[jb1975]

i was reading this post about squeegee on an extension pole
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=24644.40

does anyone use or know of window cleaners who use trad equipment on an extension pole exlusively instead of climbing ladders?


looking through the archives theres doesnt seem to be many trad w/cleaners that use this method. why is this, when it is safer than climbing ladders?

[geefree]

hi, becauses it takes forever, and its really hard to get it just right,

the old pros may swear by it but i feel, its a knack, and you can leave moreof a  mess than was on originally.... practice on your upstairs windows and see....

i can do an odd hard to reach window, but to do all the upstairs ones , you would have to get it down to a fine art.

gary.

[Peter Fogwill]

i was reading this post about squeegee on an extension pole
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=24644.40

does anyone use or know of window cleaners who use trad equipment on an extension pole exlusively instead of climbing ladders?


looking through the archives theres doesnt seem to be many trad w/cleaners that use this method. why is this, when it is safer than climbing ladders?

I used to do 99% of all the outsides with a squeegee on a pole.  I had to develop some of my own tools to make it worthwhile though, but it can be done.

Peter

[combat cleaning]

Hi I use exclusively trad on extension poles, no ladders, I'm too old!
use a porcupine applicator sleeve and a ledge eze squeegee both from ettore and afer a bit of practice its o.k., faster and safer.
Ettore have a video on their web site which shows technique.
hope this helps

[supernova77]

Combat,

How do you manage with leaded and georgian windows then?

Andy

[telboy]

"Turbo" Terry Burrows has used this method for a long time.

He uses a "Backflip"

Telboy

[combat cleaning]

Reply to Andy and Telboy
No georgian or leaded only semi's and small commercial, had to consider the best jobs for using this method on. Am lucky in that all jobs have easy access and normal windows.
Ref the backflip, I have recently started using this for all regular work.
I normally do the initial clean with the porcupine which shifts all and then continue with the backflip.  Again a bit of pracice was required but o.k. now and faster.

[jb1975]

combat, so you reckon squeegeeing with an extension pole, is a skill that the average window cleaner can learn in a couple of months?

[Sir Squeaky]

There's no way you can wipe the top edge.

Unless of course you bring the pole down, and wrap a scrim around it (which then gets soaking wet).

It can't be done properly.
Just like with wfp, you can't see what you're doing.

You need to be in front of the glass.

[M4RK]

There is a way to do the top edge.
You can get clamps that fit on the end of your pole, you fold the cloth and the clamp holds it. Better still, don't touch the top edge with your mop, just get really close, then you don't have to wipe it.

There is a knack to extension pole work, I use it a lot for shops. With a pole you cover a lot of glass very quickly. It's good on big windows, but I think domestic work would be really tricky (on fan light windows etc.)

Mark

[Sir Squeaky]

There is a knack to extension pole work, I use it a lot for shops. With a pole you cover a lot of glass very quickly. It's good on big windows, but I think domestic work would be really tricky (on fan light windows etc.)

Mark

That's what I was trying to say really.

I use it on some shops, but they're big ground floor windows.

[Fast 1 *]

no work today,squeaky?

[Sir Squeaky]

Only just stopped raining.

Changed into work clothes now, but it's looking dark again....

[Fast 1 *]

better day tomorrow apparently

[Peter Fogwill]

There's no way you can wipe the top edge.

Unless of course you bring the pole down, and wrap a scrim around it (which then gets soaking wet).

It can't be done properly.
Just like with wfp, you can't see what you're doing.

You need to be in front of the glass.

Wrong again Squeaky, it can be done, and it is being done.  Experienced window cleaners worth their salt sometimes don't have to see what they are doing they can feel it.  They know when the window is done properly without having their nose pressed up against the glass.

Peter Fogwill

[windows_chepstow]

Only just stopped raining.

Changed into work clothes now, but it's looking dark again....

I worked in Chepstow today, where Squeeks lives.  We had a bit of rain early morning, but nothing after.

It looked like it was threatening to rain, but it didn't.

So he's wrong again!

[Sunshine Cleaning]

No your wrong Tosh, I am 150 miles away and it rained all day!

[D.Salkeld_Ltd]

OI!!!

This started off as a post about trad pole work and has now deteriated into a "Beat up Squeeky!!!" post.............AGAIN!!!!!!!!

NOW BACK OFF SQUEEKY!!!!

That's my Squeeky's bodyguard bit done................................!!!!!!!!!

Back to the post.............

Traditional Pole work.

It can be done, but, in my opinion takes ages.
Trad window cleaning involves 4 actions:
1. wash window
2. squeeggee
3. Detail
4. Sills

In order to acheive this with a pole you need to go up and down with the pole up to 4 times per window!!
This, I reduced to 2:
Backflip to wash and squeegee
and an adapted Unger vise versa with 2 T bars with a scrim wraped round one and a sill cloth around the other T bar.  You could detail with one side and turn over and wipe sill with the other.
This adapted tool was also quite usefull for georgians and leaded!

David

[Sir Squeaky]

It looked like it was threatening to rain, but it didn't.

So he's wrong again!

Yes it did. At least twice.
So I imagined sheltering in the car after getting soaked twice did I? :

Don't know you were, but I was around town.
So sorry, once again you are wrong.

[combat cleaning]

Hi JB
Following up on this thread are you now using extension poles?
I use them all the time with no complaints whatsoever.
Took about a day to become proficient with them.
Use the pole and backflip
Regards