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Would it be completely unreasonable to buy a scaffold tower for DIY use? I've got a growing list of things that need doing that I have to get pro tradespersons in. I'm pretty handy and would tackle these things if I could reach them easily/safely, its only the height that makes them difficult.
Three examples.
1.I've got a valley gutter, that needs cleaning every year. The roofer/gutter guys I use climb up on a ladder, then transfer to the roof, but that looks far to precarious for me to undertake. This costs pretty much £100/year, and feeds into my idea that a tower might pay for itself over the years.
2.My neighbours have a really high hedge thing. Its really got beyond the height of being able to do it with extendible hedge cutters. But a tower would give access to do it much tidier and easier.
3.In the recent storm I've lost some fascia boards. Roofers I've spoken to all saying they can't look at it till 2022!
An ex colleague has a couple, he's always working on something on his house...
I was very tempted to buy one of these when doing the workshop, but didn't really have anywhere to store it once finished.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8059/8256381336_11cb639c39.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8059/8256381336_11cb639c39.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dzA7wm ]8 Dec 2012 09:02[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
I love mine. I've actually got enough to build a few small towers or link them together to make a longer structure. It's brilliant. We've got an old, semi derelict building were doing up so it gets used a lot. Easily paid for itself both by doing jobs that can only be done with it but also making jobs safer that I'd probably risk doing from a ladder otherwise.
I've got a proper pro one bought second hand. Seems a better option than a cheap new one.
Most dangerous part is probably building and disassembly so don't cut corners there but once up it makes a great working platform.
It's a big old thing to store but if you have space then go for it
It would be a very reasonable thing. I bought one of these. They don't meet the standards needed for commercial work, but they are much better for DiY than working off a ladder (and probably safer than your roofer is transferring from a ladder to the roof). I've used mine half a dozen times and lent it to a mate to replace his gutters.
I got a second hand 7.2m tower for a grand. Doing loads of work on the house and it's paid for itself multiple times over vs using trades or hiring one.
Things to consider:
Storage, it won't be far off 2 cubic metres when down
Can you hire one for a couple of annual jobs?
Can you safely put it up? Not just can you follow the instructions but the environment you're doing it in. Our house is on the side of a hill so have had to be 'creative' for a few iterations, next year I'll be putting it up on a grass slope sloping away from the Gable end of the house, I'll be putting in some temp works to sit it on and anchoring it to the wall.
But if you can meet the above they are a fantastic help
That's considerably more positive that I was expecting. Fantastic.
What sort of time are we looking at building one up, or dismantling it?
Storage wise, I've got a pretty big/empty garage. So that side of things OK.
@Greybeard, that is way cheaper than I was expected. My brief look suggested I'd need to spend a grand. That looks like a real bargain.
The one I hired from our local builders merchant was very easy to put up and move around. We had two, which you could like together to make a 4m wide platform. Very nice design, was really stable to work on, spent hours cutting and fitting Celotex between rafters on them.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8205/8178664420_af5bb504e9.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8205/8178664420_af5bb504e9.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dsHMZw ]Meccano for adults[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Being assembled..
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/8065/8193042624_c8ca5f96e9.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/8065/8193042624_c8ca5f96e9.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/dtZu8A ]Ridge beam with SW ridge plate fitted[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/brf/ ]Ben Freeman[/url], on Flickr
Greybeards suggestion is ok of your site is pancake flat. If you need adjustable feet etc it'll soon be closer to the grand mark. Don't be trying to get a cheapo and stick wedges under it to level it up, they'll work loose and you'll be upside down in the flower beds in short order.
They build really quickly but make sure you get it level and use the outriggers
I used to have one inherited from my day like GreyBeard linked to.
He painted 2x houses, we replaced windows on one house, core drilled out for boiler flue on another, used for roof access to take a chimney down above roof line, used the first stage inside to repair and paint ceilings. Countless DIY jobs, lent out to countless neighbours too.
He welded up some giant castors to some poles to insert on each leg, so you could move it easily and set the height. Ground doesn't need to be pancake flat if you have assorted bits of wood to make it flat - use big bits, a4+ size bits of plywood and joist cut off. I would generally tie it to the building somehow, sometimes drilled an expanding anchor into a brick etc.
