How to Clean Used Scaffolding

If you purchase used scaffolding, you may end up with something that is in less than perfect shape. Knowing how to clean used scaffolding is going to make things a little easier for you, because you will have a clean and nicely working set of scaffolding materials that you can use for your building projects.

Materials:

* Screwdriver

* Cleaning Supplies

* Nails and Screws

* Hammer

* Sandpaper

* Belt Sander

Step #1: Determine the Damage

The first thing that you are going to want to do is to determine the level of damage. How much work is going to need to be done to restore your scaffolding through cleaning? Will you need to touch up the boards, remove paint from the metal bars, replace nails or screws? All of these are considerations that you are going to want to make in order to get a feel for what will be involved in the cleaning process.

Step #2: Gather Necessary Materials

Now you are going to want to gather the materials necessary for cleaning your scaffolding. The cleaning products that you choose should correspond with the type of debris, dirt and other damage that exists on the scaffolding, especially the metal bars. You may need paint remover, sand paper, a belt sander and other supplies depending on what level of damage you are dealing with. You may not need all of these materials, but make sure to have the right materials.

Step #3: Clean Metal Bars and Poles

Address the dirt, debris, paint and other cleaning needs with the right cleaning supplies. Most cleaning products will come in handy for removing dirt and other debris. Give everything a thorough rinse. Take care to remove any rust that you find. You may also consider adding a sealant to the metal to keep it from rusting as much in the future.

Step #4: Clean Wood

The wooden planks should obviously be cleaned differently in this particular instance. Give everything a thorough rinsing down with water to remove as much dirt and debris as you can. You should be able to use soap and water to clean the wood for the most part. For more drastic measures, use sandpaper and a belt sander to sand the wood down, as this is going to remove more of the deposited dirt and other residues that are present on the planks. If there are any screws or nails that seem rusty or are otherwise in disarray, now would be the time to remove them and replace them.

Step #5: Make Necessary Replacements

While you are going about the cleaning process for your used scaffolding, now would be the time to also consider making necessary replacements. If any pipes, poles, nails, screws or boards need to be replaced, do it now. This way, your scaffolds will be completely ready to use once you are finished with the cleaning process.