Renting Scaffolding For An Exterior Painting Project? Keep These Safety Tips In Mind
If there is one DIY endeavor that can be intimidating as a homeowner, it is definitely the daunting feat of painting the outside of your home. While most homeowners will spend a lot of time packing their painting equipment up and down a ladder, it is a much more logical decision to rent scaffolding instead. Scaffolding gives you a stable work platform with more freedom to move around without risking a fall. However, using scaffolding also means you will have to know a few safety rules. Here are a few simple safety rules to follow when you rent scaffolding for your home painting project.
Always set the scaffolding up on a level, stable surface.
If your home is like most, the ground around the perimeter of your home where you will need to set the scaffolding up will not be perfectly level or even hard surfaced, which can make it really hard to set the scaffolding up in a stable way. You can adjust the legs of most scaffolding types to accommodate the discrepancies in levelness, but to make the surface where it will be set up more stable, try laying down a sheet of plywood on the ground.
Always know the weight limits of the scaffolding.
All types of scaffolding have a weight limit and this is something you will probably be told when you rent the equipment at the store. Keep this weight limit in mind while you work so you don't put yourself in danger because the scaffolding would be at risk of collapsing. While just your weight will probably be fine, hauling up a lot of heavy tools can add to the overall heft on the platform quickly. Plus, if you have someone helping you work, it will be useful to know the weight limit as well.
Always use safety harnesses when working on the scaffolding at great heights.
It is best to wear a safety harness any time you are working up off the ground, but especially once you start working on the higher levels of your home with paint. The rental equipment store where you obtain the scaffolding will likely have safety gear available for rent if you don't have a good harness of your own to use. Make sure you attach the safety cord of the harness to something stable, like a fixture on your home or around the center of the scaffolding platform.
