In mid August I’ll be cleaning exterior condo windows. Some are 4 stories up. I originally planned on using a 40’ ladder for those, but I’m now considering renting a lift. The price is about the same with one difference being that I obviously keep the ladder and I wouldn’t have to pay extra if I needed more time with the lift.
Has anyone cleaned on a 40’ ladder? What are your thoughts on this?
Get to the top of the 40’ ladder and you will wish you were on a lift. I used a 40’ ladder once, no job is worth that kind of fall.
It’s not fun. It’s not fun to climb it, and it’s not fun to carry it around. It’s a two person job. Two to carry the ladder, one climbs, and one stays at the bottom ready to call 911.
Is a WFP not an option?
We use 40’ ladders on specialty projects but they are a bear to use. They definitely require two if not three people to move and you need to be very careful as they are top heavy and awkward to move. I would recommend the lift if possible, saves the possibility of a back injury as well
That does not look like fun. I would definitely want my WFP for that!
Wowzers Dormatex, that does not look like fun. I would definitely want my WFP for that!
I used one once; it was a suck fest
WFP would be nice, after my truckmount carpet cleaner I’ll work on getting one
Window cleaning takes what it needs, If a WFP pole is feasible and things can work in that direction then I’d go with a wfp…
If you don’t have a wfp or the job won’t work with it, then a man lift will work if the area around the property will allow access for the good size man lift (which most are). So if the property and the landscape will allows access then go with that. They can cost up to 500 a day…Soooooo putting that into the bid just might give the competition the advantage to come in lower if they are skilled in ladder work !
40’ ladder work is high skilled ladder work, and takes a lot of good ability to use…I feel all advanced window cleaners should have the ability to stand, move and work off of a 40’ ladder…I’ve used my 40’ alaco ladder for many years and if I was to work with someone who had no experience with one then I’d would work it and do the high stuff and have them do the lower floors behind me ! The 40’ ladder work on a building is the primary work, I think the highest skilled cleaner in the crew should be placed in that position !
Working a 40’er is easy once you know all aspect of ladder, use, safety, and ability ! Learning to use a 40’er starts with learning how to use shorter and lighter ladders first and then moving up the spectrum to the highest level of ladder work at 40’ !
Personally I’d go with a wfp if possible, but if I couldn’t, I’d go with a 40’er next…I’d only go with a man lift if the job required it without any other system ! Though I’m skilled on the 40’er !
You know I live in Seattle, and if you were willing to pay me a pretty penny I’d consider helping you out with my 40’er and maybe even help to train you in it’s functionality ! Or even help you with my “Tried and True” friend Ms.Tucker pole and her good friend Mr. DI…
Doing wfpole work on a building that is outside only needs to have" ALL" the residents remove their screens and most importantly to close their windows !
Consider my proposal it may be a good avenue for you ! If you were willing to pay me $400.00 or make me an offer. I’d help you out either way wfp or 40’er !
Bellingham is a cool place…Bumble Bee on the forum use to live and work there as a cleaner about six years ago…Vince Hamilton of the forum also lives there and he owns Hamilton Window Cleaning there, he’s a cool friend of mine here on the forum.
OK Justin I hope I was of a little help to you…Oh, any ladder work is dangerous and after the first 8’ you can smash you head and or break your neck or cause yourself to be a quad or dead, so don’t think your safer on a shorter ladder, always work safe no matter how high you are !
DangerousDange2u / Advanced Window Cleaning
My Oh My Dormy…You are at the height of a “Son of Ettore” using that ladder. Good showing dude ! Good to see your bucket up against the wall also !
So in this job why didn’t you use a wfp ? Is it because you don’t have one/ Or because you couldn’t tie in to any water or is it because the window wouldn’t come out right with a wfp system (always leaving spot / water leaking in…)
Dange
Every lift I have ever rented has other cost then just the rental. If it’s a gas lift then there is a cost to that. My company charges me for a returned lift with no gas ($6.00 per gal). Also drop off and pick up charge $250.00 drop off and $250.00 pick up regardless of the type or amount of lifts. They also charge for replacement coverage so check your insurance company. It might be cheaper to add on a temp rider to the policy. First time I rented I was charged $114.00 for the companys insurance replacement. My insurance charged me $40 the 2nd time for 2 months coverage on $180,000.00 worth of machine. You can also look into small electric tow behind lifts. You can not drive them. You place them where you need them and they work ok. But if you plan on moving the lift often, you might want to think twice on those. They are cheaper because of the mobility issue. Another thing is how long are you going to rent the lift? The longer you rent, the cheaper it becomes. But many customers do not want to have you store a lift on their property for 2 weeks so you can save $500.00. Some more things to think about. Body harnesses. They are required for articutlated booms, but not for sizzor lifts. Most companys only toss in 1 harness for free. Honestly I bought my own. I was not about to trust a harness that was used by every Tom, Dick and Harry. Also on that note, are you certified? OSHA requires a lift certification for the operator. You can always tell a company that is using a lift is not certified because when they park the lift at the end of the day, the basket is lowered to the ground. Regluations state the lift basket must be extended and off the ground no less than 15ft. The key for the lower controls must also be taken from the machine so no one can joy ride or steal the thing at night.
