budget scaffolding

[MikeT]

This forum has given me so much information and support.  There is no way I can repay the kind folks who have shared their experiences and expertise.  But I can give back by "giving forward".  What I mean is that I can share tidbits that I have learned that were helpful to me.  YMMV, but I thought I would share what I learned about scaffolding and how I have managed to build my house (where it is 35' from one peak to the ground) without renting or buying traditional scaffolding.

First, in one instance, I borrowed regular scaffolding from a local builder who was between jobs.  All it cost me was a bottle of scotch.

Then I saw how this guy and his crew did site built scaffolding.  This probably does not pass OSHA muster, but it seemed to work well for them, and it has worked well for me.  I simply used the exterior of my building and the window frames as the places where I nailed 2x6s horizontally outward and tied them back to the house with a triangulating 2x6s. 

Here are a few pictures:





To further strengthen them, I would nail a block below and above the horizontal pieces to give them additional support.  Once in, I would place a 2x10 or 2x12 across the two braces and I had a good place to work off of. 

The other cheapo way I have done scaffolding is by using old bunk beds.  They are often free or cheap on places like Craigslist, and they work outside as well as inside.  We are using them on the outside for nailing, and on the inside we plan on using these for everything from hanging sheetrock to painting.  If you can get the stackable wooden kind, they can even go three high. 

Here is a picture of one set we are using:


And of course, with the bunk beds, we even can use them for their intended purpose while we are in the construction process and spending the night there.

There are probably plenty of reasons why these won't work for people, but for me I found them useful and I thought I would share.

All best,
Mike

ED: repaired incomplete images links - MD

[glenn kangiser]

Thanks for sharing that, Mike.  I used that method for putting the roofing metal on the un-forklift accessible wall on my RV garage.