what size pole usually for solar panel going to top of roof?

[Davy G]

I see there are some hire places, but nowhere near me. Its not critical to be fair, ive got the windows regular. Know what ya mean, nightmare houses. ok if you get a good rate.

To be honest Ks, we don't take on what we call "dread houses" anymore, at any price. They always take more time and effort than we're prepared to sacrifice and we'd always be dreading it. We've always up to now been lucky enough to get better work soon after.

 

[scottish cleaning service]

Nah mate, no openings there. There not in a rush just yet so, think will do the swim pool ones and have a think. Makes you wonder if an outlet could make more on certain poles being hired out than they could on selling outright. Risk of them coming back scratched etc though.

I would fit a velux for them in the roof and everyone happy.

 

[ks789]

To be honest Ks, we don't take on what we call "dread houses" anymore, at any price. They always take more time and effort than we're prepared to sacrifice and we'd always be dreading it. We've always up to now been lucky enough to get better work soon after.

Must admit, longer your in this it slowly but surely seems easier to love em or leave em. Im better at pricing now, and some places I just wont entertain. One place i knocked up to quote, sounded like a wolf barking away in there. Didnt bother with it ( could've been a poodle, but nah, dog poo, bite risk, small council flat etc)

 

[Davy G]

I know I do some crazy things to earn money, like 800 mile round trip to clear gutters, but even I would baulk at climbing on a van roof. 

?I think I was probably safer being careful on that job for 40 minutes when my safety was in my own hands and down to my own assessment, than I am on the roads with the crazy drivers I see every day. I expect you see that standard of driving too.

It was risky enough for sure but I was very careful. Not a whole lot different from standing on a garage or extension roof. Not ideal for sure but not quite as dangerous as working from a ladder.

Anyone who has never done anything a bit edgy has led a very boring life. Somehow I doubt if many people on the forum would be in that category. ?

 

[ks789]

?I think I was probably safer being careful on that job for 40 minutes when my safety was in my own hands and down to my own assessment, than I am on the roads with the crazy drivers I see every day. I expect you see that standard of driving too.

It was risky enough for sure but I was very careful. Not a whole lot different from standing on a garage or extension roof. Not ideal for sure but not quite as dangerous as working from a ladder.

Anyone who has never done anything a bit edgy has led a very boring life. Somehow I doubt if many people on the forum would be in that category. ?

Ive thought of it. This place with the panels, they keep animals, horses goats etc. Was thinking if the bloke had a tractor with loader to borrow and .... nah, best not i guess ?

 

[Davy G]

Ive thought of it. This place with the panels, they keep animals, horses goats etc. Was thinking if the bloke had a tractor with loader to borrow and .... nah, best not i guess ?

Ssh! ???

 

[spruce]

I personally think that cleaning solar panels is a specialised service.

If you are a 'run of the mill' window cleaner like l am then you might be able to clean some solar panels easily. I don't offer or promote the service. We have a lot of Victorian Street houses with solar panels in our once holiday resort.

The only way we could clean them safety would be off a spider lift or a good quality scaffold tower. Both of these methods require the use of expensive equipment which adds to the cleaning cost. Many home owners with solar panels in our area perceive cleaning costs of a few pounds to clean an array on the roof.

One of the local lads advertises the cleaning of solar panels from £45 on the side of his van. Last time I spoke to him he had only cleaned arrays for 2 customers in 2 years at that price.

 

[Davy G]

I personally think that cleaning solar panels is a specialised service.

If you are a 'run of the mill' window cleaner like l am then you might be able to clean some solar panels easily. I don't offer or promote the service. We have a lot of Victorian Street houses with solar panels in our once holiday resort.

The only way we could clean them safety would be off a spider lift or a good quality scaffold tower. Both of these methods require the use of expensive equipment which adds to the cleaning cost. Many home owners with solar panels in our area perceive cleaning costs of a few pounds to clean an array on the roof.

One of the local lads advertises the cleaning of solar panels from £45 on the side of his van. Last time I spoke to him he had only cleaned arrays for 2 customers in 2 years at that price.

