Everybody dreams of a high-flying job… but how high is too high? Commercial window cleaners are faced with a staggering array of dangerous tasks, demanding skills training, unusual briefs and quite simply a very, very, VERY high working environment!
So what are they fighting against? Of course the proverbial march of time takes its toll on all buildings, however high-level structures are often exposed to the most brutal environmental causes; causes which can result in degraded cladding, damaged window frames, broken or cracked glass, marred window latches and so on.
Weather Woes
Mother Nature is rarely merciful. The weather is a guaranteed factor in the degradation of every structure on earth. To high-level window cleaners and glazing refurbishment specialists, rectifying the damage caused by freak hail storms, high winds (removing autumn leaves from every window frame of a twenty-storey building is no fun task!), low temperatures and every other environmental impact known to mankind is part of a day’s work. High-level buildings should be regularly inspected by a professional glazing expert to identify signs of environmental wear and tear.
Wildlife
The number one fear of high-level window cleaners? Falling? No. Lightening? No. Aggressive, territorial nesting peregrine falcons? YES! Peregrine falcons love to nest in the UK’s tall urban buildings for two simple reasons. One – the high ledges and overhangs are incredibly reminiscent of the steep cliffs of their natural nesting sites. Two – the pigeon and rat population of most UK towns and cities represents a tasty larder from which to raise young. Bird droppings stain windows, degrade cladding and, along with other detritus, block drainage paths.
The Human Factor
Human error- it’s a great catch-all phrase to cover the massive variety of careless, lazy, forgetful, idiotic and downright stupid actions of human beings. In this instance, in reference to the brave jobs of high level window cleaners the world over!