[TomCrowther]

This is a tough one but any feedback is appreciated. I was asked to quote a very large garden centre today. it's like an aircraft hanger only not as pretty!
There are four main areas to it and I broke it down as follows
Area 1 Roof panels, 256 approx size 6ft x 2ft. One glass window wall 20 minutes to clean
Area 2 Roof panels, 88 approx size 6ft x 2ft. One glass window wall 20 mins to clean.
Area 3 Roof panels, 160 6ft x 2ft. 128 4ft x 2 ft. Several glass walls around 2-3 hours, tricky access.
Area 4 Roof panels, 44 6ft x 2 ft plus glass walls which would take around one hour.

Access is generally tricky, they are open 7 days a week. The roof panels are the polycarbonate type things you see on conservatory roofs, hasn't been cleaned in years but they are just dirty, not green.

Would you clean this wfp or try and power wash on a low setting after spraying with virosol type product? If WFP, It would be very hard to get any pressure on a large number of the panels because they are so far away from where you can safely stand.

As i said, it's not your every day quote  and any ideas are appreciated.

[Roger Oakley]

Tom,
Can't really help you with the quote, but I have those poly style panels on our conservatory roof, our window cleaner just does them with WFP once a year, needed TFR first as they hadn't been cleaned in ages at a guess.
He gets a really good result with the WFP.
Don't think the pressure washer is a good idea, leaking seals etc. sounds like you might need a cherry picker to do this one though if access around the sheds allows.

[Rob_Mac]

Tom

This story will become clear.

I was contacted by a distillery in the highlands two winters ago, Chivas Regal. They had 50 storage hangers full of whiskey that because of the heavy snow fall were potentially going to collapse.

Some of the roofs had caved in and they were really concerned that they were going to lose all of the stock.

We decided that we could not get up there to even begin clearing the snow.

The measurements and costs became staggering as I tried to assist them remotely. We couldn't get onto the roofs as they were in such a fragile state. In the end they got a helicopter in to blow the snow off.

One measurement we needed (which you need as well) is the central point of the roof. You cannot walk onto the roof so you need to know what is the furthest stretch you can achieve.

This can be developed by the use of MEWPs (cherry pickers) and you could probably get to the central point.

This sort of cleaning is right up my street and comes with it's own set of complications. Send me some pictures or post on here and I will look at it for you.

The photos need to show the access around the entire project and when you start involving access it would get expensive.

Is he prepared for a large cost or does he want it doing for nothing.

Rob

[TomCrowther]

Thanks Roger/Rob, yes it's a heck of a job. The access is I think the main issue as there is just so much stuff around the buildings and no room to play with. I clean a lot of conny roofs with my WFP system and the results are great but I don't think this will work on the largest roof as it is probably 20 plus ft in reach, a low angle and will be impossible to get ant weight/pressure on the brush head. I am thinking of a pressure washer lance with a "wheeled clamp" to run up and down the panes, after spraying with TFR type cleaning fluid.
Re price expectance, no idea yet.

[Rob_Mac]

I made a roof cleaning attachment for our supermarket works, out of a lightweight golf trolley. Goes on the end of an extending lance. It works really well and the turbo nozzle makes it hover over the work, the wheels are great for getting the nozzle to where it needs to work

This might help you. I cannot do anything today as I am waiting for someone but I will send you a picture of what I cobbled together, on Monday.

Rob

[TomCrowther]

A pic would be great Rob, I knew I was on to something  I am pretty fit and strong for a 46 yr old, used to live in the gym but I am all for using my head when possible rather than my ageing muscles. Large area jobs like this need the right gear and even then it will be quite a tough job.
I was thinking about a two wheeled affair with an adjustable length of pole with a good clamp on the end to fix to the lance.

[trevor perry]

use a extendable pressure wash wand with an adjustble head and a car wash brush attached, if you use a vikan brush the water can be sent through the brush at low pressure but with a good flow, personally i think this is better than using high pressure on this kind of surface as they can sometimes be a bit fragile, the weight of pole and brush is sufficient to give a very good scrubbing yet you are not holding any weight at funny angles as it is resting on the surface you are cleaning, i have done lots cof jobs using this method and its pretty easy, where are you based Tom if you are near you are welcome to have a look at how i made the attachment

[TomCrowther]

Hi Trevor, I'm based in Sale, South Mancs. I think this is one of those jobs which is a bit of a learning curve 

[TomCrowther]

I quoted them £2,400. I know this will be on the high side but it couldn't be much more awkward and I would hate to get the job and regret it after the first half day  I won't hold my breath...