[zeusjazmin]

hello i am looking for a bit of advice regarding ladders
i need them to reach approx 30 feet
i can get a double extention or triple that both reach the same height ,but was wondering are there any advantages/disadvantages  with the double or triple?
any thoughts would be appreciated
thanks

[Sir Squeaky]

I'd get yourself a triple, for the simple reason that when you don't need the third piece (which is most of the time) you can detatch it and it's then smaller and lighter to carry around.

I had a choice of a 14 rung 2-tier, or a 10 rung 3-tier.
I only need the third piece for about 5 minutes a month and my ladder is light and manouevrable.(if that's spelt right!)

Careful using the "L" word around here lately mind... 

Rog.(I have my uses, you wouldn't be without me now )

[dave0123]

Get some articulated feet on the bottom as well much more grip  on the floor... much more better than those silly plastic ones that come with the ladders n wear out in days : useless!

Dave

[Sir Squeaky]

Although they'll grip better on hard surfaces, won't they sit on top of grass and slide, rather than digging in?

I assume they're flat bottomed?

[dave0123]

well they seem fine with me tbh erm they have nobblies on the bottom they push down when u stand on the ladder on hard survice make a sort of suction type connect if u understand lol i did think about this myself before buying some but grass never had no problmes still grip very well

Dave.

[JohnL]

sorry, but IMHO going 30 foot up a ladder these days is crackers! Its unsafe at the best and very likely to break all the rules on health and safety re WAH

and yes, what little WC I do is all trad so I dont have a Trad v WFP bias

JohnL

[Sir Squeaky]

Yet another thread ruined then.

Might as well lock it guys....

[geoffreyspecht]

yes i agree with u john he is a very naughty boy cleaning windows on a 30 ft ladder

[Paul Coleman]

Yet another thread ruined then.

Might as well lock it guys....

Not really "ruined" Squeaky.  I may be wrong but I thought going up 30 feet was illegal even under the old regulations - so this isn't one of those ladder vs wfp debates IMO.
I used to use a triple 3.5 metre (11 foot) way back on a couple of jobs but it was nowhere near fully extended so stayed within the law.

[trevor perry]

you all say it is illegal to use 30ft ladders then why are companies still being allowed to produce ladders upto 66ft high

[Paul Coleman]

you all say it is illegal to use 30ft ladders then why are companies still being allowed to produce ladders upto 66ft high

I'm not sure but I think the difference is about "climbing a ladder to gain access" and "working from a ladder".  Clearly, working from a ladder carries a higher risk than merely using it for access.

[stuart webster]

you all say it is illegal to use 30ft ladders then why are companies still being allowed to produce ladders upto 66ft high

Probably for the same reason they sell cars that go over 70mph.

It's not the seller at fault, but, how the end user uses it.

Tie the ladder off every 2meters, have stabaliser etc. etc. abd you can use them at 30'

[williamx]

and wear a Parachute

[JohnL]

  .  .  you all say it is illegal to use 30ft ladders then why are companies still being allowed to produce ladders upto 66ft high  .  .  .

What makes you think ladder makers only make ladders for Window Cleaners?

JohnL

[stuart webster]

  .  .  you all say it is illegal to use 30ft ladders then why are companies still being allowed to produce ladders upto 66ft high  .  .  .

What makes you think ladder makers only make ladders for Window Cleaners?

JohnL

Those who live in a bubble think that way.

[Ian_Giles]

As Roger said, go for the triple, and make sure you have articulated feet on them.

Working 30ft plus is good for constipation though, particularly on a windy day

If you are using it for commercial accounts think carefully before you go ahead.

For years I worked up to 35ft off ladders, but for the last year or two of using them I was becoming increasingly worried about being caught.

So take care.

Ian

[zeusjazmin]

thanks for the advice guys,i will find out this week if i need to buy the triple extention,its really only for about 20 windows ,all the rest are ground and first floor,i will let you know how i get on
btw the contract states that all sills must be wiped dry,would wfp be ok for this,im not wfp but just curious

[williamx]

thanks for the advice guys,i will find out this week if i need to buy the triple extention,its really only for about 20 windows ,all the rest are ground and first floor,i will let you know how i get on
btw the contract states that all sills must be wiped dry,would wfp be ok for this,im not wfp but just curious

If you want to dry the sills all you need to do is wrap a towel around the brush head and mop the excess water up, whats left should dry pretty quickly.

If you are only cleaning 20 windows, I would concider using a wfp system, to set up a basic di system should cost you around £300 which includes a pole to reach this height, how much are these ladders going to cost?