scissor lift to install sheathing/siding
oakman15
| Posted in Tools for Home Building on
thinking about renting scissor lift to install 2nd story sheathing,siding. comments and tips?
Replies
thinking about renting scissor lift to install 2nd story sheathing,siding. comments and tips?
This is probably obvious, but be sure you can get right next to the house and your ground is flat. I bought a scissor to work on my house (working part-time, need it when I need it, no regular schedule) and it isn't always easy to get snug up against it because, at least on mine, the platform isn't quite as wide as the wheels and side compartments.
Works great though - I have a workbench on the platform and not much getting up and down.
Consider a boom instead, they can be more versatile.
-- J.S.
I usually see scissor lifts inside on concrete floors, although I suppose you could work around the exterior of a house if it had flat paving everywhere, or something close to it.
The most fun I've had on equipment like that was with a boom lift. Same basket to ride in, but it's on the end of a boom rather than on scissors. You can even drive it around from up there.
Spent a whole summer in the basket of a Genie Boom once.
Employer rented it for some houses we were staining. Worked great - always at the most comfortable and productive height.
Started using it for other things as well at other jobs. Setting trusses, installing windows, some soffet and facia work. Think they ended up buying the thing it proved so usefull. Wasn't really rated for much of what we did, but, worked great.
Was amazed at how smooth the controls were.
It was a big four wheel drive rough terrain unit that had automatic stabalization.
Kinda strange first time driving the thing accross the rough ground while you are 50 feet in the air.
I think this might have been the model they had. http://www.genieindustries.com/zb-series/zb-z45jrt.asp
We used a Skyjack 4WD scissor lift on a job this summer. The one with the sliding extendable platform. Amazing tool. Was terrific for VB and DW a 16' ceiling over a conc slab. Was good outside in the rough for siding and fascia work. A definite productivity asset.
We did not drive it around the lot in an extended position though...too easy to find a hole where we were.costofwar.com/
Just used one last spring to side my house. Get the 4wd version, the hard tire type don't go in the mud. As mentioned make sure you can get close to the house. The one I used worked great. The platform slide out so I could stack up 12' hardie on on side, raise it up, drive backand forth, nail it off. Got both second story gable ends done on a saturday. Worth every penny to me.
beachouse,
please don't!
I sell and rent them and I wouldn't suggest a scissor lift.. I'd use a Boom lift instead.. You'll find out it's much more versital.
If you do get a scissor lift, make sure it is 4wd and has the hydraulic levelers. You can tilt the rig in a bit with the levelers to get tight to the house. I have used one a bunch for siding, sheathing, exterior trim, et cetera, and I thought it was AWESOME compared to setting up staging.
Dustin
Thanks to all for comments about scissor lift for sheathing/siding. I'm going to rent the 4wd version and make sure perimeter of homesite is clear and level. I prefer scissors lift rather than boom because I want to carry up 4x8 sheathing , also I'm chicken when I'm off the ground and the thought of being suspended off the end of a boom is not for me-I'd rather have the scissor lift under me. If I liked heights and excitement I could see a 4wd boom lift with a big platform, but I'll leave that for braver guys.
> If I liked heights and excitement I could see a 4wd boom lift with a big platform, but I'll leave that for braver guys.
If anything, the boom is less likely to fall over than a scissor. Scissors are for level solid ground, or better yet, indoor use.
-- J.S.