My only tip would be to buy a used one second hand, and get an aluminium one. My steel one was a bit heavy and was slowly rotting away. Get castors if you can.
Only sold it as we moved to a new build and I thought it would rot before I needed it again.
Now regretting selling it as it could do with a wall painting already, and the extractor fan grill has fallen off.
I hate ladders.
Factor in a harness, a couple of slings and scaffolders carabiners, as you'll still need to transition from ladder to platform as you would onto your roof.
I personally know 3 people who have been killed falling off roofs. 🙁
Factor in a harness, a couple of slings and scaffolders carabiners, as you’ll still need to transition from ladder to platform as you would onto your roof.
Surely you climb up inside a tower - I've never used a harness in all the times I've accessed high level on towers, albeit only doing site surveys.
I bought one from these guys this summer - https://www.scaffold-tower.co.uk/product/industrial-scaffold-tower/
Cheaper than the market leader as direct from manufacturer. Good quality, very stable, already probably nearly paid for itself. Guttering repair, rendering repair, sash window maintenance, bits of minor masonry.
I did look at 2nd hand but a lot of them are ex-builder owned and I got bored of looking and went new.
You climb up the integrated ladder on the inside, manufacturer says not to tie on.
My dad's got one and its very handy - incredibly basic thing, no casters or braces or anything. Goes up to about 5m I think.
I actually prefer the ones not rated for commercial use as they are IMO significantly lighter and easier to handle on your own (same with ladders).
Surely you climb up inside a tower
Yep. You don't use a ladder with a tower. Actually vway more dangerous as the whole lot can topple over. Keep the weight inside the footprint
Edit - I canny really be bothered, do what you want.
You'll be after a PASMA tower. I've had my ticket in the past (twice) but it's lapsed. I now get people to put them up for me. I've seen some horrific examples of PASMA towers being built.
They're easy to erect and a lot safer to work from than ladders.
Would the likes of speedy, has, etc hire you them?
They are pretty quick to put up/take down - an hour or 2 depending on help and site conditions.
Word of warning about moving them on casters though. A neighbour was using one on a slope and at about 2 stories high, working on gutter. He moved it down slope and it unbalanced slightly and crashed into a cast iron down pipe. 50cm section of iron pipe hit him on the side of his head and fractured his skull, lucky he didn't die. You need to drop them down a few levels before moving, or completely on a slope I would say.
on a slope
Using a fixed tower on a slope is asking for trouble esp one with casters (even though you can lock them out).
Most adjustable legs are on casters, use them fine on 1:10 slopes here. Never move more than one lift on them but the lockout is fine and designed for that use (proper Young's commercial grade tower - £300 quid job maybe not so much). TLDR - get a proper second hand one
I play pretty free and loose with health and safety but I would recommend a tower over a ladder.
The ladder in the back ground was standing on flat concrete with a sand bag on the base to hold it in place.
The ankle in the foreground suggests this wasn't sufficient.
At about £100ish for a weeks rental of a 10m {working height} tower (inc delivery/collection) it doesn't seem worth buying for just a couple of jobs.
Hire one.
I have three different ones at work which I can use if needed. A single width, double width and a pop up one.
It's quite handy to have the option to use the one most suitable for the task.Which is why in your situation hire would be the way to go.
Would also be delivered and collected, which also helps.
You would have to be careful to erect whatever you hire as per the instructions though they do all vary.
Hire it, then you’re sure the components, welds etc are in good condition. Hire company should also provide detailed assembly instructions and will send the right number of trap door decks and ladder frames so you can climb up the inside.
I left mine up for a good 6 weeks while I did various jobs fitted in around work. If you have the space to store it and you are going to use it a few times a year over the long term then buying will easily pay for itself. I know it depends on individual circumstances but for a high maintenance house it is worth it.
If you buy a tower scaffold then buy a branded name SGB or Youngman , never drop or force clips to fit, always make sure it's level and you need big gonads to go above 5m even well tied in to the building
If you do a pasma course you will be shuffling on your bum as they don't let you stand up to build it