Every now and again, a machine comes along that makes you stop and think: “This could actually make a difference on site.”
CMC invited me down to West Sussex to take a proper look at one of the first CMC S20 spider lifts in the UK. As someone who spends a lot of time carrying out roof repairs, chimney repairs, chimney repointing, chimney flaunching, gutter work and general high-access maintenance, I was keen to see whether this 20m spider lift was just another shiny red machine or something genuinely useful for real-world work.
You can watch the full video here, then come back and read the full write-up:
https://youtu.be/Ocm9y_qxK1A
First Impressions of the CMC S20
Straight away, the CMC S20 looks the part.
Yes, it is red because apparently every spider lift on earth has signed some secret agreement to be red but to be fair, it really does look smart. The finish is excellent, the paintwork looks high quality, and the whole machine has a purposeful shape to it.
It sits low to the ground, the tracks have a nice angular design, and the overall profile gives it that proper spider lift look. More importantly, it looks like a machine designed to work, not just sit pretty in a showroom.
What Is the CMC S20 Designed For?
The CMC S20 sits in the 20 metre spider lift category. That means it is aimed at operators who need a balance of:
- working height
- outreach
- compact size
- towability
- practical site access
This is not a huge commercial boom lift designed for big open sites. It is much more suited to real-world access problems the sort of domestic and light commercial jobs where simply getting the machine into position can be half the battle.
That is exactly the sort of work I deal with regularly through cherry picker access for roof and chimney work, where access can be tight, awkward, uneven or simply unsuitable for scaffolding.
For roof repairs, chimney maintenance, gutter cleaning and leak investigations, a machine like this needs to be compact enough to get into position, but capable enough to be worth taking to site in the first place.
Reach and Height: The Numbers That Matter
With any cherry picker, especially for roof work, chimney repairs or working around awkward buildings, one of the first questions is simple:
How far does it reach?
The CMC S20 offers around 20 metres of working height and 10.4 metres of outreach. What makes that particularly useful is that the 10.4 metres of outreach is available with the full 230kg basket capacity.
In practical terms, that means two people and tools in the basket while still getting the full usable outreach.
That matters.
When you are carrying out roof repairs, you are often trying to reach over extensions, conservatories, garden obstacles, lower roofs or awkward elevations. The quoted reach on paper is one thing. Whether that reach is usable when the machine is loaded and positioned on a real job is what really counts.
Stability at Full Reach
I took the S20 out to full stretch, and the first thing that stood out was how solid it felt.
At full outreach, the machine felt planted and confidence-inspiring. The boom looks substantial, the base feels solid, and there was no sense that the machine was struggling.
That is important because working at height is not just about reaching the job. It is about feeling safe and stable once you are there.
Whether you are doing chimney flaunching, chimney repointing, roof leak repair or replacing broken tiles, you need a stable working platform. If the basket is bouncing around or swaying all over the place, everything becomes harder, slower and more uncomfortable.
At full height, the S20 still felt very composed. There was a bit of wind about, but it did not feel overly lively or unsettling. Compared with some machines, especially when fully extended, it gave a very reassuring feel.
Compact Footprint for Tight Access Jobs
One of the biggest advantages of spider lifts is their ability to set up in places where other access equipment cannot.
The S20 has a setup footprint of roughly 3 metres square. That is a very useful size for domestic roofing and chimney work, particularly where space is limited.
For homeowners, this is often the difference between needing full scaffolding and being able to complete a repair using cherry picker access. For smaller repairs, chimney inspections, roof leak investigations or chimney maintenance and repair, that can make the whole job more efficient and less disruptive.
The clever bit is that the machine does not just have a compact footprint it still feels strong and stable while working from it.
The Pantograph Boom and Why It Matters
The S20 uses a pantograph-style boom setup. This is not unusual in this class of spider lift, but it is a proven design and it has real benefits.
The big advantage is usable outreach at different heights.
With some tower-style machines, you can lose useful outreach when working at lower or mid-level positions. But with a pantograph or Z-boom style machine, you can maintain reach while working over roof lines, obstacles or awkward elevations.
