If you want to paint the outside of your house, you will suddenly become very aware of just how high it is. The inevitable question then becomes whether you should use ladders or scaffolding to get the job done. Let’s take a look at some considerations.
Factors to Consider
Most two story houses are painted using ladders. This is because it is far cheaper than scaffolding. However, sometimes, it may be worth paying a bit more. For instance:
- If you have to prepare the surfaces before you can paint them.
- If the ground slopes or had a lot of obstacles.
- If the building is near pedestrian or mechanized traffic.
In fact, if you are near traffic, you generally aren’t allowed by law to use a ladder and, if you do, you must have a second person present at the bottom of the ladder.
If your home has painted stucco or rendered paintwork, dentil work or painted ornamental cornice, you have to use scaffolding. This is the only way to make sure the job will be completed to a high standard, as well as safely. Yes, hiring a scaffolding tower will cost you quite a bit of money, but if the result is both a beautifully painted home and no potential injuries, then this cost is worth it. Naturally, if the surface of your home is already properly prepared and there are no other difficulties, then scaffolding would really be a waste of money.
Using Mobile Scaffolding Towers
There are always times where it is too inconvenient to use a normal scaffolding tower, even if it makes more sense to use scaffolding instead of a ladder. For instance, if you want to install windows, or if there is a tiny repair job that must be completely safely, then a huge scaffolding tower would simply be inconvenient. That said, a ladder wouldn’t work either. This is where a mobile scaffolding tower would come in. These towers are made of lightweight aluminum and are very easy to install and to use. In fact, you can make them stabile and use them safely without any real training. Mobile scaffolding towers are usually on wheels, which means you can move them about as well. Do make sure, however, that you follow the instructions properly so that you don’t place yourself in any danger. Don’t forget, as well, to put the locks on the wheels when it is in position!
In Conclusion
Hiring a working platform, scaffold tower, or access hire is very beneficial in many cases. There are many different shapes and sizes of scaffolding available that allow you to work safely and, generally, to a much higher standard than if you were to use a ladder. Yes, it costs more than a ladder. In fact, for the price of scaffold hire, you could probably purchase a few ladders to keep forever. But your life is also very valuable, and sometimes the risks are just too great.
