Getting High

[Dan Mauser]

High!

I need a method to get up to the eve of a 2 story building to wash the roof. You can see the pics in the thread 'Roof and Patio Disaster'. It's about 16-20' from ground level to edge of roof.

I decided to go with the Pitch Witch and 32' extension sold by Glenn. Should arrive in a few days. The ground around the house is pretty flat. About half the area I can get right next to the wall with concrete on the ground for support. The rest of the area has dirt (flower bed) below the eve. One area has access via a 3' gate, so getting anything wider in there would be impossible.

I've been told that it would be too dangerous with a ladder and stabilizer. I also don't really want to try repelling again since it would take too much time to tie off in different places.

Two things come to mind: a lift or scaffolding.
The lift would work okay except for maybe the areas that it can't get to - one through the narrow gate, the other over 6 ft wide flower beds.

Shooting from the hip, it seems like scaffolding might do the job best. I could get it through the gate and also over the flower beds.

So what all would be involved in these or other methods? How high are each scaffolding sections, how long does it take to set them up, etc.

Take care,
Dan

 

[Flue Steam]

Dan,
Scaffolding can be very time consuming, unless you can use scaffolding on wheels, (assuming the ground is level, very level) We rent lifts for certain jobs, our local rental yards delivers a fully charged electric lift the evening before a job and then they pick it up at thier leisure when we are done. The cost is dependant on how big a machine we require but the cost is factored into the bid price. We have had little or no trouble with these lifts and they make a difficult or nearly imposible job much easier to do.

 

[Mike Hughes]

I know this is not what you want to hear, but the way I would clean the roof on that house is to not take the job in the first place!

For the amount of money someone is willing to pay, it is probably not worth your time and the amount of risk involved.

You could do some other type of work, such as deck cleaning and sealing, and make more money in less time, with much less risk.

Of course, there has to be someone out there doing these roofs, and it might as well be you, but I'm just saying its one heck of a job to start off with!!

My opinion.

Good luck!

 

[ParadiseProWash]

It's about 16-20' from ground level to edge of roof.

I decided to go with the Pitch Witch and 32' extension sold by Glenn. Should arrive in a few days.

If the height is only 16 to 20' and you bought a 32' extension wand and a pitch witch why would you need on the roof. I would think that you could do everything from the ground with that set up.

 

[Dan Mauser]

Thanks, good people.

To clarify, the bottom of the 2nd story roof is ~16-20' above ground level. The highest peak is ~25-30 linear feet past this. With an extension from the ground, I can't go straight up the 16+ feet, then angle over another thirty, I'd have to stand back ~15 ft from the house, making ~20-25 ft reach to the bottom of the roof. Add this to the 25-30 ft to the top makes 45-55 ft reach from ground to the peak.

I could get some more extensions to make 60 ft I suppose, but was told that that long of extension with the pitchwitch is not practical. What do you think?

Ciao,
Dan

 

[Steven Rowlet]

If possible I would try a lift. If a knucle boom won't work I know the straight booms will reach out 60 ft.. If you rent one MAKE SURE you have a safety harness.

 

[Walt Graner]

I go with Mike on this one. I would bet that the % of risk not worth the $ your getting on this job.

 

[PressureClean]

Make sure if you are looking at boom/man lifts to walk the grounds and determine the terrain. Some of the electric lifts won't lift if you even have a slight incline in the terrain underneath. Best bet is to go with a 40 to 60 ft all terrain unit on 4 wheels. Two man basket also. This will let you maneuver around the house without getting out. Only problem is price. If you've already bid the job, a lift was probably not in your pricing. But if you haven't submitted a bid yet, call around and check it out. You shouldn't be paying more than $275 a day plus around $75 to $100 for delivery, roundtrip. Usually they need a few days notice to get them out to you. Also, put plywood under the wheels if it's raining or the ground is soft. You'll turf your customer's yard something horrible if the ground is wet at all.

Sell it to the customer as a cost to get you out of their yard faster. Tell them you can do the scaffolding route but it's going to take you an extra two to three days with scaffolding and cost them extra money because of increased labor costs. With a boom lift, we can get it all done in less than a day and we're out of your hair. Sell it right and they should go for it.

 

[Dan Mauser]

Steven, Walt, and Lance:

Thanks for the feedback. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Dan

 

[Dan Mauser]

Here's another idea:

A guy at the hardware store showed my this little tool. I'll post a pic below. The long side slided under a tab near bottom of the roof. Put in three roofing nails. Put in another such device a foot sideways. Get off the ladder, lift it over the two hooks at the top of the pick. Secure self and hose to this device too and presto, work the extended wand to the peak from this perch. Reseal holes when done.

So?

Dan

PS: This thing was originally designed to support a 2x10 accross the white label part to make a level surface.

 

[Mike Hughes]

You're braver then I am........

 

[PressureClean]

I gotta agree with Mike on that one. I think I'll stay safe and cozy in my lift bucket thank you. Ask the guy from the hardware store if he would use that thing.

For some reason people in my area think us power washers have a few marbles loose upstairs when they think of the things we do up high in the air. One of my larger customers told me his last power washer worked with him for several years and would do this thing where he jumped between a 40ft and 28ft ladder and vice-versa with wand in his hand and everything. The reason I'm his regular power washer now is because that guy was killed when he fell while on the job.

People say my guys and I are crazy for going up 60-70ft in the air and washing the sides of hi-rise office buildings and we're safe in a bucket with a five point harness wrapped around us! I've used swing stages up even higher than that hanging from the top of a building and let me tell you the guys that use those are the one's that are truly a little crazy.

Just be careful before you start messing with something that isn't necessarily the safest way to do it. This isn't an office job and you can't make money from your hospital bed or from a wheelchair. If you price out a job and the customer says it's too costly, tell them you need a lift in order to get it done safely. If they don't agree, let them go with a cheaper guy. Just make sure when you turn down the business, leave them with "Just make sure you get proof of insurance from whomever you decide to go with and call to verify it, you do know the homeowner is responsible if an uninsured contractor gets hurt on your property, right?" I've actually salvaged a few deals with that line.

Good luck with this device.

 

[ron]

hey DAN

WE call that chicken walk. MOST TIMES YOU PUT IT ON THE BOTTOM EDGE TO GIVE YOURSELF A STOPPING SPOT IN CASE YOUR ON YOUR WAY DOWN.
If you do use it make sure you drive the nails into a stud not just the plywood and be carefull of old shingles when you go to lift them. They brake. They also have double headed nails to make pulling them out a lot easyer. Dont forget your parachute,and always were your helmet. lol
one other thing you roof cleaners do you ever sell a sealing job when your done?
yes,they make a clear sealer for roofs but no one ever talks about it. cuts energy bills by as much as 10%

 

[Steven Rowlet]

I agree with Lance. That is the safe way to do the job.