That is extremely useful for roofing work.
I am not always working at full height. Sometimes I need to be halfway up a building, reaching over a lower roof to get square onto a chimney. Other times I may be trying to access gutters, ridge tiles, lead flashing or roof valleys without constantly moving the machine.
This is where a machine like the S20 makes sense for roofing and chimney work. It is not just about maximum reach. It is about how usable that reach is in real situations.
Moving the Machine Around Site
Once the machine is on site, the next question is: how well does it move?
The S20 is just under three tonnes, which makes it road towable. That is a big practical advantage for operators moving between jobs.
Once off the trailer, the tracking control is one of the features that really stood out. The S20 has three tracking speed modes, giving a good range between slow, precise movement and faster travel when you have distance to cover.
That matters on domestic jobs where you might be tracking around patios, through gates, across driveways or between tight obstacles. A machine that can move carefully when needed, but still cover ground efficiently, saves time and reduces stress.
And if you have ever tried manoeuvring access equipment around someone’s garden without damaging anything, you will know that “reducing stress” is a fairly important feature.
Narrowing the Tracks Without Setting the Machine Up
One very clever feature is the ability to narrow the tracks using the remote control, without first having to put the outriggers down.
That might sound like a small thing, but in real use it is a big advantage.
Sometimes you need the tracks wide to climb a kerb or negotiate uneven ground, then narrow them immediately afterwards to pass through a gate or tight access point. On some machines, if you need to set the outriggers down before narrowing the tracks, it can become awkward especially when there simply is not room.
On the S20, it is just a button press.
That makes it much more practical for tight domestic access, where every inch matters.
Removable Basket for Extra Tight Access
Another useful access feature is the removable basket.
The basket can be removed fairly simply by taking out the pins and lifting it off its hook. That means if you really need to reduce the overall length of the machine to get through a tight access route, you can.
For anyone using a spider lift for roofing, chimney repairs, gutter cleaning or roof cleaning, this sort of practicality matters. The best machine in the world is no use if you cannot get it to the job.
Leg Penetration and Uneven Ground
One of the standout features on the CMC S20 is its leg penetration.
In simple terms, this means how far below track level the outriggers can go. On the S20, the legs can go down around 560mm.
That is impressive.
Not every job is on a perfectly flat driveway. In fact, many are not. Gardens slope, driveways drop away, patios are uneven, and access routes are rarely designed with spider lifts in mind.
Being able to level the machine properly on uneven or sloped ground opens up far more possibilities. It also helps when trying to carry out safer working at height in real-world conditions rather than showroom-perfect conditions.
Basket Space and Operator Comfort
Once you are up in the air, basket space becomes very important.
The S20 has a large, spacious basket with a 230kg capacity. That gives enough room for two people and tools, which is important if you are doing roof repairs, chimney work or high-access maintenance with another person.
Compared with smaller baskets, this feels much more comfortable. If you have ever spent a day in a cramped basket with another person, tools, buckets and materials, you will know that “cosy” soon becomes “annoying”.
A bigger basket makes the job easier, safer and more comfortable.
The basket also rotates 90 degrees to the side, which is a very useful feature. Being able to get square-on to a chimney, roof edge or repair area can make a big difference. For gutter clearance and maintenance, roof edge work or chimney repairs, basket positioning is not just a luxury it affects how efficiently and safely you can work.
The Controls: One Trade-Off Worth Mentioning
No machine is perfect, and the main thing I noticed on the S20 was the control system.
When operating the booms, you can generally only control one function at a time. Coming from my own Platform Basket 1890 Pro, which is a fully hydraulic machine and allows multiple functions at once, the S20 feels a bit slower in that respect.
It is not a deal-breaker, and it is fairly typical of electronically controlled machines in this class. I imagine most operators would get used to it fairly quickly.
But if you are used to a fully hydraulic machine that feels very flowing and direct, it is noticeable.
