When we are building on our larger scale works, such as the Hazelnut Inn, we do our best to avoid scaffolding. In our experience, working on a scaffold effectively doubles the time a job takes.

That being said, it isn’t always possible to avoid scaffold work. Unfortunately, it isn’t always possible to use a standard scafold; sometimes the area is too small or the ground below is too steep or uneven.

When that happens we often resort to welding a custom scafflold. And very often these scaffolds are attached to whatever we are building.

Obviously we can’t leave the scaffold in place after we are finished. So what do we do with the areas where our scaffold was attached?

Sometimes we work our way down a structure, cutting the scaffold layer above us off and finishing as we go. Other times however it is better to leave the scaffold in place until the very end and “hide” the scaffold’s attachment point in plane sight. We make it a feature!

The small metal plate attached to the rock-work, pictured below, is called a rock bolt. They are used to stabilize rock excavations and are ubiquitous in our region. It blends into the jumble of rock and stone in this area perfectly and helps tell the story of an unstable wall. Little do our guests know, it doubled as a scaffold anchor point while we were building the wall.

So, the next time you have an unsightly necessity on your job site, you may want to consider making it a feature!