In the process of building or repairing a house, there is always a need to perform work at height. When their growth is not enough, people begin to come up with structures for themselves that allow them to climb higher. This can be a regular old table or stools with the door leaf laid on top.
This simple device is nothing more than a construction goat. By the way, the construction has another name - a construction platform, or a scaffold. And where to get such a structure, everyone decides for himself. Some people prefer to buy ready-made construction goats in the store, while others take it out to craft them from improvised materials. Both methods are good in their own way.
Design purpose
A construction platform is a structure consisting of several separate modules, designed to perform work at a low height. You can even stack building blocks on the goats. The design of the scaffolds has a fairly extensive working platform. This allows not only to accommodate a working person on it, but also to put the necessary materials, tools. The main difference between goats and forests is that the former do not have a fence.
The easiest to use scaffolds are aluminum construction. Their light weight allows you to transport the structure, if necessary, to the right place and assemble it without additional effort. A convenient option for work is a mobile construction scaffold platform, which can be moved from place to place and used in difficult areas. Some options are equipped with wheels, which further facilitates the process of movement.
The height of the platforms can be different. But on average, such designs are used to work at heights of 3 to 9 meters. If we talk about wooden scaffolds, then in order to comply with safety precautions, they are recommended to be used at a height not exceeding 7 meters.
Construction goats sold in a store
Scaffolds sold in stores may vary in height, size, assembly method, materials used for their manufacture, and other details. But in general, all products can be divided into two types:
- Ordinary. They are a floor laid on the side parts. The sides form a certain staircase, on the lintels of which the flooring is laid. Thanks to this, the height of the entire structure is adjustable. Most often, the side modules are made of black metal, which allows them to support the weight of several builders at once. That is why aluminum is not used for such platforms. Typical dimensions for this species: width - 70-80 cm, length - 150-200, height - 180. This type of scaffolds differs from forests only in smaller sizes.
- Transformers They are easy to fold and can serve not only as a construction platform, but also as an ordinary staircase. This is the most convenient option for indoor use. They are small in size and weight, convenient in transportation and work. The working surface is always in a horizontal position, even if the platform is installed on the stairs. Dimensions of a similar design: width - 50 cm, length - 160, height - 100.
DIY wooden scaffolding
Wooden goats, made independently, can be called a one-time option. Upon completion of work, they are most often dismantled and discarded. Or use separate parts for other purposes. For the construction of wooden scaffolding, you will need a beam and a wooden shield (sheet of chipboard, plywood, OSB). It can also be made from individual boards.
Four identical pieces for legs are cut from a bar. The length is selected based on the desired height. Next, four jumpers are cut in width and four in length of the platform. After that, the whole structure is assembled. It’s more convenient to start from the greater side. The legs are connected from above and from below so that they do not creep out during operation. Get two blanks. Then they are connected by short jumpers in the same way as long ones. On this basis is ready. It remains only to attach the shield from above.
Metal building platform (do it yourself)
The construction of metal scaffolding is the same as wooden. The only difference is that they can be made collapsible and used repeatedly. The side parts are made as a single module. And long jumpers are attached to them with screws, which can subsequently be unscrewed. A metal frame is prepared for the flooring, on which a wooden base is mounted. The shield must be equipped with fasteners. Most often they are made in the form of pins. They will abut against the short jumpers of the side parts. The ready-made scaffold made of metal must be understaffed with wheels purchased in a store. Naturally, you can do without them.