Ahh, that word “scaffolding” which drives fear into many. It is usually a necessity for the safety of your roofer, but do you think it is H&S gone mad?
I personally don’t think so. I make sure that my requirements for a scaffold are always with honest reasons such as the height of the property or the difficulty of the access. When a roofer explains that he needs a scaffold do try to remember that he or she will be on your roof, they will be at least 2 storeys up doing quite a laborious job.
Here are my Tips on how to know a scaffold necessity from a scaffold that’s not needed:
- How high is the property? If your home is over 2 storeys then it is law to use a scaffold. We simply can’t bypass this.
- How easy is the access? If you need your roofer to replace your chimney, two storeys up and over a conservatory, he/she will need a scaffold! Not just for the task of bringing all the debris down but for the safety of themselves. A chimney is a difficult object to remove, and the position to sit/stand in is usually pretty dangerous so scaffolding is there to protect them too. This can be true of other objects such as gutter replacement, tile and ridge repairs and many others. Try and think to yourself – would I want to send my loved one to do this work without a scaffold? If the answer is a no, then you have the answer!
- Think of other jobs you’d like to get done while the scaffold is up – you can get a lot done when you think about it! If you want your house painted, the windows cleaned, your rendering done…the list goes on!
- Ask for advice – if you are honestly concerned that the scaffolding is not needed then ask for advice, get another roofer’s opinion and quote and see what they say.
So, what are your scaffold stories? Do tell me about any concerns you have about scaffolding and I’ll help where I can!
Keeping the roof over your head happy,
John the reliable roofer
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