who is confident in their cleaning methods as this job is around 60ft high.

This job would need to be cleaned over the weekend. So, if you are interested please email me your details, Stating your daily fees based on an 8 hour working day.

The job is located in Oxford.

Cheers,
Sunshine