Any clever methods for securing scaffolding to a wood frame building? Most jobs I’ve seen around here, they use wire tied off to a couple nails about 12 – 18″ apart horizontally. Then they patch the stucco when they take it down. TIA for any better ideas.
— J.S.
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We used to run boards (2x10's usually) out on like "jack studs" through window openings--nailing the jacks to the window jacks and nailing the 2x10's to the window jacks with duplex nails. The brace would extend inward more than it did outward and we'd nail it to another vertical 2x somewhere inside and up to a ceiling joist (or just nail it off in a door opening or open wall if there was one). This was more like just horizontal lookouts with planks across, not really scaffolding, and this was in the framing process, so windows weren't in and sometime we'd even leave holes in sheathing for the lookouts.
Heh....I did a framing job doing the same thing. I handed the helper the coil nailer and had him put 10 nails in each outlook. Put the aluminum walk plank out on it and took one giant step for mankind. Plank, framing and me soon met Mr gravity in a heap in front of the garage. Seems no one checked to see what nails were left inside the nail gun and unfortunately for me they were 8d spirals. Got my ego bruised but got lucky on that one.Oops, didn't realize you were talking about "real" scaffolding....my bad. Ratchet tie downs whereever you can attach them.
Edited 5/8/2006 7:41 pm ET by FlaCarpenter
Actually we rarely (as in maybe once that I recall) used duplex nails--we were just supposed to leave them a tad proud, but then they didn't keep the outlooks (never knew what to call them, but ended up calling them lookouts because I was always hitting my head on them--I was the tallest guy on the crew) from twisting and working loose. I never went all the way to the ground, (except one from about 6 feet up a ladder) but had several close calls. We'd nail (if we remembered!) the planks to the outlooks, and left those nails proud too--then you'd trip on them; always fun. Another fun thing was when we'd be lifted on a pallet lying on the forks of the fork lift (not with the forks through it). Step too close to the overhanging edge and feel it teeter-totter out from under you and run like Wiley Coyote through the air to get to the middle of the pallet so it'd settle back on the forks. Also was left up on the forks several times when boss forgot about me and left (maybe he was trying to tell me something!) and I would have to climb down the arms of the lift. Ah, the fond memories!
Screw eyes and wire works well, in some cases.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Damm, I miss that stuff
They make adjustable arms that clamp to the scaffold and have screw eyes in the house side. Or, screw a 2x4 to the wall horizontally. Lay another 2x4 on top, screw it down and wrap plumbing strap around the scaffold where the 2x4 passes the scaffold and screw it to the 2x4.
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