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Painting Your Home's Exterior: Three Ways To Stay Safe During Your Home Improvement Project

Painting your home's exterior, or doing any other repairs to the siding, can make your home look great. However, you'll need to make sure you take the proper safety precautions to prevent injuries. Whether you are tackling the project on your own or you are having friends over to help, using the proper safety gear is important. Here are just a few things to consider when preparing for your project.

Scaffolding

Ladders may give you the height you need to paint the home, but they can be unstable. Scaffolding creates a stable platform for you to stand on as you paint or perform repairs. The platforms for scaffolding typically offer room for your paint cans, brushes and other equipment as well, which can make your project go a bit more smoothly. Scaffolding for outdoor work typically requires a bit of assembly, as you will need to build the platform you will be using. You can choose to rent enough scaffolding to surround the house, or you can rent one section of scaffolding if you are willing to move it from one side of the house to the next.

Safety Goggles And Masks

Even though you will be painting outdoors, you still need to worry about protection for your eyes, nose and mouth. If you are using a paint sprayer, the fumes and mist can still cause injuries. Be sure to wear goggles and a face mask whenever you are using paint, paint thinners, strippers or other chemicals. This protective equipment can also come in handy if the weather becomes windy, as it can prevent small items from blowing into your eyes or mouth while you are on your scaffolding. Be sure to keep these items in the toolbox on your scaffolding platform so they are handy whenever you begin work.

Fall Protection Kit

In addition to using scaffolding, another way to ensure your safety is to use a fall protection kit. These kits are readily found at home improvement stores, and they may be available for rent from your scaffolding rental company. The kits include a harness, clamps, ropes and buckles, and they typically come in a bag or bucket for storage. Additionally, they may also come with a hard hat. These kits are ideal for wear when you are painting fascia and soffit near the roof line, and they can also come in handy should you ever need to perform any roof repairs.

Keeping yourself safe should be your first priority whenever you tackle a home repair project. If you are planning on painting the exterior of your home, consider these options for safety as you work. For more tips, talk to a professional like Savage Scaffold & Equipment Co.


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