Fixture Install

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mstrlucky74

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If you had (50) 2x2's in a 25' ceiling where you needed a lift would they, in your opinion, take longer than installing n a standard height ceiling where your working off a ladder and if so why? I was always told it's about 50-75% more labor due to the up/down factor.
 
Up and down also lateral movement on the lift. One the ground two men working on ladders is easy, on a 25' ceiling it may require two lifts, not as easy.
 
infinity said:
Are you just asking about dropping in the fixtures or actually running the wiring first then installing them? If it's just the fixtures I don't see a 50-75% difference.
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Fixture install only...any fixture. Downlight etc. Was always told that's more labor than installing off ladder. Whether on a lift or ladder its.... take one from ground and up ladder to install, get down move ladder and install next...keep repeating. Seems a lot longer to do if on lift.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Fixture install only...any fixture. Downlight etc. Was always told that's more labor than installing off ladder. Whether on a lift or ladder its.... take one from ground and up ladder to install, get down move ladder and install next...keep repeating. Seems a lot longer to do if on lift.
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Just remember you can carry multiple fixtures on a lift where as on a ladder you can't. Not saying it saves a bunch of time, but this eliminates going up/down for every light.
 
jumper said:
I did not write that correctly.

I meant if it takes 2 guys 2 days to do it. Total 4 man days,
then 1 guy by himself could be 6 days or more.

Lotta wasted time and moves by one guy solo.
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I did understand but thanks. So let me ask..when in field what's the typical process for installing 2x2's if on skid in area of work? Say you have an office area of about 15 fixtures.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
If you had (50) 2x2's in a 25' ceiling where you needed a lift would they, in your opinion, take longer than installing n a standard height ceiling where your working off a ladder and if so why? I was always told it's about 50-75% more labor due to the up/down factor.
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Ok, what kind of lift will be needed for this work? Is this space wide open where a sissor lift will work? Are there areas where there will be obtructions such as racks or machines or anything where a sissor lift wouldn't work and maybe a boom type lift would be needed?

If a boom/bucket lift is needed there will be more up and down trips ( not as much room for extra materials).

The labor for a high ceiling is more because you will have to rent a lift if you don't own one and even if you do there are cost associated with ownership ( plus transporting it to and from job site).

If there are other people on the job site you may need to rope off the area where you are working or use a ground man just to keep people out of the area (safety).
 
growler said:
Ok, what kind of lift will be needed for this work? Is this space wide open where a sissor lift will work? Are there areas where there will be obtructions such as racks or machines or anything where a sissor lift wouldn't work and maybe a boom type lift would be needed?

If a boom/bucket lift is needed there will be more up and down trips ( not as much room for extra materials).

The labor for a high ceiling is more because you will have to rent a lift if you don't own one and even if you do there are cost associated with ownership ( plus transporting it to and from job site).

If there are other people on the job site you may need to rope off the area where you are working or use a ground man just to keep people out of the area (safety).
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Wide open area.

Never seen a bucket lift used for any type of ceiling install in the field although I haven't been out there much.

Just referring to the up and downs of installing a fixture off lift as opposed to ladder.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Wide open area.

Never seen a bucket lift used for any type of ceiling install in the field although I haven't been out there much.

Just referring to the up and downs of installing a fixture off lift as opposed to ladder.
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You can work faster off a sissor type lift than you can from a ladder (especially once you get up to needing a 12 ft ladder or higher)

do anything on a 25 ft ceiling is very hard from a ladder.


Just because it's easier on the installer when useing a lift doesn't mean the labor rates are cheaper. At 25 ft you probably need safety harness and tied off. This slows you down little.
and down forget the ground man.

I'm an old guy and I can put more lights up working from a lift than anyone can from a ladder in a wide open space. If there is no incline I'm not comming down just to move the lift.
 
growler said:
You can work faster off a sissor type lift than you can from a ladder (especially once you get up to needing a 12 ft ladder or higher)

do anything on a 25 ft ceiling is very hard from a ladder.


Just because it's easier on the installer when useing a lift doesn't mean the labor rates are cheaper. At 25 ft you probably need safety harness and tied off. This slows you down little.
and down forget the ground man.

I'm an old guy and I can put more lights up working from a lift than anyone can from a ladder in a wide open space. If there is no incline I'm not comming down just to move the lift.
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So how are the fixtures transported from ground up to install? You bring up a few on the lift then after done go down and get more.....repeat..repeat? On a ladder you would bring only one up.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
So how are the fixtures transported from ground up to install? You bring up a few on the lift then after done go down and get more.....repeat..repeat? On a ladder you would bring only one up.
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Exactly. Load as many as can fit on the lift without damage to the fixtures and still provides adequate space for you to maneuver (usually 4 or so lights). Also, be sure the lights are placed so they cannot fall of the lift. Install those fixtures then go down to get more.
 
MattS87 said:
Exactly. Load as many as can fit on the lift without damage to the fixtures and still provides adequate space for you to maneuver (usually 4 or so lights). Also, be sure the lights are placed so they cannot fall of the lift. Install those fixtures then go down to get more.
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Thanks..so it may actually be quicker!!??

What if it's the type of fixture that only one can fit on lift? Than may take more time.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Thanks..so it may actually be quicker!!??

What if it's the type of fixture that only one can fit on lift? Than may take more time.
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Something like that would take two men and two ladders so a lift is still faster.

The only time you lose time with a lift is on small jobs. If you only have a couple of fixtures to hang then there is all the time spent getting a lift to the job and into the work area. Then the time spent getting the lift off the job.

On bigger jobs I think it's safe to say that the labor saved by useing a lift will always pay off. The bad thing is that you can't always get a lift to where it's needed.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
What if it's the type of fixture that only one can fit on lift?
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Two answers:

1. Then you need a bigger lift. The tool must be appropriately sized for the use.

2. Then you'll never get it up a ladder by yourself, much less hold it up and attach it.
 
We use a lift in our plant when we can. I think it is much safer than trying to carry a fixture up a ladder plus tools. And, if you get up there and discover you need to do some prep work on the fixture, it is easier. Also, our little lift has an extendable front section, and we can often get above machines where you can't get a ladder. There is a tray w/ assorted tools and hardware for that extra screw you suddenly need.
 
mstrlucky74 said:
Thanks..so it may actually be quicker!!??

What if it's the type of fixture that only one can fit on lift? Than may take more time.
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It is probably too big to install with one person and one ladder.

If ceiling is 25' you are getting at the max range of many scissor type lifts and into boom type lift being needed. You very possibly can install multiple fixtures just by pivoting the machine and not actually moving it's location on the ground.
 
At 25' I will not work off a ladder get a lift or lay me off. I'm old and newly retired and have worked off ladders, but still.
What ladder will work at 25'? Still need a ground man plus harness to work with both hands, rope to pull up the tool bag, rope to pull up the light.
To get a feel for estimating ,go try to do the things you bid, like climb that ext.ladder let go and pull up a fixture untie it then try to install it.
 
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