Let DIYers Have A Go

We've all seen them, even tempted to buy & see if they are any good! They're cheap & crap.

Sandy’s Garden by Sandy Simpson: Early this year – in the very depth of winter, in point of fact – our regular window-cleaners stopped coming. We noticed, one cold, bright day, that the sunshine was illuminating just how grimy our windows were; and with that discovery, we realised that we had not seen our window cleaners for weeks. 

And we were unable to contact them, for the simple reason that they had initially rung our doorbell many years ago in the time when we still washed our own windows, asked if we would like them to do the work, quoted a very fair price and, having done the windows to our complete satisfaction, made us realise that they did a better job than we did in less than half the time. So we agreed that they would come approximately every fortnight and that we would pay them on the day, it being further agreed that, if we were not in when they called, they would leave a slip through the door and we would pay them the next time we saw them. No names were noted, no addresses, no telephone numbers; and the arrangement has worked admirably for decades.

In their absence, I decided that I would resume washing the windows myself and bought a telescopic window washing tool to reach the upstairs windows. And what brings this to mind is the delivery, with our Sunday newspaper, of a chirpy leaflet with numerous bargains in gardening tools and equipment, its front cover featuring two ladies in appropriate attire, one smilingly wielding a ‘9 foot Telescopic Hedge Trimmer’ and the other cheerfully using a ‘9 foot 5 inch Telescopic Angled Branch Lopper’. Ladies, I envy you your apparent strength, which would put the average Amazon to shame; and I hope I never cross swords with either of you, for I think you could break any of my limbs with the greatest of ease!

Perhaps it is my advancing years and corresponding physical decline, but I found my telescopic window washing tool more than a trifle unwieldy in anything more than its unextended mode. The seemingly-rigid handle became surprisingly-flexible and correspondingly difficult to control, its business end’s contact with the windows dangerously erratic, varying from hitting the glass sideways on to doing no more than leaning against it. Meanwhile, the liquid intended for cleaning the glazing ran down the handle and down the sleeves of my jacket as well as dripping into my eyes. 

But, since I was delighted to retire my telescopic window cleaning tool when my regular window cleaners reappeared from hibernation in the spring, I shall make do without any of them and shall settle for envying the women … and men, for the leaflet illustrates both genders using the tools … who still have the physical strength and dexterity to master these no doubt invaluable bits of kit.

The Sky's The Limit For Window Cleaning Systems

There’s no doubt that the professional window cleaning sector will continue to make progress, taking advantage of new technology and innovations in engineering and materials to produce even more adaptable window cleaning systems.

The sky's the limit for window cleaning systems: They say that necessity is the mother of invention, and the window cleaning sector is certainly proving this to be true, using innovative materials, technology and designs to answer client needs.  Jochen Wagener, head of marketing for Unger Europe, reveals how window cleaning systems are adapting and developing to keep pace with key market trends.

The only way is up – if the continuing architectural trend for high-rise buildings is anything to go by. The majority of our most iconic buildings seem to prove the theory that size matters, in terms of height, that is. Whether we are talking about the Shard in London, the Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt, or the Torre de Cristal in Madrid, the fashion for high-rise, high-tech designs – featuring lots of glass and metal – doesn’t look like slowing down any time soon.

Tall buildings, whether new or established, need regular, thorough and effective cleaning to ensure they present a professional face to customers and colleagues. For the highest heights, ‘robotic’ automatic window cleaning systems, operated by remote control and using chemical-free pure water, are gaining ground. However, if a more ‘James Bond’ approach is preferred, abseiling using traditional squeegees is also still widely used. Operatives can also regularly be seen cleaning high level windows from cradles, using small poles, brushes and again pure water.

Professional window cleaners continue to embrace new methods and equipment – with water-fed poles emerging as another popular choice. These poles allow operatives to clean high buildings and windows safely from the ground, alleviating the need to work at height.

