The main advantages to using either aluminium or steel scaffold towers are their versatility, along with their ease of use and transportation when compared to static scaffold installations. A scaffold tower can provide many of the same benefits as regular scaffolding such as a safe platform to work from, space to store materials and easy access to the upper floors of a building. In addition they can be moved between locations easily, and this is what often sets them apart from static scaffolding. An aluminium scaffold tower can be moved especially easily because of its lightweight design. The other great advantage of using these towers is the relatively low costs. Good quality structures such as the many Boss scaffold towers on the market can be purchased for a very reasonably sum. This value for money becomes even more apparent when comparing the costs of even a small scaffolding installation with the purchase of used small scaffold towers. Even when they are purchased from new, towers can be cheaper than hiring scaffolding from a professional contractor. In general, DIY scaffold towers offer great value and can be purchased from a whole range of suppliers such as Quickfit scaffold towers, along with many others.

Traditional scaffolding is most useful in large construction projects, especially where great heights are involved. There are obviously height restrictions which need to be taken into consideration even when using industrial scaffold towers which are designed for professional use. On larger construction sites work may need to be completed on may different areas of a building at one time. This may be necessary for months or even years. In these situations a fixed scaffolding installation will very often be the most practical and economical choice.

When thinking about the hire or purchase of scaffolding or scaffold towers UK, US and Canadian suppliers will all be able to offer you almost any option. There are a huge range of companies who deal in scaffolding so whether you live in Scotland, Ireland or anywhere in the UK, US or worldwide you will be able to find a supplier in you local area.

Purchasing products online is a great way to save money on almost anything, scaffolding is no exception to this rule and cheap scaffolding towers can be found on the websites of many large suppliers. All large building retailers will have sites and most will list the same products as they do in their stores, but at lower prices. This is great news if you would like to inspect a tower before you decide to purchase it. You can easily view the product at the supplier’s outlet which is closest to your home, then purchase it over the internet later on, making a quick and easy saving. You will also have the convenient option of returning the tower to the store itself if you are not happy with any scaffold towers you buy.

Finding used scaffold towers for sale is another great way to save money. Many large suppliers and scaffold rental companies will offer used towers as well as new ones. Newspapers and construction related magazines will also list second hand scaffold towers for sale that are being sold privately. Although used towers can offer great savings, you do need to remain vigilant and check any tower for signs of damage or excessive wear. Be particularly cautious if purchasing a used scaffold tower on ebay or another similar site. You always want to be in a position where you can inspect a used tower before you purchase it. Be especially watchful for any dents in the tubes, particularly in an aluminium scaffold tower which can be more prone to denting than a steel one. As long as you are certain of the quality and safety of any tower you buy then there is no reason why you cannot get a great deal on a used product. If you are uncertain about inspecting scaffold towers used previously, then asking a knowledgeable friend to accompany you and offer a second opinion will often be a good idea.

There is a huge range of jobs which will become significantly easier if they are completed with the help of a rolling scaffold tower. Installation and repair of fascias, cladding and guttering are just a few of the most common. Many such jobs would require work to be completed around the whole of the exterior of a property. This would usually mean extensive amounts of time working from a ladder, or the installation of a scaffolding system around a whole building. The advantage of using a portable scaffolding tower is that it can be moved between locations very easily. Just unlock the scaffold tower wheels and push the structure to the new area you wish to work from, locking the wheels again to ensure that you follow mobile scaffold tower safety procedures. You will be surprised at the minimal levels of effort required to move these towers, even when no one else is around to help you. A rolling scaffolding tower will often be produced from aluminium or fibreglass so the structure remains as light as possible. This is particularly convenient when the tower is being used on a construction site as it may need to be pushed over greater distances. In these situations it is advisable to enlist the help of another person so that you will be rolling tower scaffolding more safely from place to place.

If you are unsure whether to use a traditional scaffolding installation or a mobile scaffolding tower you should consider the costs in both time and money associated with each of the options. You will find that the mobile towers work out to be the more practical and economical choice a large portion of the time, especially when working on smaller jobs. Finally, if you are uncomfortable with using mobile tower scaffolding then you can always contact a construction training provider. Many of them offer reasonably priced mobile tower scaffold training courses that can be completed in just a few hours.

