DIY Scaffold Towers

Why choose a DIY scaffold tower?

Typically, DIY work on upper floors of a home (or even commercial buildings) is done with a ladder. But for larger-scale work that requires a lot of horizontal movement, constantly repositioning the ladder adds to the labour and is inefficient. The answer to this issue is to use a scaffold tower.

With a scaffold tower, you will gain freedom of horizontal movement as well as enhanced stability. Utilising access towers means you can get work done faster too, as the three-point contact rule of ladders no longer applies, freeing both hands to do the work. Safety is not a concern with scaffold towers; they come with stabilising bars and four support anchors to firmly keep the access tower in place.

All of our DIY range is aluminium scaffold towers, meaning they are lightweight and easy to maintain.

In general, a DIY access tower should be used instead of a ladder if:

• You need to work at height for extended periods (30 minutes plus).
• You need more freedom of movement whilst working at height.
• You are unable to secure or stabilise your ladder.

What can DIY scaffold towers be used for?

Many people often assume that scaffold towers are for outdoor use, typically by trade workers carrying out construction work. DIY scaffold towers from BPS are extremely versatile for both indoor and outdoor tasks. For example, with our Home Master DIY access tower, you can use it partly erect, which would suit indoor DIY like decorating rooms or ceilings, or you can fully erect it for outdoor use, such as painting your house and gardening.

Examples of what you can use a scaffold tower for are as follows:

• Painting and decorating – Bring inside your home in its compact state to target interior high walls, and use outside to paint facades and eaves.
• Roof repair and maintenance – Ideal for low-pitch roof inspections, tile re-fixing and small patch repairs. Tools are directly accessible at platform height, making the working environment highly efficient.
• Gutter cleaning and fascia work – Clean/repair gutters and paint or replace fascias/soffits all whilst using castor wheels for easy access on the horizontal plane.
• Window repair and replacement – Window repair is a very work-intensive task that requires two hands and multiple pieces of equipment.
• Tree pruning and garden maintenance – Oftentimes, the garden area has unstable or uneven ground, and our scaffold towers solve this with their support system.
• Large-scale maintenance – From fixing external lights to cleaning solar panels.

Are scaffold towers difficult to assemble?

You may think that, compared to other access equipment, scaffold towers may be hard to set up – but it’s likely most people are thinking of full-scale industrial scaffold towers that tradesmen use. Our DIY scaffold towers are different – they use an assemble and dismantle method that is completely tool-free and straightforward for domestic users.

Each tower uses BPS’s “3T (through the trap) method”: you slot a vertical standard into the platform trapdoor, then add cross-braces and guardrails in a simple, intuitive sequence laid out in the manual. It is so simple that it would easily pass a risk assessment by any professional tradesman.

If, for any reason, you have difficulty in the construction of your scaffold tower, contact our after-sales department. BPS Access Solutions prides itself on its customer service team, from the first point of contact to years after the warranty.

How do I tell which scaffold tower (DIY) is for me?

Our full range of DIY scaffolding has been created to suit different needs. If you are having trouble choosing between the four, consider the following:

1. Working height requirement – What is your maximum requirement? Our range gives:
   • Home Master® DIY Scaffold Tower – platforms at 2 m, 2.75 m, 4 m or 5 m, giving working heights of 4 m, 4.75 m, 6 m or 7 m.
   • Premium DIY Scaffold Tower – identical working heights to Home Master (4 m–7 m) with “Twist & Lock” braces.
   • Premium Plus DIY Scaffold Towers – same height range (4 m–7 m), plus height-adjustable wheels & outriggers included.
   • Home Master® 5 in 1 Platform Combination Ladder – platform heights 0.76 m–1.04 m (working reach ~2.76 m–3.04 m)—ideal for low-level tasks.
2. Check your ground and loading requirements – All models share a 150kg weight rating, but each has their specific stabilising methods. Outriggers are horizontal support arms that bolt to the tower’s base and spread outwards for support, whereas stabiliser bars are fixed cross-members fitted at the base of the ladder/tower.
   • Homemaster DIY – Features a patented soft ground anchoring spikes grip on grass/soil, and outrigger attachments (sold separately for 4-5m or included on 6m – 7m).
   • Premium DIY – Telescopic outriggers are standard on 6m – 7m, optional on 4m – 5m as well as stabiliser bars fitted on all sizes for side-to-side stability.
   • Premium plus DIY – Outriggers standard on all sizes, with height-adjustable wheels available for sloping sides.
   • Homemaster 5-in-1 – Twin stabiliser bars with rubber feet broaden the base when used in platform mode.
3. Factor in frequency of use and portability – How much you move will determine the most suitable tower for you; some scaffold towers are more heavy-duty and less portable than others:
   • Home master DIY and premium DIY – Lightweight aluminium scaffold tower. Compact packed length (around 2m), tool-free, colour-coded or twist-lock braces for easy assembly.
   • Premium Plus DIY – Lockable wheels and built-in outriggers for fast repositioning and stable use on sloping or soft sites.
   • Home Master 5 in 1 Platform Ladder – Multifunctional access equipment serving many needs, whether that be a step, extension or stair ladder, as well as platforms.