LADS is now SafeContractor approved
LADS has been assessed and approved under the SafeContractor scheme — an independent audit of our health and safety policies, RAMS, insurance and training.
Read the post
Traditional grit. Modern tech. Better results.
LADS brings 20 m tracked spider lifts, thermal-imaging drones and 150 °C dry steam to the buildings that usually need scaffolding, chemicals and three separate contractors.
- Working height
- 20 mSpider lift working height
- Steam temperature
- 150 °CDry steam, no chemicals
- Accreditation
- SafeContractorIndependently approved
A LADS operative working from a spider lift platform on a rooftop, seen from the air
What LADS does, in one paragraph
LADS is an Essex access, inspection and restoration specialist based in Wickford. We combine 20 m Hinowa tracked spider lifts, thermal-imaging drone surveys and 150 °C dry steam cleaning so that access, diagnosis, cleaning and minor repairs are carried out by one crew on one visit — across Essex, east London and the wider UK, 24 hours a day.
- What we do
- Powered access, thermal drone inspection, dry steam restoration and pure-water cleaning.
- Where
- Based at Wickford, Essex. Working across Essex, east London and the wider UK.
- Who for
- Property managers, facilities teams, surveyors, estate agents, commercial sites and homeowners.
- When
- Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Same-day access is often possible.
Ten things we do properly
Most buildings need all four capabilities at some point, usually from four different contractors. We put them in one van, on one visit.
01
Spider Lift Hire & Operated Access
Hinowa tracked spider lifts with up to 20 m working height, supplied with a trained, certified operator.
Read more
02
Thermal-Imaging Drone Inspections
Radiometric thermal imaging from the air, finding damp, heat loss and hidden defects without touching the building.
Read more
03
Photogrammetric & Thermographic Surveys
Drone imagery processed into precise 2D and 3D models of buildings, façades and roofs.
Read more
04
Dry Steam Restoration
150 °C super-heated, low-moisture steam that lifts algae, growth, graffiti and pollution without chemicals.
Read more
05
Solar Panel (PV) Cleaning
0.00 ppm de-ionised pure water cleaning for roof and ground-mount PV arrays, domestic and commercial.
Read more
06
Reach & Wash Cleaning
Purified water through telescopic poles cleans windows and exteriors several storeys up, from the ground.
Read more
07
Roof & Gutter Maintenance
Gutter clearing, roofline checks, moss removal and early detection of the damage water causes.
Read more
08
Bird Prevention
Humane, legal deterrents — spikes, netting, wire, UV-stabilised solar mesh, cowls and scare systems.
Read more
09
Cladding & Stone Restoration
Controlled dry-steam cleaning of heritage stone, listed brickwork and modern cladding, delivered from spider lifts.
Read more10
Preventative Maintenance & Minor Repairs
Soffits, fascias, brickwork cleaning and minor roof and mortar repairs, caught before they become projects.
Read more
Reach without scaffolding
The tracked lift drives itself through a garden gate, sets its outriggers on the drive and puts an operative where the problem is — over the ridge, past the conservatory, above the third floor.
Twenty metres of working height and ten metres of horizontal outreach cover most domestic and light commercial elevations without a single scaffold tie, a licence for the pavement or a week of waiting.
Survey, plan, access, restore
01
Survey
We look at the building before we quote it — on foot, from a platform or from the air, depending on what the problem is hiding behind.
02
Plan
A site-specific risk assessment and method statement sets out access, exclusion zones, ground bearing and rescue arrangements before anyone leaves the yard.
03
Access
The tracked lift, the pure-water system, the steam plant and the drone all travel with the crew, so the work starts on the first visit rather than the third.
04
Restore
Cleaning, clearing, proofing and minor repairs are finished on the same mobilisation, and the site is left as we found it.
The same array, an hour apart
Solar glass loses output to dirt, moss and bird droppings long before anyone notices. We clean it with 0.00 ppm de-ionised water from the platform — no chemicals, no walking on the roof, no panels lifted.
Traditional grit and modern tech, brought to your building by one team, in one day.
20metres
Tracked spider lift working height
150°C
Dry steam temperature, no chemicals
0.00ppm
De-ionised water purity for glass and solar
Essex first, UK when it counts
Our yard is at Wickford, which puts the whole of south and mid Essex within easy reach — and makes same-day access realistic rather than aspirational.
Wickford, Basildon, Billericay, Chelmsford, Southend-on-Sea, Rayleigh, Rochford, Brentwood, Braintree, Colchester, Romford & East London, Thurrock, and nationwide by arrangement.
One crew, one visit, and no scaffold left standing when we drive away.
Old-fashioned graft, run on data
Often on site today
Access is frequently available the same day, and the phone is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — emergencies included.
