Mid-Rise (4-7 Stories): Water-Fed Pole, Lift, and Ladder Access
At four to seven stories, the ground stops reaching the whole building. Access becomes the variable that sets price and disruption: water-fed poles, aerial lifts and ladders each fit different elevations, and the right mix is set on the walkthrough.
Matching access to each elevation
Most mid-rise buildings need more than one method. We set the mix on the walkthrough, elevation by elevation.
- Water-fed poles. Pure-water poles clean upper-floor glass from the ground, with no lift or ladder on that elevation.
- Aerial lifts. For glass a pole cannot reach well, or glass that needs hand detailing.
- Ladders. For lower sections and entrances.
- A safety check of the access plan on every visit, by trained, insured W2 technicians.
What's in scope
A standard visit covers exterior glass, frames and sills. Most mid-rise programs add common areas and tenant glass.
- Exterior glass on every elevation
- Frames and sills
- Safety check of the access plan
- Lobby and common-area glass
- Ground-floor entrances and storefront glass
- Add-on: tenant glass, inside and out
- Add-on: screens and tracks
- Add-on: hard-water removal
- Add-on: first-time and post-construction cleans
How often
Mid-rise glass has to show well for tenants and prospects without disrupting the workday. Quarterly is the common baseline.
| Situation | Typical frequency | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior glass, office and managed buildings | Quarterly | The common baseline for Class A office and managed commercial real estate. |
| Lobbies, atriums and busy entrances | Monthly | Heavy foot traffic shows first. |
| Interior tenant glass | Quarterly or semi-annual | Less exposure than the exterior. |
| Near construction, highways, rail or heavy tree cover | Tighter cadence | Buildup comes faster. |
What drives the price
We price on the real labor your building takes. Four things set the number:
- Height and access. Lifts and poles change the labor per pane.
- Glass count and sides. The number of panes, and exterior only or inside and out.
- Glass condition. Tinted, coated or heavily built-up glass takes more time.
- Frequency. Recurring programs price lower per visit than one-time cleans.
Get a ballpark in 30 seconds with the pricing calculator. The quote comes from a walkthrough by your local team.
Service your tenants barely notice
- Walkthrough first. We assess the property, scope the work and deliver a clear, fixed proposal.
- A set cadence. Work done cleanly, on schedule, with minimal disruption.
- One point of contact, and one contract across every building you manage.
Signs the interval is too long
- A haze that cleaning will not remove
- Spots in a sprinkler pattern
- Frames that look dull or pitted
These are early signs of etching and oxidation. Catch them before the glass needs glass and metal restoration.
Other building heights
- Storefront (1-3 Stories): ground-level pole and hand cleaning
- High-Rise (8-15 Stories): rope descent and suspended access
- Tower (16+ Stories): anchor-dependent access and scheduling
Get this scoped for your building
Every property is different. A local S&K team will walk the site and quote the work.
Get a quote for your building
Tell us about the property. Your local S&K team will walk it, set the access plan and quote the program.
Request a Quote