[Matt Gibson]

... Clean the circled areas. They dont want scaffold, and i cant find a spider boom, or a normal boom that will either fit through the grass gap next to the stairs, or with the spider boom, the open flat area isnt wide enough for the legs to open.

Basically just want all the sills cleaned, could do the fronts with a telescopic, but they want the top of the sills done too.

Any ideas? A scaff tower will be a idiot to move..

Cheers,

Matt

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[Rob_Mac]

Is there access to do the tops of the sills from inside the property, opening the windows and putting an arm out.

We have a really short lance, basically a trigger , a foot of steel and then a turbo nozzle. You would need the lance and some hose passing up at each window, possibly with an extending lance or brush. Have you got a second person to assist you.

Very tight that one!

Rob

[APWS]

are ladders really a non starter these days?

[Rob_Mac]

They are on my works - Yes!

Rob

[Matt Gibson]

Have you tried kicking over a 3500psi washer at the top of a ladder, 3 stories up?..

Thanks Rob, but i think its gonna be a pass this time, cant get access to all the flats at the same time, and most of the flats are rented, with all the restrictions on tennants and such..

Cheers anyway, just thought there might be some weird and wonderfull technique that somebody had secret..

Matt

[Rob_Mac]

I've got another lance steel that is bent (perfect for gutters), something like that. You wouldn't see the end product but with careful use you would get a good end product.

Rob

[Matt Gibson]

Rob,

Yeah i thought about one of those bent lances/attachments but its for a regular prop management company so id rather say no than risk doing a rubbish job.

[Kenny83]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PRESSURE-WASHER-NOZZLE-HOLDER-SWIVEL-BENDED-U-LANCE-/160609365980?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2565106fdc
one of these, better than a gutter attatchment because they don't swing around, they are fixed, I use them for steaming enginges of so i can stick the lane in the engine and get all the sides and underneath, rther than just washing from the top

[BDCS]

I'd use a ladder and a scrubbing brush

[APWS]

I'd use a ladder and a scrubbing brush

carefull dont think you are allowed to say that!

[BDCS]

Have you seen the BT blokes up ladders ? RA,MS tied or footed and having explored other ways. Safer than leaning out of the window pressure washing. None of my workforce moan about ladder work given a lack or other options

[Griffus]

If manual cleaning is your best option then just use ladders for access. You can include a stand-off and a leveller / ground stabiliser.

The job isn't that high and ladders would be my first choice. Used sensibly and safely ladders are still hard to beat on small jobs like this.

http://www.midlandladders.com/products/Stand_Off_Bracket-292-25.html

http://www.ladderstore.com/ladder-accessories/ladder-stabilisers-feet/big-grip-ladder-stabiliser.html

http://www.ladderstore.com/ladder-accessories/ladder-stabilisers-feet/industrial-ladder-stabiliser-m8rix.html

http://www.ladderstore.com/ladder-accessories/ladder-stays-stand-offs/v-type-stand-off.html

[Rob_Mac]

Just to clarify

My suggestion was to open a window and put an arm out, not to lean out of a window!. I have built a very succesful business by not compromising on health and safety and offering a better service than was previously offered.

If you really want to avoid utilising ladders or any other unsafe working practise you can get a small pop up that is a one man operation and or a scissor lift. I don't know how you would get around the steps with the scissor lift but there may be a route around the building, from the other side.

If the client wants the tops doing I would look at making it happen, rather than saying it can't be done.

Suggest the U bend lance to the client - I think you may be surprised how much of the build up will be cleaned. Let them know it is not guaranteed though because you cannot see.

I would never use a pressure washer and ladder combination - under any circumstances! I have very big hands and on the ground often pressure wash one handed and if we are roof cleaning. I also have the upper body strength to cope with the strain on the arm.

I would like to see the defence as an employer, if (god forbid) an employee fell off a ladder, whilst using a pressure washer. The idea that it is a safe working practise is laughable and maybe is ok with smaller works and a mentality of I've got away with it in the past but I thought the general idea of the WAHD was to find alternative working practises where available.

In this instance there are options and I am sure if the ladder users looked at everytime they have used ladders it was purely down to speed and not utilising all available options, possibly because of costing issues.

Pressure washing, ladders and yourself and employees - not really eh!!!. I came off ladders eight years ago, when I had my window cleaning business, that was deemed unsafe, pressure washing is safer?

I would say that the BT engineers have harnesses and use them - certainly the ones I have seen do.

Give me a scenario where I have to get on a ladder to pressure wash and I will find a way round it but if you insist you can clean it yourself!!

Good luck Matt

[Matt Gibson]

Cheers guys, been very helpfull..

I just dont like ladders, its a personal prefference. 

[APWS]

Have you tried kicking over a 3500psi washer at the top of a ladder, 3 stories up?..

Thanks Rob, but i think its gonna be a pass this time, cant get access to all the flats at the same time, and most of the flats are rented, with all the restrictions on tennants and such..

Cheers anyway, just thought there might be some weird and wonderfull technique that somebody had secret..

Matt

eh..