Is anyone here familiar with scaffolding?

[KilroyJC]

Good Morning!

I will have to do some major home improvement projects, most notably re-staining/sealing our log home, and I don’t want to do it on a ladder. A scaffold (or two) would make for a much easier and safer job.

I have never used scaffolding before.

-EDIT/UPDATE: Terrain and deck preclude the use of a manlift or skyjack.-

My feet need to be 18’ to 20’ above grade level to be able to access all the way to the peak of the roof.

I plan on permanently attaching eyes to the sides of the house in order to rig guys to the scaffold for stability.

What do I need to know when buying scaffolding? There are so many options. I don’t want to rent, because I will have other projects in the future where it will be used, and if I own it, I won’t feel rushed to get it back to the tool rental and maybe screw up or get careless.

thank you for any suggestions, comments etc!

 

[Diggin It]

As with anything else, there are varying grades at varying prices.

I pickled up two of the six foot units commonly available at Harbor Freight, Tractor Supply, Northern Tool and similar places. They work fine for me, but they're a bit heavy to move around and assemble/disassemble. They can be a bit rickety and I found the need to tie them off to something solid. They are made to be able to be stacked for more height and outriggers sets and safety rails are available.

There are far larger and more stable commercial style units, but the cost is higher too. Because of their size, I'm not sure I'd want to try and set them up alone.

 

[duffer]

There are far larger and more stable commercial style units, but the cost is higher too. Because of their size, I'm not sure I'd want to try and set them up alone.

Couldn't agree more.

Go rent a portable 1 man lift. A few hundred $$ a week, (probably less than what you'd pay for 20' high scaffolding) and you can probably cover the entire side of the house without leaving the bucket/cage on the lift. Much safer, much more flexible, and no assembly required...

 

[LouNY]

For inside work or off of a deck the baker type scaffolding is handy, I have 3 sets of it.
I like to work off of 2 side by side tied together.

I'll also agree for outside work definitely go with a small man lift. Much handier and safer,
faster to setup and use also no climbing up onto a 12' tall scaffold and having to turnaround and crawl down because you forgot something,
then have to climb back up with it.

 

[skipmarcy]

If you go with scaffolding, getting the first tier safely set and levelled is the key. I was always sure to have 4 of the levelling jacks and do what needed to be done to get each leg on a SOLID piece of 2x10 or 2x12 on the ground. The next flights up will go well after that. The ones I've used were 5' tall each set. I always used 2x12s for walk boards and clamped each one to the rails so they would not move. Been up to 20' like this before and never had to attach guy wires or anything - the scaffolding was pretty steady if you got that first tier levelled good.

 

[Quickster2]

Couldn't agree more.

Go rent a portable 1 man lift. A few hundred $$ a week, (probably less than what you'd pay for 20' high scaffolding) and you can probably cover the entire side of the house without leaving the bucket/cage on the lift. Much safer, much more flexible, and no assembly required...

I've decided to do this to "restore" the exterior of my beveled cedar sided house. Many options out there from (for towable) Home Depot to local rental stores. I'm going to rent for a month which seems to be the most cost effective from a per week basis. $2200 to $3200 range I've around here in SE Michigan monthly rental. I'll do the front of the house, the 24X30 Carriage Shed and the Barn from ladders but not the house back 3 sides.

 

[Richard]

We redid our log house. My brother in law had some scaffolding.....he loaded it on his trailer and brought it from one hour SOUTH of New Orleans, to Knoxville, TN. We had it here for probably two years before he finally got it all taken back home.

Came in VERY handy/dandy. One person is/was able to assemble it but, it was heavy. The planks were (I don't recall) probably eight feet in length.

After it was gone, wife decided she wanted to redo the upper floor (we're on a hill so it's equivilent to 3'rd floor) and it's next to the driveway so we got a bucket-lift and did the work using it.

She wanted to repeat same siding on the other side of house and THAT is an issue. The other side of the house (as well as the rear) do NOT have access to take a bucket-lift around. Not only will it chew up the yard, it would go over the septic tank & field. Then, we're on a slope on the other side with a flower garden and "rock garden" (retaining wall layered with fairly large rocks/boulders) so in simple terms, the bucket lift will not work.....so that side doesn't match.

A bucket-lift is great when you can make it work but it doesn't always fit the terrain.

I would have liked to have bought the scaffolding from my BIL but then you get into a storage issue. To go the height we needed, to traverse the width of house (instead of taking it down and moving it) you need a fair number of pieces....and where do you store them while they're not in use?

