Ladders for cleaning the roof

[Graham of Madrid]

Hello again,

I'e been thinking about step ladders to get up to clean the roof but I'm concerned about stability and safety.

I've been looking at the 7-step variety and it doesn't seem you can easily/safely stand on the top platform. I'm not getting scaffolding so does anyone have any better ideas. I'm not really sure what I need.

I've come across telescopic ladders like these but I'm not sure how I'd lean them against the vehicle and they might be more than I really need. I've heard of platform ladders but they seem heavy and take a lot of storage space

Amazon product ASIN B074SKS1CS
Thanks in advance

 

[Kingham]

Hello again,

I'e been thinking about step ladders to get up to clean the roof but I'm concerned about stability and safety.

I've been looking at the 7-step variety and it doesn't seem you can easily/safely stand on the top platform. I'm not getting scaffolding so does anyone have any better ideas. I'm not really sure what I need.

I've come across telescopic ladders like these but I'm not sure how I'd lean them against the vehicle and they might be more than I really need. I've heard of platform ladders but they seem heavy and take a lot of storage space

Amazon product ASIN B074SKS1CS
Thanks in advance

I carry a set of 11 rung telescopic ladders on board the van, where they live under the bed. They are very stable and I store a couple of foam roof rack inserts with them, which protect the side of the van.

If it was purely to clean the roof, I wouldn’t carry them as I have a platform at home for that, but last year I had an issue with my sliding roof rack cradle while I was on a Scottish site and my sea kayak was stuck on the roof. I ordered them online from a fairly local company, with free next day delivery.
Since then I regularly use them for routine maintenance of the rack mechanism and again last year, the winch wire snapped and I needed the ladders to fit the new one (2nd pic)

 

[gus-lopez]

Hello again,

I'e been thinking about step ladders to get up to clean the roof but I'm concerned about stability and safety.

I've been looking at the 7-step variety and it doesn't seem you can easily/safely stand on the top platform. I'm not getting scaffolding so does anyone have any better ideas. I'm not really sure what I need.

I've come across telescopic ladders like these but I'm not sure how I'd lean them against the vehicle and they might be more than I really need. I've heard of platform ladders but they seem heavy and take a lot of storage space

Amazon product ASIN B074SKS1CS
Thanks in advance

Yes I've aset of them.Just use armaflex around the top against anything. Failing that towels.

Unfortunately the platform can only be fixed at 1m above the ground, so I cannot reach the middle of the roof

You could use a short set of steps on the platform to get additional height? Or an old beer crate?

The thing is if the roof is dirty & needs cleaning then so do your solar panels? Mine here require cleaning at least weekly.& yes I also have a van with a roof ladder & don't hesitate to wlk on the roof .Just that I keep the ladder bic-tied in the up position & they are metal ones.so can't be bothered to keep cutting them off.

 

[Mr Chrysalis]

You could use a short set of steps on the platform to get additional height? Or an old beer crate?

Yes or maybe a rotating office chair on castors

 

[SMB]

I use telescopic ladders with a bit of foam lagging around the top rung, no problem with it. I'm on the roof fairly regularly to clean the solar panels and the Saharan sand rain thats been doing the rounds hasn't helped

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[thebriars]

I used to wash the whole roof with the ladder in just one position.
I used the ladder TO GET ON THE ROOF.
It isn't made of egg shells.

My new 2018 Elddis caravan was made of eggshell, the roof started to collapse after the first month of use and less than 2000 miles travel from the dealer. That was simply under its own weight! I presume their motorhomes are no stronger.

 

[thebriars]

Another option is to drink loads of Red Bull.

 

[Whiskeymac]

I use a telescopic ladder which I got at a show quite cheep, use pipe lagging on the top run never had a problem i store them in the back locker, use them quite a lot to clean the solar panels

 

[Wellington]

Is it always ok to walk on the roof? My van’s filthy on top and really needs a good wash. I’m only 5 foot tall and height work is a right pita.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

I was talking to a professional valeter who works for a motorhome dealership and uses step ladders for access and won't lean ladders against the vehicle. I've been looking at step ladders eg homebase and screwfix and can't decide whether to get one with a platform or not. I've 1.3 1.5 or 1.7 metre high platforms in mind.

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[Richard n Ann]

I bought some 2.6m straight telescopics a couple of weeks ago..


It's handy to get up to clean and tilt the solar panel. Previously I'd climb up the open locker doors but I'm not getting any younger and if an HSE person saw me he/she might have a funny turn ?.

Anyway our van has got lots of room underneath so I made a storage place for it out of light gauge 21 x 41 unistrut..

And 2 clamps out of M10 rod.

Got some spring R clips on order (to replace the rivet ?) and nylock nuts ?

 

[Jonno1103]

I use one of these.

