Whether you’re a professional contractor or just a DIYer, you need to have the right tools for the job. Picking the right implements ensures that you will be able to do the job efficiently and effectively. Also, it ensures that you will be able to do the job safely. Every year in the United States, there are over 100 ladder-related deaths and over 30,000-ladder related trips to the hospital. The numbers are not as readily available for the United Kingdom, but it stands to reason that they are comparable per capita. Those numbers are so high because people sometimes aren’t educated on proper ladder safety, but also because they don’t pick the right tool for the job. A ladder is the perfect tool for certain occasions but in other circumstances, a scaffolding tower might be the better implement.

Situations for Ladders

Ladders are great for certain situations. They’re a great buy for any DIYer because they’re so versatile. You should be able to accomplish most tasks with a good ladder although you have to make sure you are exercising an extra amount of caution and safety in certain circumstances. Any situation with solid, level ground is probably great for a ladder. When you are working on a roof or in a tree, a ladder is going to have three points of contact, but only two of those points of contact are on the ground. Because there are only two points of contact with the ground, it’s less stable than a scaffold. On level ground, such as a driveway or a very even garden, that’s not a problem.

Ladders are also great if you have a lot of ground to cover. You cannot move side to side on a ladder; that’s how many people get into accidents. For example, if you’re trying to paint your house, you can reach side to side but never lean. Moving your weight laterally could cause the ladder to tip over. However, ladders are much easier to move. So, if you have a lot of ground to cover, you should go with a ladder. They’re much easier to climb down from and move to a new spot. Ladders and scaffold towers have differences that make scaffolds appropriate for other situations.

Situations for Scaffold Towers

Scaffold towers have more points of contact with the ground than a ladder. They have at least four feet on the ground and some have even more. They are also much wider than ladders. So, if you need to move side to side, a scaffold is perfect. They allow you to walk from side to side to get to different spots. If you’re working on uneven ground, such as the mulch or gravel near the edge of your home, a scaffold provides enough points of contact that you can remain stable while you work. One of the biggest disadvantages is that it is sometimes difficult to move a scaffold. They’re heavier and bulkier than ladders. Many of them come with wheels to alleviate this concern, but that’s the most common problem with a scaffold.