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Painting the exterior of your house may seem a daunting prospect. When you’ve got the right equipment however, it should be a job that any able-bodied homeowner can easily undertake. In this blog, we’ll look at the process of painting your house exterior, the equipment you’ll need and the best scaffold towers to gain access and always ensure a safe working environment.

Why use scaffold towers to paint your house

Cantilever Tower

When you’re planning to paint the exterior of your house, you’re going to need to access some out of reach areas. Exterior house painting will usually fall into one of two categories or potentially both. Firstly, there are houses whose exteriors have a rendered finish over brickwork that has been painted. These finishes will usually require re-painting every seven to ten years.

Secondly, there are houses with areas of timber which may have been varnished, treated, or painted to provide both protection and enhance appearance. Painted exterior woodwork will usually require painting every five to seven years. This will vary depending on the position of the property and its exposure to the elements.

Exterior woodwork includes any areas of cladding and also any roofline and supportive timber battens. When painting exterior woodwork, you’ll need to check the condition of the existing paintwork. If it’s beginning to flake or peel, it will require sanding down before applying a new coat of paint.

Whether you’re painting exterior render or woodwork, there are some essential tools you’ll need for the job.

Exterior house painting essentials

  • Wire brush
  • Sandpaper
  • Water
  • PPE (goggles, mask, overalls)
  • Exterior primer
  • Exterior paint
  • Brushes, rollers
  • Dust sheets

You may also require a screwdriver to take down any exterior fixtures and fittings before you begin. You will also obviously need a way to access any areas above two meters.

Scaffold towers vs scaffolding vs ladders

image of single tower access

There are three main options for accessing out of reach areas of your house. Ladders are quick and easy to use. They are, however, potentially dangerous, and will always require at least two people on site to ensure safety. Scaffolding is a good option for very large properties, particularly commercial buildings. It is extremely safe to access and use but is probably unnecessary for painting residential properties.

Scaffold towers offer users the best of both worlds. They are small enough to be easy to set up, use and dismantle, like ladders. They also provide a safe platform to work from just like scaffolding but without the hassle and cost of hiring, setting up, and dismantling.
Scaffold towers, like those from Access Towers are available in a variety of sizes and configurations and can be specified to meet your exact requirements.

At Access Towers, we have supplied scaffold towers to homeowners across London and the South East. If you’re planning to paint your home exterior and you want to hire a safe and affordable scaffold tower, contact Access Towers today. You can call us on 0208 665 1181 or send us a message online.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered working at height?

Anything above ground level is considered Working at Height. Access Towers are a large provider of PASMA Training and sit within the top 5% in the UK, allowing us to train the full range of 1-Day PASMA Courses to suit any of your work at height Tower Training requirements.

What are the working at height regulations?

It is recommended by Health & Safety standards that those who are assembling Towers should be PASMA Trained. This will give operatives a 5-year qualification of competency for the use of mobile towers.

Do I need to have a licence/certificate to use the equipment?

Certifications will vary depending on what equipment you’re hiring. It’s always best to speak with our Hire Desk if you are unsure, where they can advise what will be best for you or in more advanced working conditions, we can install onsite.

What are the different training sessions you offer & who are they for?

Training courses are for anyone using the equipment, from commercially to domestically. These will range from PASMA Training for the use of Towers, IPAF Training for the use of MEWPS as well as various other courses such as Safety Harness Training and First Aid.

How do I know which equipment will be right for the job?

Our Hire Desk are trained across the full range of work at height stock available and will be able to advise and assist cost-free.

How quickly can you supply the tower(s)?

We aim for a next-day turnaround, this is dependent on the transport routes and how busy we are at the time. It works both ways and could be earlier than your requested date.