I agree, I wouldn’t be pinning my business hopes on solar panels. We do a few. They probably account for less than one per cent of our work. That would be be on private houses. From what I've read on the forum I understand the commercial rate is very low.

 

[spruce]

I agree, I wouldn’t be pinning my business hopes on solar panels. We do a few. They probably account for less than one per cent of our work. That would be be on private houses. From what I've read on the forum I understand the commercial rate is very low.

A figure of 17p a panel was bantered about the forums a while back. That's as a subcontractor supplying their own vehicle, water and equipment. Every time I see a panel I think of 17p. Then I see a field of them ........... ?

 

[ks789]

True, those houses that have maybe 8 to 12 panels, and expect it to be just an extra 10 or 15 minutes of your time ?. Ive explained to some, and put them off sometimes too luckily. Its questionable if its worth getting them done according to the figures (5% improvement in performance) My job in question though is 50 odd in total, so will do the easy swim pool ones, ( relatively easy that is) and possibly look out for another windy willing/able to do the house roof. They are a nice couple, and im fairly sure they wouldnt dump me over the issue, but if they did, I'd just take it on the chin.

 

[ks789]

A figure of 17p a panel was bantered about the forums a while back. That's as a subcontractor supplying their own vehicle, water and equipment. Every time I see a panel I think of 17p. Then I see a field of them ........... ?

That sure is crazy. have to be about 20 seconds a panel at a quick guess. I want a good £4, and ive seen some want £6 or so a panel, which makes sense. And if they dont want it then all the better in some cases. Mind you, thats on roofs, on the ground much easier/quicker. One of my custys has 16 on the ground which I do for £50 and take an hour which Im happy with.

 

[dazmond]

True, those houses that have maybe 8 to 12 panels, and expect it to be just an extra 10 or 15 minutes of your time ?. Ive explained to some, and put them off sometimes too luckily. Its questionable if its worth getting them done according to the figures (5% improvement in performance) My job in question though is 50 odd in total, so will do the easy swim pool ones, ( relatively easy that is) and possibly look out for another windy willing/able to do the house roof. They are a nice couple, and im fairly sure they wouldnt dump me over the issue, but if they did, I'd just take it on the chin.

The thing is it is only an extra 10-15 mins of your time to clean 8-12 solar panels......30 mins at most if their really dirty.....I clean a few for the odd existing customer....its just like cleaning skylights....

 

[ks789]

The thing is it is only an extra 10-15 mins of your time to clean 8-12 solar panels......30 mins at most if their really dirty.....I clean a few for the odd existing customer....its just like cleaning skylights....

True enough, but need that proper bit of kit for those high ones, 

 

[Guest]

Some panels are very dirty. You will need a scaffold tower, a vehicle to carry it and pasma training. Sometimes a rotary brush too. We’ve done over 3000 residential arrays in last 12 months. Every job is different.

Good luck!

 

[Pjj]

A figure of 17p a panel was bantered about the forums a while back. That's as a subcontractor supplying their own vehicle, water and equipment. Every time I see a panel I think of 17p. Then I see a field of them ........... ?

That was solar Steve and that was for cleaning ground mount arrays with tens of thousands of panels , he offers me between 17-21 pence a panel surprising enough we never did any of them for him , I did do some solindra panels on supermarkets roofs but it was more hassle than it was worth, so gave it up , we have cleaned some massive sights  but I wouldn’t renew the contracts when they came up as some sights we were on for weeks , and got behind with normal work and the money still wasn’t that good and it was such boring work I hated it . 

 

[scottish cleaning service]

That was solar Steve and that was for cleaning ground mount arrays with tens of thousands of panels , he offers me between 17-21 pence a panel surprising enough we never did any of them for him , I did do some solindra panels on supermarkets roofs but it was more hassle than it was worth, so gave it up , we have cleaned some massive sights  but I wouldn’t renew the contracts when they came up as some sights we were on for weeks , and got behind with normal work and the money still wasn’t that good and it was such boring work I hated it . 

I don't mind turning a hose on the panels for 20p each but no chance of scrubbing them. ?