So for me, if I had to do something again, I'd be open to seeing if he's coming this way and wants to be gracious to toss it onto his trailer..... but I'd also be open to simply renting for my needs and getting it done locally, saving him the headache of him having to deal with HIS needy brother in law....(me lol, even though it's my wife who's pulling the strings)

 

[KilroyJC]

Couldn't agree more.

Go rent a portable 1 man lift. A few hundred $$ a week, (probably less than what you'd pay for 20' high scaffolding) and you can probably cover the entire side of the house without leaving the bucket/cage on the lift. Much safer, much more flexible, and no assembly required...

Terrain issues on two sides, decks on the other two.

I would love to be able to do it that way! But it ain’t gonna work…

 

[KilroyJC]

We redid our log house. My brother in law had some scaffolding.....he loaded it on his trailer and brought it from one hour SOUTH of New Orleans, to Knoxville, TN. We had it here for probably two years before he finally got it all taken back home.

Came in VERY handy/dandy. One person is/was able to assemble it but, it was heavy. The planks were (I don't recall) probably eight feet in length.

After it was gone, wife decided she wanted to redo the upper floor (we're on a hill so it's equivilent to 3'rd floor) and it's next to the driveway so we got a bucket-lift and did the work using it.

She wanted to repeat same siding on the other side of house and THAT is an issue. The other side of the house (as well as the rear) do NOT have access to take a bucket-lift around. Not only will it chew up the yard, it would go over the septic tank & field. Then, we're on a slope on the other side with a flower garden and "rock garden" (retaining wall layered with fairly large rocks/boulders) so in simple terms, the bucket lift will not work.....so that side doesn't match.

A bucket-lift is great when you can make it work but it doesn't always fit the terrain.

I would have liked to have bought the scaffolding from my BIL but then you get into a storage issue. To go the height we needed, to traverse the width of house (instead of taking it down and moving it) you need a fair number of pieces....and where do you store them while they're not in use?

So for me, if I had to do something again, I'd be open to seeing if he's coming this way and wants to be gracious to toss it onto his trailer..... but I'd also be open to simply renting for my needs and getting it done locally, saving him the headache of him having to deal with HIS needy brother in law....(me lol, even though it's my wife who's pulling the strings)

Storage is not really an issue for us, and knowing I will have future need for it makes owning more attractive..

 

[KilroyJC]

If you go with scaffolding, getting the first tier safely set and levelled is the key. I was always sure to have 4 of the levelling jacks and do what needed to be done to get each leg on a SOLID piece of 2x10 or 2x12 on the ground. The next flights up will go well after that. The ones I've used were 5' tall each set. I always used 2x12s for walk boards and clamped each one to the rails so they would not move. Been up to 20' like this before and never had to attach guy wires or anything - the scaffolding was pretty steady if you got that first tier levelled good.

when I use the extension ladder, I like to rest it on 4x8x16 concrete blocks - I hear ya on stability!

 

[Raul-02]

Go rent a portable 1 man lift. A few hundred $$ a week,

what he said~!!!

 

[KilroyJC]

what he said~!!!

I wish I could - terrain, soil and decks won’t permit it.

 

[oldnslo]

Are there any local shops that have samples of different scaffolding that you can look at and even test set up? Some styles are tool less assembly while others have threaded studs and wing nuts holding them together. I always had problems with dropping the wingnuts. Like others have stated getting the first section level is key. For the height and terrain you mention I would not go with low quality units. $1000 won’t buy a day in the hospital.

 

[JJT]

I have a dozen sections of scaffolding, and stain at least one side of my 2 story house every summer. I'd love to rent a lift, but I don't want to paint 8 hours a day, for a week, because the meter is running on the rental. I leave the scaffolding up for 3 - 4 weeks and take my time. Scrape, wire brush, catch the loose nails, set a few screws, recaulk, two coats of stain, then two coats of on the trim and then spot check/stain all my drips......

With the scaffolding I can work for an hour or for a complete day, there's no rush to get the rental out the door. I go through 6 - 24 gallons of stain a year, depending on how much I get done. We have a big house with an attached garage as well as a 3 bay detached shop/garage.
For planks, I use 8' 2x10 with a 2x4 stringer screwed to the underside to stiffen and prevent the plank from sliding off the scaffolding rails. I'll set 4 at different heights so I don't have to move planks while I'm painting.

 

[KilroyJC]

Wow - every year?

we are on year five with Cabot semitransparent oil-based stain, and I am planning ahead for next year to do this!

but what you said is why I want to own - no clock ticking. Work when you can, as much as you can.

