Second-Story Glass You Cannot Reach

The actual risk is the ladder, not the height

Falls from height are the most common serious injury in this trade and among homeowners attempting it. The dangerous moments are setting up on uneven ground, over-reaching sideways rather than repositioning, and the last step of the climb. None of those are about skill with a squeegee, and all of them are worse on the sloped, soft or gravel ground common around valley homes.

What a water-fed pole reaches

Professional pure-water poles clean from the ground to roughly three storeys, which covers essentially all residential work in the valley. The glass is scrubbed with a brush and rinsed with deionized water, and it dries without being touched. That removes the ladder from the job entirely for most homes.

Where poles stop working

Poles need a clear line to the glass. Deep recesses, glass behind mature landscaping, enclosed courtyards, and windows above a conservatory or lower roof often cannot be reached from the ground. Those need ladder work by someone insured to do it, or occasionally equipment, and it is fair to ask how a company plans to reach a specific window.

The insurance point that actually matters

If an uninsured person is hurt on your property, that can become your problem. Confirming a company carries genuine liability cover is not paperwork theatre for work at height, and it is a reasonable thing to ask before anyone puts a ladder against your house.