Scaffolding---To buy or not to buy?

Hey, it's me again...

As my residential business grows, and more of the new homes having high "half moon" type windows Large ones at that. I find it harder to access them with my regular ladders. I have 2 sizes of the Werner... "little giant" types. Today i needed it to become a 14' step ladder and the magic wasn't there. Tried to get to them with the extension version of it. Tall enough but no place to put it and get to the windows... I have been thinking about buying some scaffolding for a while but 1) what kind? 2) how heavy and hard to put together is it? 3) how expensive is it?

What do you guys do about those pesky high non accessible windows??

Thanks!
K

I rent it when I need it that way I don't have to store it. its like 10 bux a week per section 5x5x7. Planks usually run 7 bux and wheels 12 for a set

I also rent my scaffolding. I charge an extra scaffolding fee for high windows which covers rental, pickup, setup and teardown time. While quoting I explain the fee plus the extra time, insurance, risk involved in tinting high windows. Thus far, everyone has said the fee is reasonable and understandable.

What I have seen of scaffolding around here, I wouldn't take it into a house. Where can you rent "clean" scaffolding? And Is it hard to put together?

Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy,Buy!!!!!!!!!!!

I rent it also, and charge the customer the extra charge I pay, plus for additional labor.

Here are some scaffold ideas at MetalTech.

http://www.metaltechna.com/en/home_en.html

The fibreglass series may be what you need.

The past two months I have used mine six times.

Mine are like brand new. There is no concrete, dirt, old paint to deal with while trying to keep the customer's house clean

Try Lowes. I bought mine for $190 each and have four sets. I also have outriggers I bought from Tractors Supply

Good tinters use clean tools... why should it be any different with scaffolding? I would never take a rental scaffolding into someone's home, too dirty.

I've assembled some pretty large, nasty and paint covered scaffolding in some really nice homes. Just make sure to put drop cloth EVERYWHERE (watch those priceless chotskies ) Renting is more economical for us because we operate out of downtown Los Angeles, and storage is a factor. Also, your not tied down to one type of scaffold. Happy tinting!

One of my installers showed up at a job site with his own scaffolding that he got from Costco and man did it look good. Big commercial job with large windows. Very clean, very nice.. easier to work with than ladders... and MAN.. was the customer impressed!..

I say.. BUY SCAFFOLDING... it's really not that expensive... HOME DEPOT sells some too.

Almo

I say buy as well. Sure you can charge your customers fees for those sorts of things, but when I do a bid, I always factor high windows, old windows, any sort of difficulty in the price per sq ft. Its just easier that way, and less confusing to the custy. The scaffold will pay for itself over a short time and the customer will be impresse with shiny, new looking scaffolding, and never see a charge for it on their proposal.

As far as setting up? Mine is metal, and pretty heavy. I usually set up the first level outside and wheel it in the house and build the second level. Setting up and tearing down 2 levels is difficult, but once you do it one time, you can do it all the time. As far as three levels, get help. Its not worth dropping a 40-50 pound piece of metal on someones furniture.

Just buy a 14ft A-frame ladder. I hate using scaffolding...too much time and effort for one guy to set up themself. A fiberglass 14ft A-fram weighs only about 75lbs and are great in those Great Rooms with those high windows. You definitely feel more stable on it then on baker's scaffolding which is narrow and wobbly...

A ladder is a must have as well, but I would reccomend a little giant instead of that one. They are heavy as hell but you can set them up anywhere and you can straddle the top of it comfortably. Not only that, they can be used as extension ladders that will get much higher than that one. There will still be windows you can't get to with a ladder, and you will have to use scaffold.

There hasnt been a residential window I havnt been able to get with this a-frame. I try very hard to never have to use an extension ladder to tint...very hard to tint off of in my opinion...more of a chance to fall as well. I was just stating from experience that setting up two or three levels of scaffolding by yourself is a pain in the azz...

I would buy scaffolding if you can use it alot, renting it is fine but an inconveinience if you use it alot. For that past few years I had carried it on my truck (mostly because I had nowhere to store it) and i have not had one job I could not do because of height or acess. I charge extra for scaffolding and it should pay for itself in 2 jobs (from the extra charge) With out that extra charge you are ripping your self off