 

[newbury]

I'm a definite cheapskate.
I made do with 2 step ladders and boards between them for decades. But the darn 12' fiberglass step ladder kept putting on weight. Then a project came up in 2020. I broke down and bought a pair (should have bought 3) of the "Multipurpose Scaffold, 6 ft. L, SCAF72" at TSC, for about $120@ (they were on sale, now they are $255@). At the time I only needed one. Come 2021 my 40x20 carport collapsed and I needed both to reach the peak for a "clean" takedown.
I've used one at a time for a few projects inside where the stepladders/boards solution would have worked.
A few pointers -
If your like me - a 1 man crew - don't get something heavy. These cheap ones are light, good for 1,000 lbs and easy to move. If your mixing mortar up there or working with cement blocks you might need something heavier.
Get the outriggers if you've got the $$. I ginned up my own w/ used 2x4's and carriage bolts.
Dedicate some lumber for stable footing if outside.
Have some way to tie it off, even if your only using 1. Stability is good for the mind.

 

[EddieWalker]

I have the yellow, bakers style scaffold for long term, indoor projects. It's kind of rickety, but it does the job for a fair price. I wouldn't recommend it for anything outdoors, or very high.

I've rented scaffolding before, but not recently. It's takes so much time to load it up, haul it to the job, unload it, set it up, then take it down, haul it back to the rental yard, that I've done everything possible to not do it again. I can't even count how many times I've been in to Norther Tool with the plan on buying my own set, but then walked out without buying anything. Usually I talk myself into dealing with a ladder instead.

From what I've seen, Northern Tool seems to have the best prices for decent quality.

Metaltech Saferstack Single-Lift Scaffold Set 5ft. x 5ft. x 7ft., Model# M-MFS606084 | Northern Tool

This Metaltech Single-Lift Scaffold Set provides everything needed to frame a scaffold, including two 60in. x 60in. Blue powder-coa...

www.northerntool.com

When looking at a job, I make the decision on doing it based on my ability to rent a lift, use a ladder, or if I have to rent scaffolding. If I have to deal with scaffolding, I pass on doing the job. Most of the time, I can get everything done with different ladders.

 

[MossRoad]

I wish I could - terrain, soil and decks won’t permit it.

Do you have enough cash to buy a used man-lift for the summer/year, then sell it when the project is complete?

I used to have to set scaffolding for a brick mason about 40+ years ago. Once you go over 2 sections high, it’s a must to secure it to the structure. Also, it’s a must to secure the decking. It’s very easy to slide a piece of decking into the center and down you go. Leg injury at the least. Broken something very possible. Also, railings are now a must. We didn’t use them back then. You were supposed to remember that you’re up high enough to become paralyzed for life if you fall.

It’s heavy and awkward if you’re by yourself, and if you’re not a kid anymore, it’s heavier and awkwarder!

Flat, level, sturdy pads and jacks on all four legs if on any questionable surface. Indoors, a rolling scaffold on wheels is fantastic. Outdoors, not so much.

Knowing now what I didn’t know then, I’d go for the man-lift if at all possible. That’s why you see so many on job sites now. They are more efficient and safer.

Good luck on your project.

 

[MossRoad]

I have the yellow, bakers style scaffold for long term, indoor projects. It's kind of rickety, but it does the job for a fair price. I wouldn't recommend it for anything outdoors, or very high.

I've rented scaffolding before, but not recently. It's takes so much time to load it up, haul it to the job, unload it, set it up, then take it down, haul it back to the rental yard, that I've done everything possible to not do it again. I can't even count how many times I've been in to Norther Tool with the plan on buying my own set, but then walked out without buying anything. Usually I talk myself into dealing with a ladder instead.

From what I've seen, Northern Tool seems to have the best prices for decent quality.

Metaltech Saferstack Single-Lift Scaffold Set 5ft. x 5ft. x 7ft., Model# M-MFS606084 | Northern Tool

This Metaltech Single-Lift Scaffold Set provides everything needed to frame a scaffold, including two 60in. x 60in. Blue powder-coa...

www.northerntool.com

When looking at a job, I make the decision on doing it based on my ability to rent a lift, use a ladder, or if I have to rent scaffolding. If I have to deal with scaffolding, I pass on doing the job. Most of the time, I can get everything done with different ladders.

There you go. 4 units for $1K. Plus decking, a pulley, some feet, pads, jacks, etc… figure it into the cost of the project this time and they’ll last the OP a very long time.

 

[JJT]

Wow - every year?

we are on year five with Cabot semitransparent oil-based stain, and I am planning ahead for next year to do this!

but what you said is why I want to own - no clock ticking. Work when you can, as much as you can.

I do one side of the house every year, that way I stay ahead of things. If I miss a year, like last year due to the rain every other day, it's not a big deal. Complete coverage in a 4 - 5 year average.