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I'm in the process of (planning) a house renovation. Among other work needed, there'll be some windows replaced, a couple of new openings punched for windows, and rendering. A couple of folks have said it'll be cheaper and easier to organise scaffolding myself, rather than getting each vendor to supply their own.
Sooo... what would I need to know in order to do that? Size/ amount needed, obvs. But are there different scaffolding layouts for different types of work? How much does it tend to cost to rent for, say, 4 months? What other challenges/ issues are there?
Every time I've ordered scaffolding I have gone to a scaffolding firm directly.
They ask what you need it for i.e. accessing what etc and then they put it up.
They decide on quantity and layout based around what is safe and what you need access to.
Simples.
What other challenges/ issues are there?
You might need the scaffolders to come back and move things about a bit - they quite often adjust levels etc mid way through a house renovation as different bits of work need platforms at different levels etc.
We regularly have to do this for my mum and dad's place as something is always falling off it (3.5 story victorian monstrosity) Call a scaffolder & tell them your requriements. They'll come out and estimate it - amount for hire and cost of erection. You cannot build a tower yourself, well you could, but you'd need at least a PASMA quali if you were to use kit towers. It's different / more difficult if you want to build meccano style scaffoling - I did a course years ago and decided I'd much rather let someone else hoik 4m scaffold poles around at height.
Challenges we face are mainly down to getting the bloomin stuff. There's a shortage right now. Access might be an issue at the back of some properties. I know our neighbours had a crane in to lift big items over the house when they did their roof a few years ago. We occasionally use a genie/spider lift instead as we can get it into hard to reach areas quickly - the chimney stack is often worst for this. We have issues with stability on one side of the house as the footing has to span a 3m void, some decking my dad failed to maintain and a victorian staircase that would be ideal for support were it not supported by blind faith alone.
We've been waiting on an installation since the storms in feb/march. Insurance are baulking at the cost which is coming in at around £4k for the scaffolding + a further £2k for the repairs themsleves.
Scaffolders are "unique".
Most of the cost is in the putting up and taking down, so you only want to do this bit once.
You could get a price from my mates company who operate almost nationwide:
https://www.wescaffoldanyhouse.com/
Scaffolders are “unique”.
Hell, yes!
Scaffolders are “unique”.
Yes, yes they are!
Scaffolders are “unique”.
^Very much this!
The couple of times I’ve got some, there’s just been a one-off cost for getting it put up in the first place. This was for an indeterminate time and they came back a few times to alter the lifts to suit different jobs as part of that.
The biggest challenge was to get them to take it away again at the end.
Ask the first set of contractors what they want (or get them on site when getting quotes for the job).
Never argue with scaffolders, hardest men on the site, not even a brickie would get on the wrong side of them.
I'm using scaffolding all the time for render work, restoration, pointing etc.
Good advice so far, get a couple of quotes to know where prices are going. As has been said, time up will cost but the bulk of the price is in erection and dismantling.
Things to think about specifically - render work will require the scaff is not too close to the wall, so the scaffolder will need to know how far out you want it. If it is too close you run the risk of 'lift lines' in the finish. Sometimes we have what is called a single board hop, basically a single scaff board between wall and scaff that can be removed to give more working room.
Ideally no hand rails on the inside as they will be in the way of the render and other work - however if the scaff is too far out they won't do this for obvious reasons, again speak to the scaffolders about what you need and are doing.
Prices vary by region but simple straight scaffs with easy access for the team can be very good value. If its an awkward access and or a non standard build then prices go up
Do you need a gin wheel or hoist to get materials up? Can be hard to fit one if it is not planned for.
Do you need debris net? This stops dust and crap flying out and landing on cars in the street etc.
Do you need a permit if it's on the street? Local highways authority/council will provide one.
If it's render work the scaff could get very mucky - the scaffolders won't like this so be prepared to clean down the scaff and also consider wrapping areas that will get clarted up. It will save you a lot of time in the long run
lastly do you want the scaff attached to the building ie drilled into bolts in the wall? If this is an issue then there will need to be another way of stabilising - could be buttresses or maybe expansion systems in window openings. Again discuss with the scaffolder
The biggest challenge was to get them to take it away again at the end.
not when there is a shortage of scaffolding, I had up last summer, phoned them telling them I was done, it was gone by 9am the next morning, the first I knew was when the impact drivers started going outside my bedroom window.
Watch out for damage caused by the bolts they use. We have pretty poor quality sandstone round here and the expanding bolts they hammer in tend to shatter some of the stonework. To top it off as it is coastal the threaded bolts they have used in the past are so corroded they can’t be reused. More holes required for new scaffold. Nylon plugs preferable for me.
Ask for a cash price after they give you their first price..
If the scaffold is to be sheeted or debris netted it should be tied to the wall before the netting or sheeting is attached. The ties should be pull tested to ensure that they can cope with any wind-loading. This will put the cost up somewhat as a designed structure will be needed from a recognised engineer with professional indemnity insurance.
Check that your scaffolders have access to such a beast at quotation time, if required. Run from anyone that offers to sheet an untied scaffold it will fall over in a stiff breeze/gale and picking it up will be expensive and possibly involve a day out in court.
What do you want to know exactly?
Post or send me a pic and I can give you specific advice.
Been in the industry 35 years, own company for twenty.
Some advice above is solid, some is anecdotal nonsense.
jam-bo
impact drivers
What's wrong with a podger? ;o)
rather than getting each vendor to supply their own.
Get someone in to do it all?
Never argue with scaffolders, hardest men on the site
Same goes for the commute. Go toe to toe with skip lorries, cabbies, white van men etc but don't **** with the scaffolders
Thanks very much everyone, this is all very helpful.
gooner69
Full Member
What do you want to know exactly?
erm... well to start, I probably need to know what bits I wouldn't think to ask or find out about! 😀 I genuinely have no clue about what's what, whether you can even (as the owner of a small home) ring up a firm and say "yep, I'd like some scaffolding, ta", and so on.
But it sounds like once the plasterers/ window suppliers/ etc are booked in it should be possible to ask them what they need, then work with a scaffolding firm to get it set up roughly to what they require, and so on.
I would walk about locally and see what others have done, take a pic and get a price. We had a local firm in who put a sign up so at least you know who to contact.
Also, get them to protect drive by putting boards under skip.
Warn the neighbours, ours came at 7am put their music on really loud.
On completion, didn't take it down till their next job as you 're free storage.