How to choose roof cleaner

karenestelle on 14/02/2017 - 08:37

Hi,

Have a small leak & insurance company have advised we need to clean the valleys and gutters and fix a tile that has been dislodged. I want some advice as to the best method to use for having it cleared. Some roof cleaners use a vac system and others don't. We have gutters installed by Easyfall and I wonder if anyone can give a lady some advice on what to look for when choosing a company to do this for me? House is about 14 squares single storey on a fairly level block so any advice on what price is reasonable would also be great. Thanks in advance.

Home & Garden

Comments

  • QW3RTY on 14/02/2017 - 08:54

    Call multiple qualified cleaners (Google Search, Yellow Pages, etc) and explain your problem, isolate those who offer obligation free quotes (nil call-out fees) and get them to all quote on the same scope, select the best quote based on your budget. Make sure they're insured and both parties have a written confirmation on the scope of works before you allow them on your property.

    If the affected area is 14 square metres (?), it shouldn't exactly be a huge job — probably would be a bit overkill to use a vacuum system in my opinion.

    • mskeggs on 14/02/2017 - 09:24
      +3

      qualified cleaners

      Graduates of the Roof Cleaning Academy?

      • altomic on 14/02/2017 - 09:53
        +2

        Phd in Roofology

        • 2jzzzz on 14/02/2017 - 09:57
          +1

          Those that have experience handling roofies.

        • altomic on 14/02/2017 - 10:01

          @2jzzzz: Is that correct? I can't remember.

        • 2jzzzz on 14/02/2017 - 10:17

          @altomic:

          Looks like you were in the hands of a professional.

      • QW3RTY on 14/02/2017 - 10:10
        +1

        If they're working on a roof, they may need height access permits and must complete Safe Working at Height training. Incidents that occur with non accredited contractors means you could get tied up in a Worksafe investigation.

        Even worse would be if you have a "contractor" (Dave from Airtasker) with no white card and no insurance suing you as a result of their injury, as you as the landowner/occupant owe a duty of care to those on your property.

        So yes, "qualified cleaners".

        • altomic on 14/02/2017 - 10:20
          +4

          remember the old days when people were competent

        • mskeggs on 14/02/2017 - 10:33
          +2

          No jokes allowed, this is accreditations!

          A home getting the gutters cleaned isn't a construction site. So a white card isn't required.

          Working at heights compliance is the responsibility of the business, not the customer. Reference in the legislation:
          http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/view/regulation/2011/674…

          In the unlikely event there was an accident, OP has already stated they have home insurance that includes public liability insurance in every policy I have ever seen in Australia, and that it is a single story house with level access.

          I'm all in favour of safety, but adding regulatory compliance outside of where it is required just increases prices. Would you pay the local Jim's Gutters guy for the half a day to do a white card test if he doesn't have it, when it isn't required?

        • QW3RTY on 14/02/2017 - 10:34
          +3

          @altomic: I had to undertake training for confined spaces so the trainer could remind me that I shouldn't get in confined spaces without properly stating to people around me that "I'm going into a confined space" and they help me make sure the space isn't too confined before I confine myself within that space.

          $800.

        • altomic on 14/02/2017 - 10:42
          +1

          @QW3RTY: wow, that is headbuttingly stupid. and at the same time the course is there for a reason i.e. stupid crap happens.

        • mskeggs on 14/02/2017 - 10:50
          +1

          @QW3RTY:
          It's nuts.
          I don't want to be flippant, as I know several people with life impacting workplace injuries, but that sort of nonsense just makes me angry.

        • QW3RTY on 14/02/2017 - 10:53

          @mskeggs: I completely understand what you're saying.

          My main concern is around the OP's water leak. Perhaps she should get the gardener to shift the dodgy tile back in to position.

          If the leak is not remedied – it’s time for a licenced roofer.

        • iforgotmysocks on 15/02/2017 - 09:04

          Hey! Dave's a good guy.

  • mskeggs on 14/02/2017 - 09:15
    +2

    You might find a cheaper service just to call a general handyman.
    Cleaning the gutters and restoring a slipped tile is a very trivial job, and requires no special skills or equipment beyond a ladder.
    To be honest, I would advise you try it yourself first. It usually isn't worth somebody visiting without at least and $80 call out fee, and you might find you can push the tile back in place and remove some leaves that have accumulated in 10 mins.

  • hell0 on 14/02/2017 - 09:40

    I was going to see if leafbusters do this but then I found out the lady from the commercial is apparently not all there… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8ONGXeknwE <- Here she is bullying a police officer about a 'medical appointment'… lol

    Anywho, QE3RTY has all the points down, the biggest one being get quotes.

  • gevidian on 14/02/2017 - 10:18

    You made an insurance claim for a small leak? The excess is probably a lot more than the whole job would cost to get done including gutter clean, tile fixes, etc.

  • try2bhelpful on 14/02/2017 - 13:46
    +1

    Noticed Airtasker seems to have a site where you post up jobs to be done, what price you are willing to pay, and get someone to bid for it. Anyone had experience with them?

    https://www.airtasker.com/tradesman/roofing/

  • GloriaMorgan on 20/02/2017 - 16:22
    +1

    Actually, you can clean it yourself, there is no need to look for any service providers. I usually do the cleaning with a ladder and a scoop, that are enough to clean the gutter. You can dump the junk directly to the lawn or can collect the junk in a trap so that you can spare the lawn from the junk. I think that you will get a better idea after referring this article (http://www.landmarkquality.com/blog/gutters/how-to-clean-gut…). What I say is don't spend money for such a simple work.

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