A mate of mine is scared of heights and has asked me if I could paint his soffits and facias, he has PVCu windows and doors. The problem area being over his conservatory. Off a ladder I can probably reach 2 feet in from either side but how do I paint the 'middle bit'? It seems a bit OTT to hire a scaffold tower to paint 6' of soffit and facia board and it would make that bit of painting VERY expensive (£40 a foot!). Anybody got any (sensible) ideas? Absailing, parachute jumping, pogo sticks, etc are not options and window above is too small to hang out of!
for, but in the position on that photo the reach looks too short for the gutter area. It might work if the access system can be positioned on both sides of the conservatory, close to the house wall and gutter area. Can you access the conservatory roof from both sides using this roof access system? What is the position regarding repair under insurance in the worse case scenario that you damage the conservatory roof? Is accidental damage, other than by the owner, included on your mate's buildings insurance? If not, and the worse happens, you could probably hire a couple of scaffold towers and have the fascias replaced with upvc with what conservatory roof repairs would cost. An alternative, working off a ladder, is to use an extending extension pole to which you can attach a paint pad, roller or hollow handled paint brush. This is OK if the woodwork is in good condition and only needs washing and rubbing over with an abrasive pad, but a bit tricky if there is any rotten wood to remove and repair with filler or putty. Some examples are here:
That's what a painter used recently to clean and paint soffits, fascias and gutters in areas that I couldn't reach safely off my ladder, and I did the rest.
No disrespect intended, just an observation. I don't think people realise when having conservatories added just what problems they are landing them selves in when it comes to building maintenance. Would your friend not be better having the soffits and facias done in plastic now, thereby saving you the trouble and future maintenance problems
Depending on the roof system it may be possible to remove a roof panel and get a ladder up as usual. I've heard of this being done, but not seen it. Simon.
The gentleman who stated people have conservatories erected with no thought about maintenance subsequently is spot-on. My wife is always wittering on about us having a conservatory and my resistance to this proposal is based on the access problem.
Should anyone think that it's worthwhile "taking a chance" to save a few bob may like to reflect upon the experience of my father, who ended up with a railing spike inserted "where the sun don't shine" and his bowels in his hands through similar unsafe means of access.
I hope your father recovered. Not a lot of help to OP but could this problem not have been overcome by the use of the ruling regarding a certain percentage of non translucent roofing allowed for conservatories? When planning a conservatory roof allow for a strip of more substantial material for future maintenance access
Following my previous statement that "people have conservatories erected with no thought about maintenance" I would like to see the firms who provide such structures abide by a code of practice whereby they provide the prospective customer with a detailed survey pointing out the potential problems that they may encounter later on. I realise that we do not live in utopia and some companies would abuse it, but on the whole, the majority of companies are responsible and a code of practice suggested would bring any reputable company more work in the long run.
I agree, but to be realistic, a lot of people would probably think that the firm was just drumming up extra business and I have no doubt that some firms would abuse it. I can just imagine a conservatory salesman/surveyor saying "you need to have all your soffits and fascias replaced with upvc, we aren't allowed to do just the bit that will be above your new conservatory."
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.