Nothing left standing
No scaffold design period, no erection, no weekly hire creep and no unsecured structure inviting people onto your roof overnight.
Heat, not chemistry
Dry steam at 150 °C and 0.00 ppm pure water mean nothing runs off into drains, borders or watercourses.
Evidence, not opinion
Radiometric imagery shows where damp, heat loss and hotspots actually are, so repairs are targeted instead of exploratory.
Accredited and insured
Independently assessed health and safety, IPAF-aligned powered access practice, public liability insurance and RAMS for every job.
One team, one day
Access, inspection, cleaning and minor repairs come from the same crew on the same visit — one contractor, one mobilisation.
What customers have said
“L.A.D.S Came and cleaned my roof. They were very professional and done an amazing job. looking forward to them coming back and cleaning my patio. Would highly recommend these guys.”
“The LADS did a great job cleaning my solar panels - see before and after pics. They also removed my unused TV aerial and old Sky dish as well as attaching bird spikes to my roof - all done at a very reasonable price. I would definitely recommend them and will be using them again.”
“These guys cleaned my grandmother's roof and solar panels. Very professional and friendly, cannot fault their work. Will definitely be using them again and recommending them to friends and family.”
“5 Stars Service on our Solar Panels”
From the yard
The green invaders: protecting your property from parakeet damage
Ring-necked parakeets are spreading out of London into Essex. They chew fascias, vents and cabling under solar panels, and their guano etches glass and stone.
Read the post
A fresh look for the LADS fleet
New vinyl graphics for the vans, built around the four things the name stands for: lifting, access, drone and steam.
Read the postStraight answers
Do I need scaffolding for work at height?
For cleaning, inspection and minor repairs, usually not. Our tracked spider lifts arrive, work and leave the same day, so there is no scaffold design, no weekly hire and no unsecured structure standing outside your building overnight.
How high can you actually reach?
Our Hinowa tracked spider lifts give a working height of up to 20 metres. Outreach reduces as the boom goes higher, so tell us the target and how far back we must stand and we will confirm it before booking.
Is dry steam cleaning safe on listed buildings?
It is one of the gentler methods available, because it cleans with 150 °C heat and low moisture rather than pressure or chemicals. We agree a test patch first and work to whatever consents the building requires.
How does a thermal drone survey work and what does it find?
A thermal camera flown over the building reads surface temperature. Differences reveal damp and moisture ingress, missing or wet insulation, thermal bridging, leak paths and hot electrical connections — across a whole block in minutes, without touching it.
Is pure-water cleaning safe for solar panels?
Yes. We use 0.00 ppm de-ionised water with soft brush heads — no detergents, no abrasives, no high pressure and nobody standing on the panels. Because the water carries no minerals, the glass dries without spotting.
How often should solar panels be cleaned?
It depends on the site. Arrays under trees, near farmland or beneath bird roosts need attention more often than an open urban roof. An annual check is a sensible starting point, and we will advise honestly after seeing yours.
Do you cover my area and how far do you travel?
We are based in Wickford and work throughout Essex, into east London and further afield across the UK where a job justifies it. If you are unsure, call 0330 043 0961 and ask.
Are you insured and accredited?
Yes. LADS is SafeContractor approved, works to IPAF-aligned practice for powered access, holds public liability insurance and produces comprehensive RAMS for every job. Documentation can be issued in advance for site permits.
Can you work same day or out of hours?
Often, yes. Same-day access is frequently possible and the phone is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Out-of-hours working on commercial sites is routine for us.
Are bird deterrents humane and legal?
Yes. Everything we fit — spikes, wire, netting, UV-stabilised solar mesh, cowls and blockers — is designed to deter rather than harm. Active nests are protected by law, so our work is always prevention, timed accordingly.
What is operated hire?
It means the machine comes with a trained, certified operator who sets up, works the controls and manages the safe operating envelope. You are hiring the capability and the person, not a chassis you then need to find someone to drive.
How do I get a quote?
Call 0330 043 0961, email info@liftingaccessdronesteam.co.uk or send the enquiry form. A couple of photographs showing the problem and the approach usually let us be specific rather than vague.
Will your equipment damage my driveway or lawn?
Tracked spider lifts run on rubber tracks and spread their weight through outrigger pads, which is why they are used on lawns, block paving and podium decks. We assess ground bearing before tracking in.
Do you work for property managers and facilities teams?
Yes, and it is a large part of what we do. Access, thermal inspection, cleaning and minor repairs come from one team on one visit, which makes scheduling, reporting and cost recovery considerably simpler.
Tell us what needs reaching
One team, one day. Give us the outline and we will come back with something specific rather than a range.
Your email client should now be open with the enquiry ready to send.
If nothing happened, email info@liftingaccessdronesteam.co.uk or call 0330 043 0961 — we answer 24 hours a day.