How to Make a Scaffolding Walkway From Lumber
Building scaffolding from lumber involves techniques used as far back as ancient times, when Michelangelo constructed scaffolding to paint the Sistine Chapel in Rome. The process involves a simplistic connection of vertical frames with long planks laid horizontally to form the walkway. The idea requires building the scaffolding in a way that allows you to take it apart and reused it again elsewhere, however. While such scaffolding serves its purpose for construction work high up, you risk injury if you walk or stand on such temporary constructs. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Broom
- Measuring tape
- Various lumber plank sizes
- Power drill
- Large bolts and nuts
- Socket wrench
- Crescent wrenches
- Power saw
- Hammer
- Nails
- Brackets
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Instructions
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1
Clear and sweep the area where the scaffolding will stand with a broom. Remove any items, materials or loose trash that will get in the way of where the scaffold feet will rest. Dry up or cut off any water source spilling into the area, which can soften earth and dirt.
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Measure the necessary height and footprint of the scaffolding using a tape measure. Record these measurements.
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Purchase a sufficient number of 2-by-4-inch beams to create a vertical pole on the inside and outside of the scaffolding design at least every 8 feet. Use a power drill to punch a hole in each beam every 8 feet up, starting at the bottom.
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Run a long steel bolt through the holes of two beams, and secure the bolt into place with nuts and bolts. Tighten the bolts with a socket wrench and crescent wrench. This component will serve as the base for the horizontal boards. Continue the process, connecting two beams every 8 feet across and 8 feet upward.
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Cut a separate 2-by-4-inch beam into segments of two feet with a power saw. Nail these into place with nails and a hammer. Position the segments on the sides of the two vertical beams to hold them together. Continue this process to form a "ladder" on each pair of vertical beams connected by bolts.
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Place a flat beam across the ground to act as a flat foundation for the beams you plan to erect. Use brackets and nails to secure the vertical beams to the plank foundation once they are standing. Stand up the first pair, and connect the inside beam to the structure you plan to work on --- typically by nailing a temporary board from the beam to the structure. Repeat this step for every vertical beam pair until the wall is covered every 8 feet by beam pairs.
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Lay planks of lumber measuring 1 inch thick by 6 inches across and 12 feet long over each beam horizontally where you installed the steel bolts. Overlap the planks horizontally when they meet each other to form a continuing "floor" at each level. Climb up the ladder segments of the beams to access the appropriate scaffold level, and perform your construction work.
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Break down the scaffold planks and beams when finished with the construction. Reuse the materials on another project when necessary.
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Tips & Warnings
Attach a horizontal 2-by-4 beam across each 8-foot segment at waist height to provide a basic safety handle for workers using the scaffolding. Simply nail it to the outside vertical beams to keep the handle bar in place when in use. Then just pop it out with a hammer when breaking down the scaffold.
Test your scaffold before letting workers get onto the system all at once. Don't let more than two people work on a segment at the same time, and immediately replace any planks that look as if they are bending from horizontal weight or cracking.
References
- Photo Credit Goodshoot/Goodshoot/Getty Images
