During the repair and insulation of the facades of multi-storey buildings, work is carried out at a high altitude. The staircase in this case is inconvenient, and it is not always possible to find a product of sufficient length. In such situations, scaffolding is used. With your own hands to make and assemble the structure is quite simple. You just need to choose its type and purchase all the necessary materials. We have revealed this topic in more detail in our article.
What are scaffolding?
Scaffolding is called temporary construction, allowing builders to safely move at high altitude and have at hand a supply of necessary materials and tools.
Such facilities are used both indoors and outdoors. The latter option is the most common and is used to decorate the facade and during installation works.
In appearance, the forests resemble a kind of web, enveloping the building, which allows builders to move around when doing work without threatening their lives.
A temporary structure can be purchased ready-made, but this is justified only if large-scale construction is carried out. When it is necessary to carry out work on the facade of a private building, it is better to make scaffolding with your own hands. This will significantly reduce costs.
The main types of scaffolding
Auxiliary structures differ in the material of manufacture and in the method of fastening the elements. They are made of wood, metal or simultaneously from both materials.
Depending on the method of fixing the main functional elements, the following types are distinguished:
- Wedge. Elements are fastened by the wedge fixation method. Such constructions are used in cases when heavy loads and equipment are used in the process of work.
- Frame. Made on the basis of a rigid and durable frame. Such varieties are ideal for private construction, as they are considered the most economical. Do-it-yourself frame scaffolding is the easiest to assemble. One square meter of such a structure can withstand up to 200 kg of weight.
- Clamp. They are considered professional equipment that allows you to perform work on the facades of complex configuration.
- Whip. Sections are fastened with pins and holes for them. This mount allows you to quickly collect and disassemble the forest.
You can make the simplest options yourself. But the material from which they will be made is selected depending on the purpose and operating conditions of the product.
Wood or metal?
For single use, a wooden structure can be assembled. In this case, you will have to calculate the weight of the materials raised to the height, since the boards may not withstand a large load. In addition, wooden scaffolding is not recommended for use in works that are conducted above the 2nd floor.
For reusable use, it is better to assemble a scaffold from a profile pipe with your own hands. This work will cost a little more, but you do not have to worry about the reliability and durability of the structure.
During the facade work, you can safely increase the number of tiers, using an increasingly large area. If necessary, forests can be disassembled and transferred to another object or the opposite side of the building. At the same time, their reliability will not decrease at all.
What elements are the components assembled from?
To make scaffolding from pipes with your own hands, you need to understand from what elements the auxiliary structure is assembled. This list is unique for all types of forests and includes the following items:
- Vertical posts. They take on the main load and transfer it to the base (soil or asphalt).
- Horizontal crossbars and diagonal stiffeners. Give the frame strength and rigidity.
- Side rails. Small lintels forming the base for the flooring.
- Base sheets. Form a surface for workers to move. In most cases, they are assembled from boards. With your own hands, scaffolding can be made all-metal, but this will lead to unnecessary expenses.
- Diagonal slopes. Tipping slats. One part rests on the forests, the other on the ground.
Scaffolding also includes stairs for movement between levels and a railing. They are made of base material. In the metal version, this is a profile pipe.
Key design parameters
When assembling scaffolding with your own hands, you do not have to show imagination, since the main dimensions of the structure are standard. Given the structural features of the building, make a schematic drawing according to which you will carry out installation.
The following requirements are taken into account:
- the maximum height of the forests should not be more than 6 meters;
- the distance between the support posts is within 2.0-2.5 meters;
- the width of the surface for the movement of workers is not more than 1 meter.
The base for laying the flooring is set 50 cm above ground level. This requirement is based on evidence that the best productivity is observed when the employee’s hands are 30 cm below chest level. The second floor is equipped at a height of 1.8 - 2.0 meters, and the third - 3.6 - 4.0 meters.
Materials required for work
Understanding the question of how to make scaffolding with your own hands, pay special attention to the list of necessary materials. For wooden structures, boards are purchased, and metal products are completed from the following elements:
- Profile pipe 3x3 cm, length 150 cm. It will be used for the manufacture of uprights and lintels.
- Round pipe with a diameter of 15 to 20 mm for mounting spacers.
- 2.5x2.5 square profile for assembling the base of the flooring and lintels.
- Long boards for flooring assembly. Width - 5 cm, length - 2.0-2.5 meters.
- Material for the manufacture of stairs (any) or finished design.
Do not forget about the fasteners: screws, bolts and nuts. From the tool you will need a grinder with a diamond disk and a drill with a drill for metal.
Preparation for the assembly of scaffolding with your own hands made of wood and metal
Before scaffolding, special attention is paid to the foundation. If it is loose soil, it is tamped. The territory is cleaned of large debris and interfering plants.
When work is carried out in an open area, special ebbs are installed. They are designed to drain rainwater from the site and prevent soil erosion. For greater reliability, boards are placed in the installation places of the uprights. They provide stability to the base.
Remember! If the self-assembled scaffolding from the profiled pipe is slightly staggered or has play in the connecting nodes, the likelihood of the structure toppling over and getting injured increases significantly.
Mounting technology
At the beginning of work, cut the profile and round pipe. For diagonal struts, lengths of 200 cm are made, and for horizontal, connecting the sides, 96 cm. From both ends, back off 8 cm and make a small incision with the grinder.
Flatten the marked area from the edge to the notch with a hammer. In this place the fixation to the profile will be carried out. Cut pipes for uprights. Next, do-it-yourself scaffolding from a profile pipe, assemble according to the following technology:
- Tie vertical posts with profile sections. Make sure that they are in a strictly horizontal position.
- Connect the horizontal structural elements with screeds on which the flooring sheets will be located. Weld them to the pipe every 30 cm.
- On the support posts and struts, drill a metal hole to make holes for the mounting bolts. Align the racks evenly and fasten the spacers on them. Correct installation of racks control the building level.
Thus, collect the desired number of sections and levels. Use adapters to connect adjacent cells. They can also be made independently. To do this, make several pipe sections of 10 cm (use a 3x3 profile). Thread into it similar sections of profile 2.5x2.5 and connect the pipes by welding.
At the final stage, lay the wooden shields on top of the horizontal beams. Securely fix them with a drill and self-tapping screws. In order for the design to last for many years, periodically conduct anti-corrosion treatment.
To summarize
We examined in detail the technology for assembling metal structures. Installation of wood scaffolding is carried out according to a similar principle. However, in this case, instead of a pipe, a 10x10 bar and boards 10 cm wide are used. During the installation process, self-tapping screws are used, a jigsaw or a circular saw is used.
If you have to assemble scaffolding of more than 3 levels, do not forget to install the profile pipe of persistent mowing. To do this, make a hole in the rack for mounting it. Press the other end of the diagonal pipe into the base. If work is carried out on the ground, place a wooden board or a solid beam under it.
As you can see, with certain skills, it’s not at all difficult to assemble scaffolding with your own hands. Photos of finished products posted in our article will help you understand the technology and complete the job correctly.