For many years, window cleaners have had the choice of two types of pole system: telescopic or modular. However, telescopic poles can tend to flex as they are extended, with a subsequent loss of control. They also have some weight issues; for example, a six-section telescopic pole will always have six sections as they cannot be removed – so even if you only need to use four sections to clean to the height required, you are still carrying the weight of six.

Modular systems, although better at extending without weakening rigidity, simply become too heavy as they are extended, and the extensions also add width to the poles making them less easy to handle. They can also take a long time to construct or build up, which is a disadvantage in terms of making the best use of operatives’ time.

This presented the sector with a challenge: how do you create a water-fed pole system that will clean up to 65 feet/20 metres in height, but be both lightweight and easy to control? Along with engineering and design techniques, combining the best features of both telescopic and modular poles, using the right materials is crucial – and more and more options are emerging to provide specific solutions.

Carbon fibre, fibreglass and aluminium are all materials that have brought choice and flexibility to the window cleaning sector, helping to create equipment that offers alternatives to suit the situation or building type. Carbon fibre in particular offers an amazing balance between strength, weight and rigidity. In comparison to steel it is stronger, more rigid, and yet it weighs considerably less.

These ‘next generation’ carbon fibre poles provide a better balance between weight and rigidity. Because the poles are lighter they make the job of a cleaning operative that much easier and more comfortable, putting less of a strain on their bodies and enabling them to clean swiftly and efficiently. The fact that they are lighter also means that the operative is less likely to get tired as quickly, so they can clean a larger surface area than if using a conventional system.

However, just because the poles are lightweight it doesn’t mean that they deliver less in terms of rigidity. Even when extensions are added to increase the length and reach of the system, the poles do not bend or become unwieldy. On the contrary rigidity, and therefore control, is maintained, allowing every corner and crevice to be cleaned thoroughly.

As companies and organisations have become more environmentally aware, an increase in the use of solar panels has also brought challenges for the window cleaning sector. Installing solar panels represents a big investment in both time and money, so businesses need to ensure that they are kept in top condition to reap the expected rewards.

The Renewable Energy Association (REA) says that solar power is the fastest growing energy technology in the world. The two main systems currently in use are:

• Photovoltaic (PV) panels – these convert sunlight into electricity and are available in a variety of formats including cladding, roof tiles, and custom glazing.

• Solar hot water systems – these absorb energy from the sun and transfer it, using heat exchangers, to heat water. A variety of collectors are available, which are commonly mounted on roofs in the same way as PV panels.

No matter where a building is sited, solar panels are exposed to the weather and environmental influences 24/7, 365 days a year. Dust, dirt and other deposits not only look unsightly, they affect the performance of the panels. Traffic fumes and soot can build up quickly, especially on systems that are located near roads, railway stations or on industrial parks where there is a constant stream of trucks, vans and cars.

The orientation of the panels is another factor to consider. Because you are looking to achieve maximum exposure to sunlight, panels should ideally be oriented to the south. When oriented in other directions, a build-up of plants or moss on the surface can result. The angle at which the panels are placed can also have an impact.

It’s widely agreed that if the panels lay very flat, then there will be more deposits to deal with. A steeper angle will help, to a certain extent, but dirt may still have a tendency to collect in lower corners. And although rain removes some of the existing dirt, it also deposits new dirt on the surface.

Soiling that is left on the panels stops sunlight from getting through, meaning that less energy is produced, in some cases resulting in a decrease in efficiency of 30 per cent. This is obviously not acceptable, so regular cleaning should be put in place to ensure you protect your investment.

Water-fed poles have already established themselves as a popular choice with professional window cleaners, because they allow them to clean high buildings and windows safely from the ground, alleviating the need to work at height. These pole systems now also lend themselves perfectly to cleaning solar panels, dispensing with the need for ladders or cranes but still cleaning safely and efficiently to help boost solar output.

Cleaning with chemicals also runs the risk of leaving a film on the panels that can prevent the sun’s rays from getting through, so the most effective way to clean is to use pure water. To get to this state the water is processed to remove the minerals and impurities that would otherwise dry and lead to spots and streaks.

