What to Consider When Renting Mast Climber Scaffolding

If you are in construction, you have likely heard about the need for scaffolding equipment. One of the newer pieces of scaffolding equipment, a mast climber scaffolding, makes your job easier and allows you to complete your project more quickly. A mast climber scaffolding has a high price tag such that you may be wondering whether it is best for your company to rent or to buy a mast climber scaffolding. 

When you are deciding whether to buy or rent mast climber scaffolding, you will want to consider other factors besides the initial purchase price of this piece of equipment. The following provides an overview of factors you should consider when deciding whether to rent or buy a master climber scaffolding.

What is Scaffolding Equipment? 

According to Britannica, a scaffold in building construction is a “temporary platform used to elevate and support workers and materials during the construction, repair, or cleaning of a structure or machine; it consists of one or more planks of convenient size and length, with various methods of support, depending on the form and use.” 

Scaffolding equipment comes in many sizes and types. The common types of scaffolding is single scaffolding, steel scaffolding, suspended scaffolding, trestle scaffolding, and masonry scaffolding. 

Nowadays, contractors have the option to use either traditional scaffolding or mast climber scaffolding. Mast climber scaffolding is also referred to as “mast climbers” in the construction industry. Mast climber scaffoldings “are power-driven work platforms that climb a vertical mast or tower to reach higher and carry greater loads than traditional scaffolds.” 

You may be asking yourself, “what is so special about mast climber scaffolding?” When a mast climber scaffolding is installed properly, it can enhance productivity. Your project will be completed more quickly, saving time and money. Additionally, it can increase the safety of your workers. 

Masonry Magazine reported that a mast climber scaffolding, in comparison to traditional scaffolding equipment, has “measurable advantages in terms of work productivity, speed, and weight capacity.” Masonry Magazine further spoke with Clint Bridges, Vice President at EZ Scaffold, who explained mast climber scaffolding “substantially increase production and decreases labor . . . [and] give you an option that can increase production with dramatic labor savings. With the labor shortage these days, contractors are turning to mast climbers to save labor. It’s more important now than ever to do more with less.” 

A mast climbing scaffolding is also beneficial in that it provides: 

• great stability 
• push-button operation
• can hold a heavier load
• increase safety by reducing the risk of fall
• travels at a faster speed
• has auxiliary power in case of an emergency
• allows for more ergonomic work positions
• can also cause less negative environmental impacts 

Despite all these advantages mast climber scaffolding offers, this piece of equipment is not widely owned because of how expensive one costs. Many contractors are faced with the decision of whether they should rent or buy a mast climber scaffold for their project.

Rent Versus Buying Mast Climber Scaffolding 

Because of the high price associated with mast climber scaffolding, renting may be an optimal choice for your company. However, consider these following factors when renting a mast climber scaffold. 

Factor 1: The Type of Job You are Completing 

It is true that a mast climber scaffolding is not appropriate for every job. Notwithstanding this, a mast climber scaffolding is estimated to benefit a total of 85% of all construction jobs completed. A mast climber scaffolding should be used on projects where tall buildings are completed.

Masonry Magazine reported that “you start to really see the benefits of mast climbers from 5 stories and above and the savings and efficiencies grow from there,” and “the contractor should expect significant savings with a direct correlation between the height of the building and the size of the savings.” 

Although most contracts tend to associate a mast climber scaffolding with high-rise construction, in fact, they are most often used on structures that are under 60 feet. If your construction project is a low-rise project that is less than about five stories, some contractors have reported they are “marginally competitive with other types of scaffolding.”

Therefore, if you have a low-rise project, renting a mast climber scaffolding is the best financial choice for your company. However, if you have a high-rise construction project, a mast climber scaffolding would definitely be a benefit to your project. However, depending on the following factors, purchasing a mast climber scaffolding may be the better choice. 

Factor 2: Frequency of Low-Rise or High-Rise Jobs 

This is an important factor to consider and requires a cost-benefit solution. If your company is frequently doing low-rise projects and, only occasionally gets a high-rise project, you should definitely stick to renting a mast climber scaffolding. The price of purchasing a mast climber scaffolding would not likely benefit your company in the long run. 

On the other hand, if your company frequently does high-rise construction projects, consider purchasing a mast climber scaffolding. Frequently renting a mast climber scaffolding can, over a length of time, be more expensive than purchasing one outright. 

Factor 3: Length of the Project 

Finally, if you have a high-rise construction project, consider how long your job is going to take. As a general rule, if you have a short-term job, such as less than four months, renting a mast climber scaffolding is the most viable option. However, if you have multiple short-term jobs lined up, or one long-term job, purchasing may be the best option in that instance. 

A mast climber scaffolding is a useful piece of equipment. When applied to any construction projects that are at least five stories, contractors can see an impressive increase in their profit margins. However, because the price of a mast climber scaffolding can be a large investment, consider how what type of project you have, what type of projects you frequently receive, and the length of your project when considering whether to rent a mast climber scaffolding. 

Rent Mast Climber Scaffolding Equipment

At Bracing Systems, we are here to supply your construction equipment rental needs. We have a never-ending inventory of construction equipment every contractor needs to get the job done including Powermast scaffolding and Hydro Mobile Scaffolding. Contact us today to get the equipment you need for your project.