How To Clean Outside of Upstairs Windows From Inside?

AfxTwn

fluffymuffy said:

It looks like an escape window. With the hinges giving maximum width for escape.

If you replace the hinges make sure it still opens wide enough to be an escape window in case of fire. At least 450mm clear opening.

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up. The back garden  is extremely overgrown but even if it wasn't (the neighbours gardens aren't and have been thoroughly landscaped), it goes uphill on uneven terrain as the whole street/area had been built on moorland and at the top of the garden are some woods and a public footpath. It seems when the houses were built, little thought was given to rear access and you have to go through the front to get to the back (in the case of the mid-terrace houses like mine).

Albermarle

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up.

If there were flames licking through the door and loads of black smoke, you would jump ( rather than die ) .

noitsnotme

I just spent yesterday replacing hinges on 2 UPVC windows.  These were the smaller horizontal top windows but they were still pretty heavy.  And they were ground floor which made it easier.  However I would not have been able to safely remove or refit them on my own.  

I had 2 extra pairs of hands helping to hold the windows while I removed and refitted them from the frame.  It was also far easier to do it from outside, which would be trickier on first floor windows.

None of the holes in the side of the windows matched up with the new hinges.  It was easy enough to make new holes with the existing self tapping screws but I had to ensure the hinges were fitted at exactly the right height.  I got it slightly wrong on the first window but was able to adjust.  The second window I got it right first time having learned from the first.  There was a lot of re-attaching and removing the windows in the frame to make sure it was all lining up correctly.

2 out of 3 of the existing holes in the frames lined up with each hinge so only one extra hole on each side needed to be made.

They cost just under £9 per pair of hinges from Screwfix for the 262mm length. Each pair came with packers which were needed as the old hinges were the larger 17mm stack height.  Both windows were previously completely unusable as the sliders had broken so it was well worth the hassle to be able to fix them so cheaply.

I have 2 larger windows upstairs that need the hinges replacing.  I certainly won’t risk trying to remove them from the inside as they will be really heavy and there’s a real risk of dropping them while trying to manoeuvre them to get them in the house.  I don’t want to use ladders either as would need as least 2 ladders so helpers can also get up there to assist.  My plan is to remove the glass first which will leave the very light frame that should be easy enough deal with from inside.

It’s definitely not a job for an inexperienced DIYer and you should certainly have at least one helper at hand. 

AfxTwn

Yes I am going to ask an experienced handyman I know that I and a friend have had work done from before. He is very professional so I trust he would do a good job and I am sure between us we would be able to replace the hinges or he will at least know how to go about it.

It looks like you can buy fire escape, easy clean hinges so I don't think that will be a problem as long as I get the right size. It seems they come with little plastic height adapters should the stack height not be the same as the existing ones but the person I know will do a good job of measuring and figuring out which ones to get and will also drill any new holes should the screw-holes not line up. As I have mentioned before, the handyman I know is an experienced window fitter so I trust him to do a good job and I won't be tackling it on my own.

The windows work perfectly fine with the current hinges, this is purely so I can clean them as I can't have a window cleaner due to lack of access. With the weather starting to change and it get's very windy where I am, I can wait a while to get the job done, it's not urgent. But at least now I know what I am looking for and that it is something that can be fixed and very cheaply too.

noitsnotme

Might be worth asking some local window cleaners if the difficulty in access is actually a problem or not.  Our window cleaner hasn't used ladders for years.  He uses an extendable pole attached to a very long hose from his van.  He uses a solution in the water that means the windows dry streak free so he doesn't have to do any manual drying/squeegeeing of them.  It might be easy enough to run the hose through your house.

fluffymuffy

Albermarle said:

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up.

If there were flames licking through the door and loads of black smoke, you would jump ( rather than die ) .

I'd be prepared for that eventuality - https://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/4.5m-fire-escape-ladder#product-details-tab-reviews

SadieO

fluffymuffy said:

Albermarle said:

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up.

If there were flames licking through the door and loads of black smoke, you would jump ( rather than die ) .

I'd be prepared for that eventuality - https://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/4.5m-fire-escape-ladder#product-details-tab-reviews

Hopefully no-one will need this knowledge. But if your ever have to get out of an upper floor window without a ladder, don't just jump for it! Climb out and lower yourself so you are hanging from the windowsill from your hands, then drop. That way your feet are [however tall you are] closer to the ground. 

kimwp

SadieO said:

fluffymuffy said:

Albermarle said:

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up.

If there were flames licking through the door and loads of black smoke, you would jump ( rather than die ) .

I'd be prepared for that eventuality - https://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/4.5m-fire-escape-ladder#product-details-tab-reviews

Hopefully no-one will need this knowledge. But if your ever have to get out of an upper floor window without a ladder, don't just jump for it! Climb out and lower yourself so you are hanging from the windowsill from your hands, then drop. That way your feet are [however tall you are] closer to the ground. 

I was going to post to say the same thing!

All this brings back memories of wellefant visiting my school and me asking my parents for a window ladder afterwards.

Another useful tip is to always keep your door keys with you. If needed, you can throw them out the window to the fire fighters so they can get in the house.

silvercar

AfxTwn said:

fluffymuffy said:

It looks like an escape window. With the hinges giving maximum width for escape.

If you replace the hinges make sure it still opens wide enough to be an escape window in case of fire. At least 450mm clear opening.

That makes sense although where I would escape to in the event of a fire is beyond me plus it is probably 20 feet up. The back garden  is extremely overgrown but even if it wasn't (the neighbours gardens aren't and have been thoroughly landscaped), it goes uphill on uneven terrain as the whole street/area had been built on moorland and at the top of the garden are some woods and a public footpath. It seems when the houses were built, little thought was given to rear access and you have to go through the front to get to the back (in the case of the mid-terrace houses like mine).

The idea is that you can get out of the window and onto a fireman’s ladder or at least drop down, preferably on to a soft landing. If you can’t even get out of the window, you have a bigger problem.

droopsnoot

As mentioned above, what about something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Telescopic-Extendable-Equipment-Conservatory-Adjustable/dp/B0CX958ZDJ?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A9RLUC2QCIBL8

Available from all sorts of local markets, I've been to a few events selling them for about £20 this summer. Either connect to a hosepipe, or just dip it in a bucket. My window cleaner uses something similar, they haven't been up a ladder for years.