For someone like me who likes to crack on, it might become slightly irritating over time but it does not take away from the overall capability of the machine.
You can watch that section in the full video here:
https://youtu.be/Ocm9y_qxK1A
Build Quality and Stability
CMC appear to have put a lot of emphasis on build quality with the S20.
The machine is built using solid steel throughout, with the focus clearly on strength, durability and safety. On a road-towable spider lift, everything is always a compromise. You are balancing weight, reach, size, transportability and performance.
But the S20 gives the impression that CMC have tried not to compromise on the bits that really matter when you are working at height.
At full reach, it feels solid. At full height, it feels planted. When moving and positioning, it feels controlled.
That confidence is important, especially when the work involves chimney repairs, roof leak repair, repointing, flaunching or working close to buildings.
Why This Matters for Roofing and Chimney Work
For roofing and chimney work, access is often one of the biggest challenges.
A roof repair may be relatively simple once you are there, but getting there safely is the difficult part. The same applies to chimney repointing, chimney flaunching, lead flashing repairs, gutter repairs and leak investigations.
A compact spider lift can be a very efficient solution because it allows safe working at height without needing full scaffolding for every job.
That is especially useful for smaller, targeted repairs where scaffolding may be excessive, expensive or disruptive. It also allows me to inspect and repair areas that would otherwise be difficult to reach safely.
This is why I am always interested in machines like the CMC S20. They are not just toys for machine nerds although I will admit, I do quite like a good machine. They directly affect what kind of jobs can be done, how safely they can be done, and how practical the work is for both the operator and the customer.
Final Thoughts on the CMC S20
After spending time with the CMC S20, I was impressed.
It is solid, fast, stable, compact and clearly designed with real operators in mind. It has strong usable outreach, a good working height, practical tracking controls, excellent leg penetration, a spacious basket and a very confidence-inspiring feel at height.
There are a few personal preference points, mainly around the electronic controls and single-function boom movement, but overall it feels like a very capable 20m spider lift.
For someone carrying out roof repairs, chimney work, commercial maintenance, domestic high-access jobs or general property repairs, the S20 looks like a very strong option.
It performs well on paper, but more importantly, it works where it actually matters on site.
If you enjoy this kind of cherry picker, roofing and high-access content, make sure you watch the full video, subscribe to the channel and follow along for more real-world machine reviews and job-based videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the CMC S20 spider lift used for?
The CMC S20 is a 20 metre spider lift designed for working at height in areas where access may be tight, uneven or awkward. It is useful for roof repairs, chimney repairs, gutter work, tree work, building maintenance and other high-access jobs where a compact tracked machine is needed.
Can a cherry picker be used for chimney repairs?
Yes, a cherry picker can often be used for chimney repairs, depending on access and ground conditions. For work such as chimney repointing, chimney flaunching, lead flashing repairs and chimney inspections, cherry picker access can be a practical alternative to scaffolding.
What causes roof leaks around chimneys?
Roof leaks around chimneys are commonly caused by failed lead flashing, cracked chimney flaunching, poor mortar joints, porous brickwork or open chimney pots allowing rainwater into the flue. A proper inspection is usually needed to identify the cause before carrying out chimney repair work.
Is a spider lift better than scaffolding for roof repairs?
It depends on the job. For smaller or targeted roof repairs, a spider lift can be quicker, less disruptive and more flexible than scaffolding. For larger roofing projects, scaffolding may still be the better option because it provides a full working platform over a wider area.
Can a spider lift access tight spaces?
Yes, many spider lifts are designed for tight access, and the CMC S20 has features such as narrowable tracks and a removable basket to help with difficult access routes. Ground conditions, gate widths, slopes, steps and turning space all need to be considered before deciding whether a machine can reach the work area.
Are gutter repairs and gutter cleaning possible from a cherry picker?
Yes, a cherry picker is often a very effective way to carry out gutter repairs, gutter cleaning and high-level maintenance. It allows safe access to gutters without relying on ladders, especially on taller properties or awkward elevations. You can find more about my guttering services here.
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