We got a job for a downtown mall that hadn’t been cleaned in 3 years and because of pedestrian traffic and access issues we used a lift to get to the windows. Here’s a few pics.
Great pictures Tony.
You should consider getting a banner made that says “We Clean Residential Windows Too! - (phone number)”. Hang the banner on the outside of the platform of the lift, of course away from any moving parts.
It would be a great way of capitalizing on all that foot traffic!
Nice work though. I bet Mrs.Squeegee was inside spending all the profit… 
Mrs. Squeegee was busy taking videos and pictures along w/ cleaning several dozen first floor windows that were part of the job.
Here’s a couple videos.
//youtu.be/Removing dried egg during window cleaning - YouTube
//youtu.be/Clearing minor hard water stains during window cleaning - YouTube
Nice job! You gotta love how those lifts no matter how large, always have some sway in them.
Oh yeah! It’s crazy the way they bob and weave unless you go reaaal slooow.:eek:
Nice job Tony. Did you get any other jobs from foot traffic?
I don’t want to be coy here, but why the man lift? Tony, I’m really glad you got this job. I love these types, but was the man lift required, or was it more helpful? I’m not convinced 100% that my service would have done it that way. I know I don’t know all of the details, but I am perplexed.
Looks like a lot of pedestrian traffic under and close to the lift. Did you only have those 2 yellow signs?
Are there any requirements from OSHA, the rental place, your safety manual, or property management on how much area around a lift should be blocked off from pedestrians? Does it differ from state to state? I’ve never used a lift in a public area before so I don’t know the regulations, if there are any.
That caught my attention real quick - I’d have used at least yellow “caution” tape.
But, I use my extension ladder backwards so who am I to give advice 
Nice gig Tony, thanks for the video
Just wondering if you need a licence over there? Or can just anyone rent them?
Tony - that lift looked pretty large for the job, almost overkill. Most jobs you can get by with a regular up/down scissor lift. I suppose if you needed to get over or around some obstacles the snorkel lift would work good. Good post anyways. thanks
Nice account Tony! Still looks dangerous with all the heavy traffic. Don’t drop your scraper … ouch!
I did an account where I wish I had a man lift. It was a retirement center with 40 ft windows but it was impossible accessing the windows with a man lift where the courtyard was. I taped off the area and used a 40ft aluminum extension ladder. It was fun doing the courtyard part because there were no cars in the way. The parking lot was a real pain though and had a really bad slope. I ended up doing some of the high windows from the inside.
These kind of accounts are the reason we charge the big bucks!
I’ll try to address all the questions guys so if I miss one just let me know. Here there is no license required to run the lift.
The mall would not shut down any exit so I used the two yellow signs and Mrs Squeegee to direct traffic when I moved. There are no additional requirements here outside of cones or signs and wearing a harness when in the lift.
I have locking cones on my pole so nothing falls off and when i was close enough not to need it I made sure to keep a good grip on my tools.
As far as the size of the lift in some spots it was just the right size to get over and around trees and large areas of landscaping. I wasn’t going to rent 2 different lifts when i could do the job w/ one. The sheer number of windows meant I was using a lift and not ladders. I chose the lift this time because the windows hadn’t been cleaned in years and some not since they were installed after a tornado went thru a few years ago.
The condo association that hired us asked for a bid using the wfp 4 times a year.
There were certainly risks associated w/ this job but I think any way you do it there are going to be risks because of the sheer amount of pedestrian traffic in the area. It’s down by the University of Iowa campus and the students often walked by w/ their head in a book. Imagine them walking into your ladder when you are 20ft up!:eek:
we did a federal blding in wva, all glass front had to use a scissor lift that swayed toward the glass as we raised it. I had to push myself away from the glass as it was raising, had to go very slowly…wish i had pics, beautiful blding. we had 3 lifts going at once…quite a job…
There are risks on almost any job, of course. I would think the risk could be minimized if the perimeter around the lift and working area was blocked off with caution tape and more cones/signs were used. Or cleaning the higher traffic areas (entrances) before the mall opened.
Earlier this year I bid a job where a lift would have been required. Unfortunately, I did not get the job. I inquired at the rental place about cones and caution tape. They rented cones (I only own 4), but I would have had to buy the caution tape. Can’t remember the cost, but it was minimal.
Two things came to mind for me seeing the pics and vid.
1.) I think I would have sacrificed my weekend or holiday time and did the job when there was noone or at very least a reduced number of people walking around me. Liability is everything!
2.) I always try to find another way of doing a job before opting to renting equipment. I gotta wonder if there wouldn’t have been a way to do that job without renting that peice of equipment.
How tall was the scissor lift? I’ve only used a 32-footer, without any sway issues.
Some entities (gov’t, for example) require that the operator have a certification (most rental companies can provide the study materials and administer the testing.)
Some construction companies let you know that “…the keys are in it, just make sure you put it back in the same place.”
The job wouldn’t wait for a holiday and the weekends are just as busy w/ shoppers so neither of those were an option.
Out of curiosity why the aversion to renting equipment?