Lyte EN131 Professional Combination Ladders

Our popular trade combination ladder has now been re designed, tested and manufactured to the new EN131-2 standard to ensure it meets and exceeds the new standard. Made in the UK and built from the best quality aluminium and certified to EN13-2 Professional for frequent and heavy trade work...

www.ladderstore.com

 

[Robin McHood]

I use a telescopic ladder, the top has a neoprene pad permanently attached so it can be leaned against the van with no problem. Stand on roof to clean it, on RH the surface is non slip and I'm just careful. For access (not washing) I use same ladder via the Heki. We do carry the ladder with us, but we do have a ginormous payload capacity.

 

[138go]

The telescopic ladders are good. I bought a set after the Snipe 2 ariel refused to go down again. I just have a piece of foam wrapped round the top rung so I can lean it on the MH. Also use a step ladder that I use the same way. Ladder needs to lean against something. Trying to stand on the top of a free standing step ladder is asking for trouble.

 

[Kevan]

I use the wife

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[Gellyneck]

I use the wife View attachment 325879

You're a bad man!
Imagine putting the barf bucket in such an out of the way place!

 

[Reallyretired]

I get Motorhome valet Mike to do my roof once a year. I can reach three of my solar panels with a long handled mop from the heki by standing on a seat, the fourth one has to wait for rain.

 

[Burgo]

We use one of these and just tie a thick towel around the rung at the level it rests on the motorhome (you could cut a pool noodle to fit easily).

 

[Richard n Ann]

A pool noodle is one of those long thin floats that's like a piece of pipe lagging.
What did we do before Google ?

 

[pandas]

Lyte Fibreglass 1.435m 7 Step Swingback A Frame Step Ladder - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Professional aluminium and fibreglass swingback ladder. Supplied with plastic tool tray to hold tools while working. FREE next day delivery available, free collection in 1 minute.

www.screwfix.com

these step ladders are brilliant - prefer them to a ladder.

Alternatively....

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[wotme]

Steps are not a good idea unless you have a strong anchor man who can catch you if you fall. I use a normal ladder with foam pipe lagging for protecting the van but if you want to be really safe and you only intend cleaning the roof once a year why not hire a man with a cherry picker. In our area they charge £30 an hour.

 

[SpeedyDux]

I find some bits of the roof are easy to clean via the Heki and standing on a bench seat inside.

Otherwise I use a big aluminium ladder that converts into a very stable stepladder, thanks to the crossbar that bolts across the "A", and the wide T-bar across the feet.

No available strong anchor man round here. There is no way that my safety supervisor (bless her) could catch me. The safest method is to keep moving the ladder a couple of feet even though it means climbing up and down a lot. Leaning over to one side is asking for trouble.

 

[Lenny HB]

I carry one of the telescopic ladders in the van for emergencies but at home I use a much stronger one lean it against the top of the van or awning with a thick wad of foam between it & van and just get on the roof to clean.

As mum used to say make sure you have clean pants on you might get run over by a bus, you wouldn't want a dirty roof if you were in an accident.

 

[Geoff185]

I managed to get a set of industrial aluminium 3m high step ladders, very stable. I can stand on top if need to that and extending brush keeps it clean

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

That looks very neat Richard and Ann, I was wondering about storing things around the chassis (like an oil pan to empty grey water into). What is unistrut and how do you bend the M10 rod and what is an R clip?

@Jonno103. Thanks I'd not considered combination ladders and that looks just the thing. Which of the 3 do you have?

QFour and wotme. I hold on to the 'rim' of the roof with one hand once I'm up the step ladder.
I may employ the special missus device for extra stability too. The reason the pro valeter I mentioned doesn't use a ladder is that he doesn't want to risk damaging anything that he's valeting. I wouldn't lean away from a step ladder, 'cannae deny the laws of physics'.

@GeooFChausson do you have a link to those please?

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[Richard n Ann]

That looks very neat Richard and Ann, I was wondering about storing things around the chassis (like an oil pan to empty grey water into). What is unistrut and how do you bend the M10 rod and what is an R clip?

@Jonno103. Thanks I'd not considered combination ladders and that looks just the thing. Which of the 3 do you have?

QFour and wotme. I hold on to the 'rim' of the roof with one hand once I'm up the step ladder.
I may employ the special missus device for extra stability too. The reason the pro valeter I mentioned doesn't use a ladder is that he doesn't want to risk damaging anything that he's valeting. I wouldn't lean away from a step ladder, 'cannae deny the laws of physics'.

@GeooFChausson do you have a link to those please?

Unistrut is like meccano, brilliant stuff, you see it in shop ceilings holding air conditioners up and electrical tray and ducting. City Electrical factors sell the light gauge slotted (which I used) for about a tenner a 3m length.

I bent the rod by heating it up in the vice to red hot and then bent 2 right angles on it.

I drilled a 2.5mm hole in the rod which the R clip goes through to stop the nuts coming off, I've since changed the nuts to wing nuts ?

The big washers are M10 plate washers. Also you can get M6, 8mm or M10 channel nuts that twist into the channel, also known as "Zebs" because some have a spring on to stop them coming out. Electrical wholesalers sell all the bits for it ?