When you want someone to inspect or repair your roof, you might suspect that a cherry picker would help them get the job done quicker, easier and safer. In some cases, that’s true. But whether or not it’s possible is another question entirely.
In this post, we’ll discuss the benefits of cherry pickers and how many roofers have them.
Cherry pickers for roofing
A cherry picker is a type of mobile, elevated work platform, which uses a hydraulic crane to raise and lower workers stood on a secure, stable platform in a basket. They’re often used by firefighters to give people a safe platform to escape from high floors.
Maintenance is another common use, with cherry pickers quickly lifting workers to parts of a building that need cleaning or painting, or to the top of telephone and electricity poles for servicing.
They’re used for a similar purpose with roofing. Cherry pickers provide access to roofs which are particularly high or awkward to access. That makes them a much quicker alternative to scaffolding, enabling a prompt response when emergency roof repairs are needed. Plus, if scaffolding would be difficult to construct for the roof in question, using a cherry picker could also save money on the project overall.
Do roofers have cherry pickers?
While cherry pickers are a useful asset for any roofer, they’re not the most common piece of equipment for roofers to have at their disposal due to their high purchase cost and regular maintenance required. Instead, many roofers will simply search for a cherry picker to hire as and when necessary.
Unfortunately, that eliminates the potential cost benefit, due to high rental costs for cherry pickers. Those costs will be passed onto you, the customer, meaning your roofing job will cost more overall.
All that said, there are some roofing companies – like DPR Roofing – who have their own cherry picker to call upon when needed – in fact they have 2 cherry pickers. That allows roofers to access hard-to-reach areas of your roof safely and quicky, without excessive costs being added to your quote.
Which projects need a cherry picker?
Even if a roofing company has a cherry picker, it’s worth noting that they’re not required for every roofing project. Don’t be disappointed if a cherry picker doesn’t roll up for your domestic roof replacement!
If your roof isn’t excessively high or in an awkward location, then scaffolding is a practical option. It provides ongoing access to your roof when it’s needed for 2-3 days, as is usually the case for a replacement or extensive repairs.
All in all, it’s a case of weighing up which option is the most practical and cost-effective for your project.
Fully equipped roofers in Leeds
With both scaffolding and a cherry picker at our disposal, the team at DPR Roofing in Leeds can always choose what’s best to get your roof done as quickly, safely and cost-effectively as possible. Our cherry picker can reach heights of up to 90 feet for emergency jobs or to reach hard-to-access roofs.
Most importantly, our operators are IPAF trained to use the platform, so everything is done safely and efficiently. If you would like to find out more about our roofing services or arrange a quote, simply contact us on 0113 335 0043 or email [email protected].