Cleaning techniques used on the outside of buildings are now helping to influence how interiors are maintained, and window cleaning equipment is adapting to fulfil a growing need for safe and effective ways to do an ‘inside job’.

Many different businesses and organisations require indoor cleaning systems. From shopping centres, with their central, glass-clad atriums; to museums and galleries that need safe ways to clean around precious exhibits; to manufacturing facilities incorporating roof skylights – indoor cleaning is becoming increasingly important.

Demand is growing for easy-to-use, flexible systems. Companies are looking for more efficient ways to keep their premises clean – and that means efficiencies in both time and money. Methods of cleaning high interior windows that dispense with the need for ladders, but still operate in a safe way, are becoming more popular.

Telescopic pole systems are smaller and lighter, so they are more easily moved around buildings and between floors than bulky ladders, plus they get the job done quickly, without compromising quality. Systems that use pure water don’t need chemicals, saving both money and helping companies with their ‘green’ agendas; plus re-usable, washable pads mean less waste and more sustainability.

Indoor window cleaning systems means that customers are now able to clean places that were previously out of reach, such as ceilings, escalators, conservatory roofs and elevators. Ordinarily, this would require specialist cleaning and logistics to arrange – increasing financial outlay because of the high cost of hiring equipment such as scissor lifts, and causing disruption to the working day because areas have to be closed off while cleaning takes place – but the latest systems provide a solution to these problems.

Thanks to continuous product development and feedback from clients on their changing needs, great cleaning results are now the norm, and not difficult to achieve when compared to the more traditional glass cleaners and paper towels, used in years gone by.

There’s no doubt that the professional window cleaning sector will continue to make progress, taking advantage of new technology and innovations in engineering and materials to produce even more adaptable window cleaning systems. Whether you need to clean inside, outside, or up on the roof, the 21st century window cleaning sector is rising to the challenges ahead, and providing imaginative solutions that deliver the required results.

Telescopic Boom Lift Collapses Before Window Cleaning

Windsor, Ontario, Canada. - Rescue crews were relieved to find no one trapped in the rubble after a downtown Windsor parking garage collapsed Thursday, sending one man to hospital and crushing several cars. Mayor Eddie Francis declared a state of emergency after the two-level underground structure caved in around 10:40 a.m., enabling the city to gain access to provincial emergency response teams that would delve into the wreckage to help search for any victims.

Paramedics used a pulley to lift one male victim from the gaping hole behind 1368 Ouellette Ave., a professional building that houses Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello's constituency office, Thai Silk restaurant and a number of other tenants on the upper floors. The victim was transported to Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital, wearing a neck brace and grimacing in apparent pain.
Police said he suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Witnesses said the man was operating a boom truck near the Dufferin Street entrance in preparation for maintenance work on the building - possibly painting or washing windows -- when the pavement gave way.

"He went to go into the parking lot there and he got in the middle and the whole thing just went under," said Jodine Vincent, who watched it happen from her porch. "I said to my son, 'Oh my God, the ground just dropped.'" Ron Piper, a former construction worker who was in his house just north of the parking lot and who was one of the first people on the scene, said the boom truck operator was knocked out of his cab and seemed dazed. "He was hanging by his safety belt," said Piper, who figures the weight of the crane caused the collapse. "His face was bleeding. His legs were bleeding."

Several of the eight vehicles parked on the ground level of the structure were tilting into the hole, some resting precariously on yellow steel pillars. Concrete reinforcing bars jutted out from the steel supports and the jagged edges of the grey concrete and black asphalt opened to the underground level, where an unknown number of vehicles were also parked. As the hours went by, the hole slowly grew wider and the cars slid further in.

Emergency crews evacuated the adjacent Ambassador apartment building at 1382 Ouellette Ave. as a precaution. Residents were shuttled to the St. Clair Centre for the Arts via Transit Windsor buses until accommodations could be arranged. Francis said the tenants will be put up in hotels until the building is declared safe.

