Why Decorators Need More Than a Step Ladder

November 4, 2025

For decorators, every jobsite brings new challenges: high ceilings, awkward staircases, or wide surfaces that need steady access. The wrong equipment can slow you down, limit your reach, and compromise safety.


Here’s how to choose the right access solution for every decorating environment.


High Ceilings & Overhead Work

Challenge: Painting or cutting in at ceiling height without over-reaching.
Solution:

With a stable platform  and safety knee rail, decorators can move 180° and work safely with both hands. The integrated magnetic tool tray keeps essential items within reach, improving efficiency on every job.


Stairwell Decorating

Challenge: Accessing high walls or ceilings above staircases safely.
Solution:

These multi-position ladders can be configured as A-frames, extensions, or stairwell ladders, giving decorators a stable setup wherever they need it. Perfect for homes, commercial staircases, and hallways where consistent footing is essential.


Wide Surface Areas

Challenge: Cutting in or rolling large sections without constant repositioning.
Solution:

The extra-wide treads and platform improve balance and stability, with the safety gate, handrails, and magnetic tool tray providing decorators with a 360° enclosed space to move, hold tools, and maintain steady coverage when using paint rollers or trays.


Repetitive or Longer-duration Tasks

Challenge: Wallpapering, cutting-in, and detailed work require stability for longer periods, especially in commercial or interior refits.
Solution:

The LytePod offers a fully enclosed 360° workspace with a self-closing saloon gate for safe entry and exit. Ideal for decorators working in commercial or industrial environments on longer jobs. With a large platform and guardrail protection, decorators can work confidently and comfortably for extended periods, which is perfect for tasks in offices, public buildings, or high-traffic areas where safety cannot be compromised.


Industrial & Public Building Decorating

Challenge: Working in schools, hospitals, offices, and other public or industrial buildings often means tackling large staircases, high ceilings, and awkward architectural features. Safety and efficiency are key, especially when work takes place around the public or during short maintenance windows.

Solution:

The StairLyte provides a secure, level platform for safe decorating or maintenance work above staircases, which is ideal for reaching high walls, ceilings, or bannisters, making it a trusted choice for schools, hospitals, and multi-level public spaces.


For larger projects or frequent maintenance work, the LIFT provides a modular, mobile access tower that allows decorators and facilities teams to work safely and efficiently at height. Its design offers greater reach and workspace flexibility, reducing the need for scaffolding in many routine maintenance or decorating jobs. This compact, mobile tower fits into small vans or estate cars, making it ideal for decorators moving between sites.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What’s the safest ladder for painting high ceilings?
A: A
platform step ladder or widestep, such as the MagnaStep range, offers a large standing surface and built-in tray for secure, comfortable overhead work.

Q: How can decorators work safely on stairs?
A: Use an
combination ladder like the LCL or GFLCL, or a dedicated StairLyte tower  for a level, secure working area.

Q: What’s the safest access solution for public or industrial spaces?
A: The
LIFT, LytePod and StairLyte ranges are ideal for decorating or maintaining larger spaces such as schools, offices, and hospitals, providing safe and compliant access.



Why Professional Decorators Choose Lyte

Lyte combines craftsmanship and innovation to deliver ladders and access equipment that meet the needs of decorators in every setting, from domestic interiors to large-scale commercial projects.

Maintenance worker using the Boxing Ring Tower to access the roof of a portable building
February 2, 2026
Working on flat roofs and elevated workspaces is a common requirement across construction, transport, facilities management and utilities. Yet it remains one of the most challenging areas to manage safely. Whether accessing the roof of a bus, a welfare unit, a container, a substation or a commercial building, safety at the point of access, plus edge protection on the roof itself is critical. The challenge of accessing flat roofs safely Flat roofs and elevated workspaces are widely used for: Plant and equipment maintenance Vehicle and fleet servicing Inspections and surveys Installation and repair work While the work itself may be straightforward, getting safely onto the roof and working hands-free when in the workspace is often where problems arise. Common issues include: Limited or no edge protection Unsafe transitions from access equipment to roof Increased risk of falls during access and egress In many environments, these risks are difficult to eliminate using standard ladders or basic access equipment. Introducing the Lyte Boxing Ring Tower (BRT) The Lyte Boxing Ring Tower (BRT) provides a fully enclosed overhead workspace that creates true 360-degree fall protection around the work area. This unique “boxing ring” design removes the need to install temporary edge protection before stepping onto the flat roof surface, offering a safer, faster setup for a wide range of elevated tasks. The BRT integrates with Lyte’s HiLyte Tower System and uses a transition deck to allow operatives to step safely onto the roof or elevated surface. The overhead frame extends out from the tower, allowing safe access to work areas where conventional towers cannot reach. This is especially suited to rail, transport, utilities and site accommodation applications. Key features include: 360-degree fall protection barriers around the workspace area Controlled transition from tower to roof Secure, stable access for repeated use Designed for flat roofs and elevated workspaces Once on the roof, operatives can work as required, knowing that the most hazardous part of the task, the access and egress, has been properly controlled. The work is carried out on the roof or surface itself , while the Boxing Ring Tower frame provides 360-degree fall protection around the workspace . Applications for the Boxing Ring Tower The BRT delivers a significantly safer method of access for tasks where users must transition from a tower onto a flat work surface. The solution was developed in response to a transport sector requirement for safe roof access on buses, but the same access challenges exist across many industries. The Lyte Boxing Ring Tower is suited to a wide range of real-world applications, including: Buses, coaches and commercial vehicles Trains and rail vehicles Flat roofs and rooftop plant Substations and utilities infrastructure Containers, welfare units and modular buildings The fully enclosed “boxing ring” workspace surrounds the user and provides 360-degree fall protection, significantly reducing risk when transitioning onto elevated structures. Designed and manufactured in the UK The Boxing Ring Tower is designed and manufactured in the UK , ensuring: Consistent quality and durability Clear specifications for professional use Long-term support and availability This makes it suitable not only for end users, but also for hire companies, contractors and facilities teams who need reliable access solutions. Learn more about the Lyte Boxing Ring Tower If you are responsible for working at height on flat roofs or elevated workspaces, and want a safer way to manage access, the Lyte Boxing Ring Tower offers a practical, purpose-built solution. 👉 View the product here: https://www.lyteladders.co.uk/product/lyte-boxing-ring-tower-BRT
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