[jodan63]

any advice on what ladders i will need, going to be doing domestic

[windows_chepstow]

I'm not sure what length of ladder mine is, but it's a double extention with  13 rungs on each section.  They could reach 99% of 1st floor windows on my round; prior to WFP.

Make sure they're not B & Q ladders and they conform to BS EN131 certified safety standard.  (They will have yellow feet and have this safety marking on the side).

I've fallen from a dodgy set of B & Q ladders.  They may be lighter, but they 'curve' after a short while and just aren't safe.

I'd also recommend that you don't do any 2nd floor work from ladders; wait till you get a WFP.

When you purchase your ladders, buy some spare feet and change them when they're worn.  Don't be one of these window cleaners who use ladders with no feet; worn away to the bare alluminium.

Also a Rojak Ladder Stopper and ladder matts are great too, for use on uneven or dangerous surfaces. 

Also, tell any potential customers at the quoting stage what windows you CAN'T do; as many properties will have windows that are dangerous to get access to (such as ones above porches).

When I first started I did them all; no matter how dangerous they were; regularly I'd be clinging onto a window sill with one hand, on top of a steeply pitched roof and sqeeging with my other hand; 'cos I'm a (thick) Geordie!!! 

It took a fall to thump some sense into me.

[windows_chepstow]

Can anyone advise Jodan on length and where to buy?

I get my ladders direct from a manufacturers in Newport (Chase Ladders), so I guess I cut out any middle men.

Mine cost about £110 and I purchased them last year.

[mick40]

ive  changed my ladder feet to the round sucker style.i feel a bit more comfortable with them on.

[mick40]

tosh you have got me wondering about my ladders
they dont have yellow feet but they are bs en131 certified with a yellow triangle on the side of them.i think they are youngmans.they seem to be sturdy enough.

[dave0123]

3.5 or 4 meter ladder will reach no problem,

[windows_chepstow]

tosh you have got me wondering about my ladders
they dont have yellow feet but they are bs en131 certified with a yellow triangle on the side of them.i think they are youngmans.they seem to be sturdy enough.

Thanks, Mick,

Maybe I'm wrong about the colour of the feet.

I'm sure I've read here, pre-working at height directive that if you went on a building site with ladders that didn't have yellow feet, you'd be sent off in shame, for having B & Q ladders!

Can anyone enlighten us?

[Paul Coleman]

3.5 or 4 meter ladder will reach no problem,

The open top ladders I've used have always been the 3.5 metre doubles.  I have a 3.5 metre treble in the garage from the bad old days.  Hasn't been used in years.

[steve m]

ther are three standards of ladders. Not too sure of the bs. marks, but the light duty ladders will have a blue label on and are rated for a static body weight of about 11 stone - the middle one is the bs en131 and are rated up to 15 stone. the last one is the one with yellow feet on and they are rated to 25 stone, and the ones recommended for trade use

[macc]

3.5 or 4 meter ladder will reach no problem,

The open top ladders I've used have always been the 3.5 metre doubles.  I have a 3.5 metre treble in the garage from the bad old days.  Hasn't been used in years.

I always had 3.5 meter ladders when i was trad. 4 meter ladders were too long for majority of 1st floof.

Macc

[JM123]

used to use a set of triple 4m ladders, they were class 1 and weighed a cool 37kgs, carried them around all day cuz I'm ard!

they were mens ladders, squeeky would love em

[Tim Morton]

I used to use a 16ft double WOODEN ladder on some jobs, reassuringly heavy!!!
You knew you'd been working at the end of that day !! They weren't like those nice stiff alu ladders, these had a bit of bounce when you climbed them. But at least your hands wouldnt stick to them in the winter, I wouldn't like to be handling alu ladders in the frost, Brrr!!

Tim

[KJG]

I used to use a 16ft double WOODEN ladder on some jobs, reassuringly heavy!!!
You knew you'd been working at the end of that day !! They weren't like those nice stiff alu ladders, these had a bit of bounce when you climbed them. But at least your hands wouldnt stick to them in the winter, I wouldn't like to be handling alu ladders in the frost, Brrr!!

Tim

Yay, a proper window cleaner using proper wooden window cleaning ladders. Aluminium ladders are dangerous, dirty, noisy and look a mess after a few months of weathering.

[Tim Morton]

Yay, a proper window cleaner using proper wooden window cleaning ladders. Aluminium ladders are dangerous, dirty, noisy and look a mess after a few months of weathering.

Well I've now gone wfp and have replaced the double 16's with a Gardiners 30ft pro pole, whay quicker than climbing and whay safer. Still got the 16's, use them occasionally when I need to clear the ivy away from one big house, prob use it about once a year.

Tim