Do you need scaffolding to paint a house? Answered!

Painting a standard two or three-storey house can be a difficult task if you’re doing it yourself. For many, it can be challenging and also risky job due to working at height. Before you begin painting your house though you need to make a decision on whether you’ll go down the route of using scaffolding or a ladder to paint your house.

When you’re painting the exterior walls of your house, using a scaffolding structure to get the job done isn’t always the first option that people think of, but it’s almost always is the most efficient. While of course, we may be a bit bias as professional scaffolders ourselves, we do know that inexperience using a long ladder can be very restrictive, as we often get calls from people halfway through painting their house to find they can’t reach certain sections. Using a long ladder can be very restrictive for a number of reasons:

• Carrying your paint and paintbrush up and down a ladder is a tricky juggling act as well as being very tiresome. Throw in some windy weather and it becomes even tougher.
• Painting small patches can only be done one section at a time which makes it very exhausting – And, that isn’t just for painting either, but also the cleaning and preparation beforehand.
• The other option is to use an extension pole. But this will not only be very inaccurate in reaching all those difficult spots but you will also be straining your neck.

Professionals will almost always use a scaffolding structure to paint a house and there are many benefits to this:

• Balance & stability – Due to scaffolding being a secured structure, even in challenging weather, it provides a safer environment.
• Time – No hopping up and down ladders every few minutes to shift along a few inches.
• Easier workload – Not only can you simply lay your tin of paint and paintbrush by your side, but you can do so without tiring yourself out or straining.
• Accuracy – No more trying to paint hard-to-reach areas (while risking your safety!).

While using scaffolding is always a safer option, there are still times when a ladder may do. With that in mind, here are some questions to find out whether or not you should use a ladder to paint your house:

Do you have a budget?

While many might have access to a ladder already, scaffolding will, of course, be an extra cost. The cost will vary depending on the size of your house and how much scaffolding you need. But prices tend to start at around £250 but most scaffolding companies will offer a free quotation service. You should always seek the advice of a professional who can view your project and situation. The key question is can you put a price on your safety!?

How big is your house?

The size of your house will have an impact on both your cost for scaffolding and the effort required if you use a ladder, so bear both of those points in mind.

How much energy do you have!?

While it may seem anecdotal, you should really think about if you have the energy to keep going up and down the ladder, bearing in mind that using a ladder may take a couple of days to complete the paintwork (and that’s without factoring the weather in mind).

Do you have any ground floor extensions?

While you should always proceed with caution when standing on ground floor extensions, they do serve as a helpful platform to paint sections of your house.

How quickly do you need it done?

Taking into account the size of your house, the unpredictable weather and your energy levels, painting your house may take several weekends to complete using a ladder. If you plan your scaffolding in advance the chances are you could get it done within one or two days.

In conclusion, while it’s tempting to see if you can save some money by not using scaffolding, your primary concern should always be about your safety.