Just some thoughts. I would go with a ladder and a worker who has the stones to be on it. Or rent a WFP. But with WFP you run into the issue of screens and customers not being home so you can get them off. In todays economy it should not be hard to find a guy who has worked 40ftrs before.
All I can say from being up on one for about 1 minute. HARDCORE BABY!!! +100 for STONES!!
Use a lift or WFP. If you rent a lift, can you you use it on other lower portions of the job? This might speed things up overall (plus its safer).
I own and use a 40’ ladder frequently. I can load and unload it from the trailer by myself, transport it on the job site by myself with the wheel kit I made for it and even move and climb it by myself if I have to. Dange is correct, it is definitely skilled work. Mostly, it is about balance and control.
My 40’er weighs around 100 lbs with the leveloks, more with standoffs or ladder jacks on. If you can’t pick up 100 lbs, get some help. Keeping the ladder as plumb and as short as you can makes it easier to handle by yourself. I retract the ladder before I move it, unless I can put someone on the roof with a rope connected to it. When using any extension ladder, I never trust the locks. I always use a dog collar to wrap around the rungs on the overlap so the ladder sections won’t separate
When moving it by myself, I inch it along by moving the base and then the top just past center and then the base…repeat down the side of the building.
I need to find those old pics of the 60’er. We had a hotel with a glass atrium. There was a ledge on the 4th floor you could walk on, but had to get to. We bought the 60 just for that job. Now that was a heavy ladder! I think it weighed 155 or 160 pounds! It only had a working height of about 50 feet.
Justin,
Here is Mr.Bumble Bee… Giving you good points, he being a “Son of Ettore”. A skilled cleaner should be able to move and carry a 40’er by himself while it is standing striaght up.
Two people moving an up right ladder together isn’t a good idea, one move differently while the other is moving differently and this can cause a back injury or cause the ladder to drop ! If there are two people, to raise it or lower it or even extend it would be OK for two workers working it but to move it while it being up should be done by one worker ! Still one person with the skills should be able to work a 40’er by themselves if needed.
Hey Mr. BB how ya doing my friend ?
BB’s point about moving it while extended and against the building is called creeping and is a good why to utilize the building to hold the weight of the ladder.
http://windowcleaner.com/vBulletin/training/11854-just-creep.html
DangerousDange2yawl
Jeez, I guarantee I’ve spent a thousand hours on a 40… and I’m still here.
I think it’s all relative. Some customers hire window cleaners because they won’t/can’t climb a 12 foot step ladder. That may sound silly to some, but to each their own.
I definitely agree with Bumblebee… 60’s are a pain in the ass.
I’ve uses 40 footers and they are not for the weak of heart. Def a 2 person thing when u first set up. can’t say it will work on your job anyway. Do you know the height to the 4th story? I’ve done 3 stories that are out of reach with 40.
Dangerous is right about price advantage with a ladder but I’ve also brought a 40 on a job where they expected a lift and didn’t like the ladder idea.
If I were u id tell them that u must use a lift because of safety. They care about that. Liability baby. Play it up. People don’t expect ladders for 4 stories. Also the job will be quicker with a lift. Less time can equal lower bid anyways. You also can rent a 40 at Sunbelt for 60 bucks if u go that way.
If you have never used a 40fter, then fully extended on 4thy floor windows by yourself is not the place to learn.
The thing I don’t like about lifts is once it’s on-site I am tied into working with it , no matter what the weather
For what your going to spend on a 40 you can add a few bucks to it and get a WFP right here on wcr. Then go rent a DI tank. Many people on here rent DI tanks including me and they work fine. I havent used a lift since I bought my WFP. Good luck!
