[drive surgeon]

hi guys, been doing a lot of houses with gutter vac. the only problem i find is when there are big pieces of broken tile in gutter. how do you get them out? also some jobs you go to quote there are literally plants, grass and all sorts growing in them. other than get a cherry picker its impossible to get that out with a vac. do you just tell the custy you cant get big pieces of tile out?   also is it worth training to use a cherry picker and hiring them for commercial gutters?

[sherco]

I have seen this amazing tool the other day, i asked the guy what it was and he told me it was called a Ladder!!!

[BDCS]

Sherco - Thats what get in your tights 

[Scoop]

do you just tell the custy you cant get big pieces of tile out?

Basically yes. If I can't flick it out or I can flick it out but not safely (ie will come smashing through connie roof) and I can't reach it with a ladder then I tell them that they need a roofer. Only happened once and they were fine. In any case if there are whole tiles in the gutter (as there were in this case) then they probably need a roofer anyway 

More distressing as far as I'm concerned are the gutters that are so close to edge of the ridge tile that you can't get a nozzle in them. Tend to be older rooves and I still hate the moment when the nozzle suddenly jams in a narrow bit. Can't see how you could even get your fingers into some of these.

Cherry picker? That's a whole 'nother ballgame as the Americans say. Up to you to decide. Personally I'm happy with my feet on the ground.

[Kenny83]

Tiles = not sure, but as for weeds/plants guttercleaning systems sell a great tool like a sythe what attaches to you pole to cut and dig weeds out, called a weedhook

[drive surgeon]

cheers kenny 

[Kenny83]

no probs mate, let me know how you get on

[neil kellett]

Cherry pickers are a whole other ball game?!! Why would that be now? Anyone who has the training and experience in using one knows thats incorrect. They look dangerous to the untrained eye but any window cleaner worth his salt should have his skills cards securely tucked in wallet. The gutter spike fom Nick at gutter cleaning systems is something I could have used on the sites years ago. Recently got one from him, good bit of kit.  Ive operated lots of MEWPs, Thats a boom lift to the uninitiated. They're not dangerous if used properly and in the proper conditions. Here have a look see.

[Scoop]

Cherry pickers are a whole other ball game?!! Why would that be now? Anyone who has the training and experience in using one knows thats incorrect. They look dangerous to the untrained eye but any window cleaner worth his salt should have his skills cards securely tucked in wallet.

I think you may have misunderstood me Neil. I never said they were dangerous. I just said that using a cherry picker is different to using ladders or ladderless pole.

However if what you say is true then I'm guessing that a lot of us aren't worth our salt  Hands up if you are not qualified to use a cherry picker.

[mike roberts]

training for booms fairly cheap £200-300 (self propelled / scissors) but would commercials pay enough to cover your cost + hire charges .. just for guttering Most boom hire is for a wk unless u can get a deal

Be interesting to see if M clean thinks its viable 

[neil kellett]

Yeah, Scoop, you said that you were happy to keep your feet on the ground inferring that there is a level of danger with them. And there is. If you suffer from Numptyitis. If they are shock loaded or over loaded some of the older ones have tipped. The newer ones though are fool proof to a certain extent. The training and experience for these things should have been done years ago ( judjing by the guys Avatar he looks fairly established) if your in this game now with your own business. Its not enough to just train to use a self propelled boom or scissors and then go and use it. There must be at least a couple of weeks on site experience with a trained operative and then you would be able to go and do the course and then your certified. Training is no good without experience and vice versa. Guys have beeb decapitated in these things. Leave it to the pro's. Like me.

[Scoop]

Neil, calm down. You're putting words in my mouth. I never implied cherry pickers were dangerous. I just said that I prefer to keep my feet on the ground. Has it occurred to you that I like many am not greatly fond of heights?

Now where I do agree with you is that there is undoubtedly a large degree of skill in using this equipment and that this skill is acquired through experience. I am more than happy to leave the use of these gizmos to the professionals like you 

[neil kellett]

Yeah, your right not to take chances on safety. Complacency can happen to anyone. In the foto of the cherry picker that I uploaded, I look at that now and cringe, that was taking a big chance, I would'nt do that now. That was a court yard where we could'nt get any other access. It was a builders clean so WFP was not an option. I re cleaned all of these sites with the 65 pole. Hey it paid for the Brand new Vivaro and the Ionics. God I miss the boom