Chris Dejaegher, of Chatham, who was studying at the CompuCampus private career college next door at the Bay Group Place building, had parked his 1998 Honda Accord on the doomed parking structure. After a secretary told students to evacuate the building, he exited to find his car dipping forward on the sinking garage floor. Still, Dejaegher said he is thankful his narrow miss didn't turn out worse. "Fifteen minutes before it happened I was sitting in my car eating lunch," Dejaegher said. "I feel very lucky. The whole day is just a big shock.

Richard Jones lives next door to the parking lot and was inside his house when he heard the commotion. "It was like two big semi trucks hitting each other," he said. "We heard the thud and the shake and the trembles and we came out and then we saw that it collapsed. It was like a miniature earthquake or something. The whole house, the windows and everything shook."

Steve Serecin, who works on the second floor of the office building where the structure collapsed, grabbed his first aid kit as soon as he looked out the window and saw the sinkhole. When he reached the boom truck, he saw one of the building owners already on the scene, assisting the truck operator. "He was trying to help him out of the basket, because I think he was kind of hanging from it, dangling from the safety cord," Serecin said. "It looked like something straight out of a Hollywood movie," said Mike Brennan of the Kidney Foundation, which has an office on the third floor of the building. "It was terrifying."

A number of doctors' offices are also in the building, including that of an oral surgeon. Some surgeries were taking place in the midst of all the commotion outside. Provincial emergency response teams from Toronto and Bolton were dispatched with search dogs, and Windsor police used a robot with cameras to comb through the underground structure to look for victims. The dogs did not find anyone below. The Heavy Urban Search and Rescue Team was also sent to the scene to shore up the structure with specialized equipment.

Police, fire and city officials have not been able to confirm the cause of the collapse. Some witnesses speculated Windsor's five-day heat wave may have contributed to the accident, while others suggested the machinery was simply too heavy for the structure. "I don't know if it's heat-related or not. Upon talking to the engineer --preliminary -- he didn't think so," said Windsor Fire and Rescue's John Lee. A municipal building inspector said he wasn't willing to speculate on the cause of the accident. "I really can't say. There's a lot of things that we see that lead us to believe that this may be simply an accident, but we won't know until everything's done," he said.

He added that he believed the boom truck had been on the premises before Thursday's accident, without incident. "Maybe he was here when there were no other cars. I don't know. The parking lot was fairly full. Whatever happened, obviously the floor up there couldn't take the load that was on it." Francis said the parking garage and the building on Ouellette Avenue were built in 1948 and are the responsibility of a private owner. Signs on the building bear the name Bay Group Place. Francis said the building and the parking garage have been inspected numerous times over the years because of various additions and changing tenants.

As far as the city can tell, there have been no issues with the structural integrity of the parking garage in the past and no work orders have been issued. The collapse may prompt a safety review of similar facilities in the city, Francis said. "I think it's incumbent on us as a municipality to look into this ... and make sure that something like this never happens again," Francis told reporters. He said the scope of such a review will depend on investigators' findings on the cause of Thursday's collapse. The Ministry of Labour has been called in to secure the site and conduct its own investigation, since a worker was injured on the job. The parking garage and a stretch of Dufferin Street will remain cordoned off today.

CITY REVIEW

The 10,100-kilogram Genie S-65 telescopic boom, such as the one that was at the site of Thursday's parking garage collapse, has a maximum working height of 21.8 metres and is often used for reaching areas with limited access in construction and industrial applications. Brian Cazabon, manager at Centreline Equipment Rentals Ltd. said the telescopic boom was rented through him and included safety instructions with the rental. "Everything we rent out, a customer gets safety instructions and are made to initial a line that they received the safety instructions prior to using the machine," Cazabon said. "There was for sure safety instructions on this unit." The units are sold for approximately $165,600 and are rented for $400 a day from Centreline.