You may think that this is an easy decision and that the height of the house should dictate whether you use scaffolding or ladder rentals, but it would be a mistake to jump to that conclusion without due consideration.
Decision factors
Most two-story house facades are painted with retractable ladders, mainly because of the cost of renting scaffolding. However, you may want to consider additional costs, such as:
- When the surfaces to be painted, require extensive preparatory work or significant burning before painting;
- If the ground is sloped or covered with obstructions that endanger the painter;
- When the building is in a location subject to actual foot traffic or motorized traffic.
In the last one above, it’s no longer allowed to place a ladder on a main street for window dressing if someone is constantly at the bottom of the ladder. Given the cost of having someone hold the ladder at all times, you should consider renting scaffolding for this type of project.
In large homes with painted or stained trim, painted decorative cornices, or scalloped trim, it is essential to use scaffolding on the project to ensure the work is carried out safely and to a higher standard. All painters know this because, for them, it’s like working on the ground. If the surfaces are better prepared and painted, they will last another year or two before they must be repainted. At first glance, renting scaffolding for a two-story house with a medium terrace will set you back, so don’t be discouraged, as you will get a much better job with scaffolding. If you rethink your finances, you may find that scaffolding has put you ahead.
There will always be times when scaffolding hire could be more convenient, for example, to install windows on upper floors or for minor repairs that need to be done safely at All Trade Scaffolding. Another point, of course, is that stairs bouncing around the front of buildings damage window frames, scratch brickwork, and take away a bit of signal at every opportunity.
The advantage of using a mobile tower over rental scaffolding is that it is made of lightweight aluminum and does not require a lot of skill to assemble and stabilize for use. If the ground at the base level is relatively flat, you can move the tower around on wheels, which can be extremely useful in certain situations.
Conclusion
Scaffolding, job site, driveway, and tower rentals come in all shapes and sizes and are an excellent resource for getting the job done safely and generally to a higher standard than traditional ladder rentals. It’s usually well-spent money, and as long as all the health and safety concerns are met, it’s just as safe as working on the land.
