When you have repair or maintenance work to do around the house, it can be helpful to rent a scaffolding hire. This type of fixture is safer than a standard ladder and gives you room for more than one worker as well as for equipment and materials. Scaffolding can be used indoors and outdoors, but you want to ensure you choose the right type of scaffolding for the job you'll be doing. Note a few questions to ask when considering a scaffolding rental so you know you understand how it works, choose the right model, and stay safe.

1. What is the clearance required?

When working with scaffolding inside, you have to consider the clearance needed to manoeuvre the equipment. Keep in mind, the width of scaffolding may not be the same as the clearance it requires, as the width may only tell you the measurement of the walkway. The frame, connectors, and other factors may need to be considered for the clearance required so the scaffolding can fit into small spaces.  As an example, a six-foot wide hallway may not actually accommodate a six-foot wide scaffolding if the scaffolding needs an extra few inches for clearance. After measuring any inside space, be sure to ask a rental agency about the fixture's clearance requirements, not just its width, so you know it will fit properly. 

2. Does it come with casters?

Casters or wheels are not always standard on scaffolding, as some users may not be thinking of moving the structure from one location to another. If you will be using the scaffolding across a large area and will need to move it often, ask about casters. Be sure you know how these lock securely when the scaffolding is in use. If you don't want to move your scaffolding often, choose a type without casters so you don't need to worry about locking them in place.

3. Does it come with toe boards?

Toe boards are like filler boards that fit between the planks of scaffolding. These are used when someone will be working underneath the planks, or when the scaffolding is set up over a doorway. They keep tools and other such items from falling between the planks and potentially causing injury. If you plan on having anyone working under the planks, this can be a good option or you might want to choose toe boards just to ensure that you don't need to consistently walk up and down the scaffolding to retrieve dropped tools. If you've never worked on scaffolding before, you may not be accustomed to having to keep your tools in buckets or on a belt to keep them from dropping, and a toe board can be a good choice for your own convenience.