[Smurf]

Just got back in like a drowned rat then more or less went back out on a call out about 5.30 to unblock an awkard downspout.

Arrived at the job and had a quick look and thought there is no way I'm going to get my ladders up there unless I used the ladder on the corner of the house to be able to take the swan neck apart,

Then I rememberd I had just the thing in the van 
http://www.buyladder-max.com/ladder-max-multi-pro-for-corners-more-ladder-standoff-stabilizer/

Was a quick local 10 min job for 35 squid  but I did get wet just a wee bit 

[Smurf]

I should have taken a pic of my ladder set up as even the chap said it looked very professional with the outriggers and all.
My reply was right tools for the job and all that.

[Smurf]

Does anyone else use one?

[samson]

Instead of all that fafing about buy a decent gutter vac with attatchment for getting down the down spout.   Ladders are the work of the devil !

[Smurf]

So what do you do when you can't get the guttervac attachment  into the downspout because of tile overhang for instance like the one I had yesterday? 

Sometimes it's quicker to do by ladders than faffing about with a guttervac too 

As a last restort if the joints are glued  and/or  can't take it apart I would  try jetting the blockage out instead.

Ladders are not the work of the devil if you happen to use the right safety kit on them when it is apporpriate to do so.
However taking risks on normal ladders without safety kit fitted and used properly is what gets people hurt or killed
 

[samson]

I have a thin attatchment that slotes between the tiles, but agree with you about blowing the crap out with a pressure washer if its too tight 

[Smurf]

I have a thin attatchment that slotes between the tiles, but agree with you about blowing the crap out with a pressure washer if its too tight 

As they say there is more than one way to get the job done .

Sometimes a simple way is to use a garden hose connected to a pole I've found will work just as well if they have an outside tap rather than the hassle of setting up a jetter and using a telescopic lance.

 

[samson]

I am getting a small pw just to do this job, so it is permenent in the van, and getting a 27 clx pole fitted to do the washing, really excited actually as I have quite a dull unintersting life, so this is good 

[Smurf]

I am getting a small pw just to do this job, so it is permenent in the van, and getting a 27 clx pole fitted to do the washing, really excited actually as I have quite a dull unintersting life, so this is good 

 Whatever floats yer boat

[Smurf]

Don't try this at home folks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEYirj1fZZA

[Nick Day]

Smurf,
To a certain extent what you say about safety ladder use is correct, but if you ask your local hospital about ladder accidents you will find that many ladder accidents involve people with years of experience with ladders.
Many accidents have been found to involve heart murmurs, fainting, blood pressure, sudden onset of atrial fibrillation (it causes dizziness), seizures (fits), even the onset of flue or a heavy cold etc.. so anything to minimise the use of ladders is universally accepted as a positive move.
I think that if your customers understood the consequences of vicarious liability, their household insurers  might have second thoughts about your ladder useage.

[Smurf]

Smurf,
To a certain extent what you say about safety ladder use is correct, but if you ask your local hospital about ladder accidents you will find that many ladder accidents involve people with years of experience with ladders.
Many accidents have been found to involve heart murmurs, fainting, blood pressure, sudden onset of atrial fibrillation (it causes dizziness), seizures (fits), even the onset of flue or a heavy cold etc.. so anything to minimise the use of ladders is universally accepted as a positive move.
I think that if your customers understood the consequences of vicarious liability, their household insurers  might have second thoughts about your ladder useage.

Did I not mention I operate a ladder minimisation policy too and was one of the first in the uk to start using so say guttervacs 

[Smurf]

People think gutter clearing using a vac is a new idea  but this pic proves it 's not as was taken in 1956.

[Smurf]

At any age you can take a so say turn for the worst but guess at roofline height  you  hope it don't happen unexpectedly unless you happen to be using a vertical life line and harness and the ladder is strapped to the wall properly.
Mind you it would be fun to see a rescue preformed when the chap is say dangling lifeless from his ladder

[Smurf]

I have a thin attatchment that slotes between the tiles, but agree with you about blowing the crap out with a pressure washer if its too tight 

One of the jobs I did today I tried sucking it out but no joy. Thought about blasting it with a hose but then decided to get the ladders out and took the joint apart only to find a very large bit of mortar wedged solid in the bend under all the crap.  Could not suck it out, would not be able to jet it out even using high pressure so ladders are essential in my book.

[samson]

I have a thin attatchment that slotes between the tiles, but agree with you about blowing the crap out with a pressure washer if its too tight 

One of the jobs I did today I tried sucking it out but no joy. Thought about blasting it with a hose but then decided to get the ladders out and took the joint apart only to find a very large bit of mortar wedged solid in the bend under all the crap.  Could not suck it out, would not be able to jet it out even using high pressure so ladders are essential in my book.

You wn't be saying that when you fall off and die 

[Smurf]

I have a thin attatchment that slotes between the tiles, but agree with you about blowing the crap out with a pressure washer if its too tight 

One of the jobs I did today I tried sucking it out but no joy. Thought about blasting it with a hose but then decided to get the ladders out and took the joint apart only to find a very large bit of mortar wedged solid in the bend under all the crap.  Could not suck it out, would not be able to jet it out even using high pressure so ladders are essential in my book.

You wn't be saying that when you fall off and die 

My missus will become stinking rich too if she finds out where I hid the insurance polices

[the king]

i realy like that stand off looks very safe im old school when it come to clearing gutters 3 tear ankalad stabliser  safe as houses

[Smurf]

i realy like that stand off looks very safe im old school when it come to clearing gutters 3 tear ankalad stabliser  safe as houses

Like me with an ankalad and microlite standoff is defo the best combo when doing roofline work via ladders.

I had one awkward job that I could not use a nornal chepo corner standoff on because of the downpipe being in the way so imported that one from the states. Its paid for itself many times over but was not cheap after delivery and import duty though 

[H MAN]

i realy like that stand off looks very safe im old school when it come to clearing gutters 3 tear ankalad stabliser  safe as houses

Like me with an ankalad and microlite standoff is defo the best combo when doing roofline work via ladders.

I had one awkward job that I could not use a nornal chepo corner standoff on because of the downpipe being in the way so imported that one from the states. Its paid for itself many times over but was not cheap after delivery and import duty though 

We have the standard Ladder Max stand off had it for about 5years.
Know the attachment you are using.
Don't use a ladder that much now but when we do.
Use this stand off.
Here is a video made a while ago.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7zt9oMzVXY