[mick partington]

im sure this topics been covered but maybe worth raising again nowt wrong with ladder safety on peoples minds.
   im going to buy a new ladder my work is all town houses so need to reach first floor windows maybe 20ft ? thinking a 4 metre double should cover it my question is should i be going for a  A frame type never used one or seen one used but as a decorater iv got a lot of expereince on normal ladder some advice from you boys in the know would help.
how thay get positioned on the window ? i find your always reaching through normal ladder if placed above window or stretching upwards if place on window sill would it be better positioning wise.
have people bought  A frame ladders than gone back to normal one and way ?.
dont really want to get into the debate on wfp being safer i know it is, if you dont climb you cant fall but while im considering getting a back-pack im not convinced the custies are keen on wfp im on the fence [no pun intended].

[jonnyald]

for my two penneth id say get a triple ladder .  easy to get round back of houses with and doesnt catch on satellite dishes . always put the ladder below the upper sill, if its a real high window jam it up  hard below the sill so it wont slip so.yes mick u will have to stretch upwards ,but buy a small extension handle for your squeegee //,  ( iv got a 4m triple ally ladder   , but never much use it  )  / my main ladders a  2.6 metre triple ally  and they arent pricey new . also 2.6 is easy to carry INSIDE  a house as now and then has to happen


last week i saw a new window guy in my town ,he had brand new wooden ladders on his van ,plus a wooden pointer ladder . 

[mick partington]

thanks for advice jonny i think a triple a bit heavy to carry round all day and last cleaner reached all work with a double,really wanted advice from people useing A freme ladders im sure theres a couple on here.as for jamming the ladder under the sill i really dont like the feeling of ne ladder to hold to im just a woss i know 

[simon knight]

Not a wossy. I like the ladder on the sill. Always feel unsafe with my large tummy pressed to the glass

[Ian W]

I use double 4m and double 3m a frame ladders. They fit into the corner of the window / brickwork, lay flat on the frame or against brickwork. I used a triple ladder before, but it was heavy and not as safe imo.

[mick partington]

hi ian when placed into the corner of a window /brickwork do,s the twisted angle of the ladder make it harder to position the feet/ get level i cant picture it thanks
what im trying to say is iv always used ladders streight facing front ?

[Ian W]

When you have four points of contact, as in a standard ladder, it can be difficult to position the ladder on uneven ground. Either the top end doesn't sit against the wall correctly or the feet don't want to sit flat on the ground. With three points of contact, this just doesn't happen in my experience.

[mick partington]

thanks ian how did you manage to explain that so i understood  i thinking i,ll try to hire a set so i can get a feel for them thanks again mick

[Ian W]

No worries. 

[Ian Lancaster]

In my experience (40+ years) the only ladder window cleaners should use is the so-called 'A' frame (proper name 'Tree bottomed point')

They were designed by window cleaners for window cleaners long before most of you were born.

Properly used they are far safer, more stable and more versatile than 'open ender' ladders.

Unfortunately there are very few of us left who have had proper training in their use by people who knew what they were doing.

H&S even refuse to acknowledge their existance - hardly surprising, they come into the category of 'long before they were born'

If the H&S were to instigate proper training in the use of the correct equipment then there would be a dramatic reduction in the number of falls occuring in the window cleaning industry.

Rant over

I retire in December - one of the last of my breed

[[GQC] Tim]

In my experience (40+ years) the only ladder window cleaners should use is the so-called 'A' frame (proper name 'Tree bottomed point')

They were designed by window cleaners for window cleaners long before most of you were born.

Properly used they are far safer, more stable and more versatile than 'open ender' ladders.

Unfortunately there are very few of us left who have had proper training in their use by people who knew what they were doing.

H&S even refuse to acknowledge their existance - hardly surprising, they come into the category of 'long before they were born'

If the H&S were to instigate proper training in the use of the correct equipment then there would be a dramatic reduction in the number of falls occuring in the window cleaning industry.

Rant over

I retire in December - one of the last of my breed

I can topple an a frame more easily then an open ended ladder. Simple really, put your feet together, and ask somebody to give you a push. You fall over. Stand with your legs out, and you are much more stable.

[matthew_stanley]

In my experience (40+ years) the only ladder window cleaners should use is the so-called 'A' frame (proper name 'Tree bottomed point')

They were designed by window cleaners for window cleaners long before most of you were born.

Properly used they are far safer, more stable and more versatile than 'open ender' ladders.

Unfortunately there are very few of us left who have had proper training in their use by people who knew what they were doing.

H&S even refuse to acknowledge their existance - hardly surprising, they come into the category of 'long before they were born'

If the H&S were to instigate proper training in the use of the correct equipment then there would be a dramatic reduction in the number of falls occuring in the window cleaning industry.

Rant over

I retire in December - one of the last of my breed

Ditto - apart from the retiring in December bit  

These are the ones I bought about 5 years ago (was using wooden ones before):

http://www.midlandladders.com/products/11ft6_3_5m_Double_Extension_Window_Cleaner_s_Ladder-154-49.html

Also had the articulated feet added on, on the special offer.

[aztec]

i still use a wooden a frame ladder ian and i am only 37 mate old school!

[matthew_stanley]

I can topple an a frame more easily then an open ended ladder. Simple really, put your feet together, and ask somebody to give you a push. You fall over. Stand with your legs out, and you are much more stable.

Maybe if you put the a-frame upside down to the window (ie with the point at the bottom, which would be stupid), but used correctly, there is no way a standard open ended ladder is more stable and safer than an a-frame.

[wizard]

I us a triple with stablelizer on the ground side a set of Spike fitted for soil( stops slides and also on Decking/ I have fitted mitts on top and also jam under sill. Total weight is 14.5 Kg and 3.5 metres folded down. I am a big fellow and fell safe one needs to just be constantly cearefull.Thanks Richard

[tacky]

3.5 titan double .u wont go far wrong with this ladder .