Safety

There are obviously going to be safety concerns when using scaffolding of any kind due to the added risks associated with working at height. In the UK there are various laws and guidelines which will help ensure the necessary safety precautions are in place. An assessment should be carried out in accordance with The Work at Height Regulations 2005. These regulations are for use in the work place but it will be a good idea to apply them to any scaffolding work including that which takes place in your own home or on other private property. The regulations are in place to make sure that there is no other alternative to working at height and that the work will be completed using the equipment which is best suited to the task. A company who provides tower scaffold services will be able to offer further advice about the regulations.

Procedures have been developed to ensure that towers are erected safely and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Instructions should always be provided by any company offering scaffold tower hire or sales. The Prefabricated Access Suppliers and Manufacturers Association have developed two methods for constructing scaffold towers in the UK with the Health and Safety Executive. The first method is the advance guard rail system where the guard rails are locked in place by the operator who is standing on the platform below, which already has guard rails in place. This allows the tower to be built progressively higher while always using platforms with fitted guard rails. The operator does not move up to the next platform until he has fitted a rail to it from the platform below.

The second procedure is known as the ‘through the trap’ method. This method also ensures that the operator will never need to stand on a platform that is unprotected by guard rails. The trap door is used as an access point to a platform which is currently unguarded. Working from the trap door a person can add or remove guard rails to and from a level safely.

If during construction of a tower you notice that any part of the scaffolding structure is damaged or pieces may be missing, the tower should not be used and make-shift repairs should be avoided. Although the structure may look solid, any weaknesses caused by damage or missing parts could mean extra stress is placed upon components which cannot handle it. The worst case scenario here is that the entire tower will collapse.

Before any kind of scaffold stair tower is constructed a site survey must be carried out to make sure that the surface is firm and will not become unstable under the considerable weight about to be placed upon it. Other common sense safety precautions must also be taken into consideration. Vertical sheeting should not be fixed to a scaffolding tower as a strong wind could cause the structure to become unstable. Care should always be taken when using scaffolding towers in windy conditions especially when using any kind of sheet materials. Rain will also make scaffolding considerably more hazardous.

Scaffolding Tower Materials and Components

The primary components used in the construction of all scaffolding are the tubes (or pipes), couplers and boards. Scaffold tower parts are most commonly produced from either steel or aluminium. Where steel is used the metal is usually galvanized to provide resistance to corrosion. The major differences between the two materials are their weight and flexibility. Aluminium scaffold towers are both lighter and more flexible than steel towers. Flexibility is actually a benefit rather than a liability in tower scaffold parts as it means the tubes are more likely to bend rather than break under impact if they are accidentally hit, or if something is dropped onto them from height. An aluminium scaffold tower is a popular modern choice for these reasons.

Couplers are the devices which join the tubes to each other. The three major types are knows as swivel couplers which allow tubes to be joined at any angle, right angle couplers to join tubes at ninety degrees and putlog couplers which join the scaffolding to the structure currently being worked on. Putlog couplers are not used in load bearing joints. Sleeve couplers can also be used to join tubes vertically. All of the components of a tower are widely available as scaffold tower spares.

The scaffold boards are often made of wood which is then attached to the tower using hooks or nails. Steel and aluminium boards are now commonly used with scaffolding towers as they are typically more durable and secure. The aluminium boards are much more lightweight than either steel or wood and also more expensive.

Stair tower scaffolds are essential for many construction companies and small independent contractors as well as DIY enthusiasts. They can often provide the same levels of flexibility as a ladder but with the benefits of a full scaffolding system. The ability to erect and dismantle the towers in small time frames along with their mobility and levels of safety make them extremely versatile and suitable for many construction projects both inside and out. The aluminium telescopic scaffold tower is proving especially popular with its lightweight design making transportation between sites even easier. If you wish to purchase a good quality small scaffold tower for your home DIY projects then slightly older steel or alloy scaffold towers can be found which are reasonably priced.