| Regardless if you are under contract to build a | | | | you must determine the scope of the project |
| 10-story luxury hotel for the Marriott or you | | | | including your particular situation, budget, and |
| simply want to do a roofing or structural repair on | | | | needs. You must first know what function you |
| your home, it is imperative to have some | | | | want your scaffold to achieve. Does your project |
| rudimentary knowledgeable about scaffolding. | | | | consist of a single story building or will it have |
| Scaffoldings are structures that are temporarily | | | | multiple levels? What is the design of the building |
| erected for repair, construction or decoration of | | | | or other structure under construction or repair? |
| commercial buildings, homes or other edifices. Not | | | | How long do you project that you will need the |
| only is it important to purchase or rent the | | | | scaffolding? What is your estimated budget? Once |
| correct type of scaffolding to insure that the job | | | | you have answered these questions, you can |
| is done correctly, but also to maintain the safety | | | | best determine the scaffolding that is best suited |
| of the construction workers employed on the job. | | | | for your needs within your budget. |
| It is estimated that 65% of those employed in | | | | When estimating your budget on scaffolding, |
| the construction industry frequently work on | | | | make sure not to put price before safety. |
| scaffolds. Therefore, it should not be surprising | | | | Skimping on price can be costly both economically |
| that some of the most common accidents on | | | | and emotionally if there were to be an injury or |
| worksites involve injuries incurred on or related to | | | | death due to improper or faulty scaffolding. A |
| scaffolds. | | | | few Internet sites that both sell and rent |
| Scaffolds are erected of easily assembled | | | | scaffolding have estimator tools. These tools |
| structures of steel or timber. On these | | | | enable you to design the scaffolding for your |
| frameworks, working platforms are placed for | | | | particular needs and project and then tell you |
| easy accessibility to high elevations of a building or | | | | what would be needed for your design. |
| other structure under construction or repair. | | | | Once you determine the type of scaffolding that |
| There are two primary categories of scaffolding, | | | | would best meet your needs, you should then |
| fixed and mobile. | | | | turn your attention to selection. There are stores |
| Fixed Scaffolds | | | | and Internet sites that sell and rent scaffolding |
| Fixed scaffolds are constructed alongside a building | | | | and others that sell both new and used |
| and can be either independent or putlog. The | | | | scaffolding. Factory direct outlets sell only new or |
| independent scaffold has standards or uprights on | | | | used products they manufacture. Other stores or |
| both sides of its working platforms. This allows | | | | Internet sites are basically dealers and sell and |
| the independent scaffold to remain upright without | | | | rent a large selection of scaffolding from |
| support from the building under construction or | | | | numerous manufacturers. By doing some |
| repair. | | | | comparative shopping, you would be able to find |
| The putlog scaffold has standards or uprights | | | | the best deal on pricing and components for your |
| along its outer edges, but its inner side is | | | | scaffolding needs. |
| supported by the structure or building itself. | | | | It is also important to review the guarantee and |
| Putlogs have flattened ends that are placed | | | | return policies of both manufacturers and dealers |
| between courses of brickwork in the building or | | | | of scaffolding. Questions that should be answered |
| edifice to add support. The putlogs are used to | | | | are: |
| support a working platform. Independent scaffolds | | | | What does the guarantee or warranty cover? |
| should also be secured or tied to the structure | | | | How will the scaffolding be repaired within the |
| under repair or construction at various intervals to | | | | warranty period and after? |
| lend support to its overall stability. | | | | What is the compensation awarded if something |
| Mobile Scaffolds | | | | were to go wrong or faulty components sold? |
| A mobile scaffold is a type of freestanding | | | | If you were currently looking to acquire |
| independent scaffold. It is mounted on castors or | | | | scaffolding for a big or small construction or repair |
| wheels that swivel and allow the scaffold to be | | | | project, knowing what type of scaffolding needed |
| easily moved from location to location. | | | | is paramount. This not only insures that your |
| Suspended or Swingstage Scaffold | | | | project would be completed properly with minimal |
| A suspended or swingstage scaffold has a | | | | hassles and difficulties, but would also insure the |
| platform that can be raised or lowered. An | | | | safety of those on the work site. |
| example of a suspended scaffold are those | | | | Once you have determined the particular scaffold |
| commonly used as a means to wash the outer | | | | that would best meet your needs, you could then |
| windows on highrises. | | | | turn your attention to pricing and selection. By |
| Hanging Bracket Scaffold | | | | taking the time to do some comparative |
| Hanging bracket scaffolds may have horizontal | | | | shopping, you would not only find the best |
| structures that are supported by the floors of | | | | scaffolding for your project at the most |
| the building or other edifice under construction or | | | | reasonable price, but you could possibly ward off |
| repair. These scaffolds should be designed by an | | | | potential problems such as faulty components or |
| engineer and include load testing and other safety | | | | useless or worse yet, no guarantees on the |
| measures. | | | | rented or purchased scaffolding. |
| Before purchasing or renting a particular scaffold, | | | | |