How can I get 12 metres up a wall without scaffolding?

[Bennet]

We've just moved to a Victorian house with high ceilings and an attic room. I estimate the point of the gable end is about 11.5 metres above ground level.

The entire wall in question is covered in climbing plants which are starting to get in to the roof.

I need to get to the top of the wall to remove it.

We've only just moved and the budget is currently tight. Any thoughts on how I might do this without paying for scaffolding?

I've seen trailer mounted cherry pickers, but the garden is such that you wouldn't be able to tow one in there.

Looking for bright ideas and/or redneck solutions.

I realise I can saw the plants off at the base to stop further growth, but I still want to get it off the wall.

Thanks.

[magooagain]

Ladder.

[HRL]

Have you considered a ladder?

Just putting it out there...

EDIT: Beaten to it I see. Just make sure someone holds the bottom of it and you’ll be fine.

Edited by HRL on Wednesday 6th June 15:06

[Bennet]

The tallest ladders I can find go to 10m... (and that's before you've put the base 2/3 metres back from the wall)

Edited by Bennet on Wednesday 6th June 15:11

[Andy-SP2]

If you do go for a ladder, I would suggest securing it with ratchet straps and rawl bolts to the wall..

Also it would be more secure if the feet sank into grass/earth... If not, the only way to 'foot' a ladder if for someone weighty to be stood on the bottom rung..

[TooMany2cvs]

Bennet said:

I realise I can saw the plants off at the base to stop further growth, but I still want to get it off the wall.

If you don't want the climbers at all, then just do that. As they die, they'll lose their grip.

[Bennet]

TooMany2cvs said:

Bennet said:

I realise I can saw the plants off at the base to stop further growth, but I still want to get it off the wall.

If you don't want the climbers at all, then just do that. As they die, they'll lose their grip.

No doubt, but I don't really want the slowly decaying mess on the wall for the next 5-10 years. They are thick, and in at advanced stage of growth...

[CrutyRammers]

12m up a ladder? Sod that, unless it's bolted into the wall. A guy standing at the bottom wouldn't be able to hold the ladder itself if it fell, let alone with you on it.

[55palfers]

It's fairly cheap (and probably safer) to rent a tower platform.

https://www.hss.com/hire/p/6-2m-full-width-alloy-t...

Approx £200 pw

[Piha]

A MEWP - you don't state what your budget is or the ground conditions are but plenty of powered access machines will fit through a standard door opening - https://www.afi-uplift.co.uk/platformhire/BMJ26E.

[PW555]

Scaffolder here so obviously bias...BUT...Do you want to dangle off a triple extending ladder almost 40 foot in the air with quite a good chance of falling off and at best doing yourself a pretty decent injury or worse, plus the agro of climbing up and down and re-locating it every 10 bloody minutes, or do you want a nice safe boarded platform every 2 metres with internal ladders giving you full and easy access to the whole elevation? Added bonus is you could do other jobs while its in place like pointing, decoration etc etc.

I know which option I'd prefer...

[Mr Pointy]

Are you sure it's 12m? That's incredibly high.

Anyway, scaffold tower for sure. You only need a 10.5m one.

[Bennet]

Mr Pointy said:

Are you sure it's 12m? That's incredibly high.

Anyway, scaffold tower for sure. You only need a 10.5m one.

I counted brick layers. 144 bricks multiplied by 8cm per brick.

(Edited to remove dumb arse question)

Edited by Bennet on Wednesday 6th June 15:37

[rfisher]

I have a scaffold tower for jobs like that.

It has wheels and outriggers.

I wear a safety harness for working at full height.

I love it.

I have photographs.

Get one.

Won't be 12m though.

[Timbo_S2]

Bennet said:

I counted brick layers. 144 bricks multiplied by 8cm per brick.

(Edited to remove dumb arse question)

Edited by Bennet on Wednesday 6th June 15:37

144 brick courses x 75mm (65mm + 10mm mortar) = 10.8m

[Electronicpants]

I climbed a ladder that tall once to talk to the roofer who was working on my roof at the time, the ladder was bouncing 1/2 way up like mad due to the pure length of it and as I got to the top I suddenly realised that my testicles had retreated into my chest and my hands were pissing sweat, I was an octave or two higher when I spoke also.

I stood on the ladder with my hands crushing the 2nd rung from the top and spoke to the guy for as little time as possible while trying to look brave sounding like I was going through puberty, and slowly shuffled my way back down vowing never to do it again.

That was 11 years ago and I've not been up anything above 3-4 meters since, how you could actually work off the ladder as well I've no idea.

I'd scaffold it, your life/job/risk of permanent injury and subsequent quality of life is worth way more than a scaffold.

[Murph7355]

Self propelled cherry picker?

[Laurel Green]

Helium balloons, lots of them! Don't forget to use a tether though.

[Bennet]

Some good thoughts. Thanks for all suggestions.

[Sandy59]

Fancy drone with a shears or chainsaw !!
Actually you might get one to hook a line onto them, then pull them down ??