Working at Height

5 years ago

Hi DIY Experts,

I've been replacing weathered siding on my house and now what's left is high up on my chimney It's about 25' to the top. I've been reading about scaffolding and lifts. I'd like to use a scissor lift like the GS-1930, but it weighs 3400 lbs and all I have near that chimney is unleveled dirt. I've also looked at some booms like the one Home Depot rents, a JLG T350. That boom might require me to take out a tree and I'd have to have some of it in the street I think. The scissor lift looks best to me, but not sure how to prepare the ground to safely use it? My thoughts were to just level it with a pick and shovel and add some gravel. Maybe throw a sheet of 3/4 plywood over it and make sure it doesn't budge. Does that sound like something you'd like to risk your life on? Maybe there is a more appropriate scissor lift for this job? What's the right way to do this job? Call in a construction company?

Thanks,
Brett

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Comments (5)

formulaross20
5 years ago
Hands down, go with the JLG lift! A telescoping lift is so much more usable than a scissors lift.

Uneven ground is easier to deal with (just build up pads under a couple legs), and the extendable boom and rotating bucket is so much easier to get into tight locations. You might have the lift on the sidewalk and/or street for a while, so maybe get some orange cones to set out to keep traffic aware of you working.

https://www.jlg.com/en/equipment/towable-boom-lifts/tow-pro/t350-towable-boom-lift
Brett Preston
Original Author
5 years ago
Awesome, thanks formulaross20! I can buy a lot of cones for the $8,000 a construction company is going to charge me! I agree the boom looks way more versatile and has the outriggers for leveling. My only reservation was having to have part of it in the street although it's residential with very little traffic. Home Depot sells a safety harness for it. I could use it over the attached the garage too for painting and repairs instead of putting a ladder on the roof. I'll probably have all the siding cut and ready to go to minimize the repair time. Any other suggestions safety or otherwise I really appreciate.
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formulaross20
5 years ago
I've been up in electric and diesel JLG lifts several times, to do overhead speakers and power wiring in our church sanctuary, and LED upgrades to the parking lot and gymnasium lighting as well. Although OSHA requires the harness for (paid?) construction jobs, I have never climbed up on the edge of the bucket, nor would I ever want to, so I don't see the need for a harness. I see locating the lift in front of your chimney as in your lower picture. To get to the L & R chimney sides, you should be able to rotate the bucket 90 degrees (parallel to the boom, it's skinnier that way) and tuck in right up next to the chimney sides. Yeah, you might have to push a few branches back on that tree to the left, but I don't see the need to cut anything off for access. I also install a homebrew workbench on the lifts for tools and supplies. I extend the front and back top rail off one end of the bucket with 2x2's, held on with 4 hose clamps, and then put a piece of plywood across the 2x's. Shoot a few construction crews in, rim the top of the plywood with 2x's so things don't roll off and you got a workbench.
AnnKH
5 years ago
Never, ever skimp on safety equipment. Just because OSHA isn't likely to come knocking at your door does not mean that you shouldn't use any and all recommended fall protection equipment! The risk of a fall may be low, but the consequence could be deadly.

PLEASE rent a harness to use with whatever device you choose!
Brett Preston
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks fr20 for the tip on the bucket rotation to get to the sides. I didn’t know it could do that! I haven’t got around to reading the user’s manual yet. I can’t imagine falling out either but I’ll probably wear one anyway for the times I can’t imagine. Debating on whether to get the permit or just rent it and do it:)