A Day in the Life of the Cherry Picker Man EP-26
If you’ve ever wondered what a real day on the tools looks like, complete with awkward urban parking, forensic roof leak sleuthing, and a truly grim gutter clean, this one’s for you.
In this episode I bounce from Derby to Nottinghamshire, helping fix ridge tiles, diagnosing a mysterious loft leak, and installing solar panel bird mesh to evict some very settled pigeons. (Want the full story in moving pictures? Watch the full video – A Day In The Life Of The Cherrypicker Man EP-26)
Derby Start: Tight Parking, Tighter Timings… and a Popped Tyre
Satnav said an hour the diary said I had 70 minutes. Derby welcomed me with the kind of street where parallel parking a truck and trailer is an achievement in itself. I eased the rig into a space, kissed the kerb a little too fondly, and-bang-popped a trailer tyre. No time to sulk, cherry picker off, traffic unblocked, and straight up to the roof.
Job: assist a roofer with ridge tile checks on a dry ridge system.
Access: tracked spider lift.
Result: neatly positioned, safely set, and back to the task at hand.
The Mystery Leak: Dry Ridge vs. Stench Pipe Leak
On the ridge we found a vent detail leading to a rigid pipe in the loft. Inside, evidence of slow, long-term drips around a 90° bend, just enough moisture over time to damage the ceiling. The ridge setup was sound and well-secured, water ingress from outside was unlikely.
Diagnosis: most probable culprit was the internal pipe connections – likely missing rubbers/seals letting water track through joints and drip.
Fix plan: disconnect the pipe in the loft, apply sealant to the connections, reassemble, and stop the seepage.
Takeaway: Not every “roof leak” is a roof issue. Condensation and pipework can masquerade as weather ingress. Inspect penetrations, check fittings, and don’t overlook the inside of the system.
Rapid Pit Stop: Tyre Change Like an F1 Crew
Post-diagnosis, it was tyre time. Out came the spares and the rattle gun. Wheel swapped, kit loaded, and off to Nottingham for an urgent slate roof leak. Sometimes the least glamorous ten minutes of a day are the ones that keep everything on schedule.
Nottingham Detour: When Traffic Beats the Tools
The emergency leak spot was on a busy road, complete with a bus stop and a parked car exactly where I needed space. I scoped a few slipped slates but decided to return at a safer, quieter time. Good access is a safety decision as much as a productivity one.
Tollerton: Solar Panel Bird Mesh & Pigeon Eviction
Next stop: Tollerton for solar panel pigeon proofing. I’d repointed chimneys here about a year ago and originally quoted for bird mesh but there wasn’t a pigeon problem then. As soon as I left (I swear it wasn’t me!), the pigeons moved in.
Scope: two panel arrays, more than I remembered so mesh quantity was tight. Cue a small panic, then relief, just enough to finish.
The MVP: a brilliant set of mesh clips that hook over and push on cleanly. They speed up installation and keep the mesh snug and neat around the panels. If they fit your panel frames, they make a huge difference to workflow.
(Want to see exactly how the clips go on and how I keep the runs tight and tidy? Watch the full video – A Day In The Life Of The Cherrypicker Man EP26
The Gutter Horror Show
Pigeons don’t just leave a mess under panels, gutters become sludge traps. This one was… memorable. With no hose pipe available, it was the glove-and-bag routine. Everything tidied, bagged and binned, and the gutters cleared to flow again. Not glamorous, definitely necessary.
Lessons Learned & Pro Tips
- Always check the quote details before loading: multiple panel arrays need more mesh than you think. Pack extra.
- Dry ridge systems: if the ridge and tray are sound, chase the penetrations and internal pipework. Missing rubbers/seals cause slow, sneaky leaks.
- Access decisions: if traffic and layout aren’t safe, reschedule. Efficiency follows safety.
- Right clips = right result: choose panel-compatible mesh clips to keep lines straight and the mesh tensioned.
- Carry proper spares: trailers love kerbs; keep tyres and tools ready for a quick turnaround.
Wrap-Up
From Derby ridge checks to Tollerton pigeon evictions, it was a full, mucky, satisfying day. If you’re into roof repairs, dry ridge troubleshooting, solar panel bird mesh installation, pigeon proofing, and gutter cleaning, you’ll enjoy the on-site footage and close-ups of the details. Got a similar problem? Drop a comment with your questions – I’m always happy to help.
Enjoy this write-up? Watch the full video to see the parallel parking drama, the diagnosis inside the loft, and the mesh install up close. And if you like this kind of day-in-the-life content, follow me online for more.
A Day In The Life Of The Cherrypicker Man EP26
Follow Me Online:
• 🌐 Website: https://www.dji-uk.co.uk/
• 🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dan_cherrypicker_man
• 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dan_cherrypicker_man
• 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dan_cherrypicker_man/
• 👍 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dancherrypickerman
• ✖️ X: https://x.com/Dan_Picker_Man
• 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-iwanejko-18574265/
• 📍 Google Business Listing: https://share.google/qIIEsiPzauZxfepNd
• 🛠️ Amazon Shop: https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/danthecherrypickerman?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_ZC955R0FD1Q8D1FCJASP
My workwear is sponsored by Granite Workwear, and all of the clothing I’m wearing in the video can be purchased on their website: https://www.graniteworkwear.com/
