I've been helping my brother-in-law with some roofing projects lately, and we've been debating back and forth about ladders versus scaffolding. He swears by ladders because they're quick to set up, easy to move around, and cheaper overall. But honestly, I feel way safer on scaffolding—it's sturdier, gives me more room to move around, and I don't get that shaky-leg feeling when I'm up there for a while.
I mean, ladders are fine if you're just patching a small leak or something quick, but when you're spending hours up there replacing shingles or doing bigger repairs, scaffolding just feels like the smarter choice. Plus, I've heard way too many stories of people slipping off ladders or having them tip over unexpectedly...you know?
Curious what you guys prefer when you're working up high—ladder or scaffolding? And why do you pick one over the other?
- Used ladders for years, thought scaffolding was overkill.
- Then had a ladder slip on me once...luckily just bruised ego and elbow.
- Now scaffolding every time if it's more than a quick fix. Worth the extra hassle imo.
Totally get why scaffolding feels safer after a scare like that...been there myself. But honestly, I've found a good ladder stabilizer and proper footing can make ladders pretty secure for most roofing tasks. Scaffolding is great, no doubt, but sometimes the setup and teardown time just doesn't justify it for medium-sized jobs. I guess it comes down to personal comfort and the specific job conditions—wind, slope, surface type, etc. Glad your slip wasn't worse though, those close calls definitely make you rethink things...
Had a similar scare myself a few years back—was inspecting a roof after some heavy rain, ladder footing seemed solid enough, but the ground was softer than it looked. Ladder slipped out just enough to give me a good adrenaline rush and a bruised ego. After that, I started double-checking everything: footing, stabilizers, even the angle of the ladder. Scaffolding always feels safer to me personally, but I hear you on the setup hassle. Sometimes it's just overkill.
One thing I've wondered about lately is those harness setups—anyone here tried them out for residential work? Seems like it might strike a decent balance between safety and convenience, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Curious if they're practical or just another piece of gear gathering dust in the garage...
Scaffolding always feels safer to me personally, but I hear you on the setup hassle. Sometimes it's just overkill.
I've thought about harnesses too, but the cost and setup seem a bit much for occasional DIY stuff. Usually I just stick with scaffolding for longer jobs and ladders for quick checks. Still, ladder slips are no joke...
