In 2023, the average cost of scaffolding in London is between £60 and £190 per day. The price of your scaffolding is determined by how many days you are hiring and its size. Assembling and disassembling are included In the rental price.
So you need help with budgeting. This scaffolding cost guide looks at various scaffold fees, broken down in detail so you can better understand and calculate your estimate of what your project will cost.
Scaffolding Hire Price List
| Job | Price per week |
|---|---|
| Chimney | £500 – £650 |
| Conservatory | £400 – £900 |
| Gutter repair | £250 – £400 |
| Semi-detached homes | £800 – £1 200 |
| landmark | £900 |
The best and quickest way to find out the price of your project is to get a quote. You will also know if you are getting a good value. Whether you want to compare scaffolding hire quotations you already have or are about to get, you need to know if the scaffolders are not overcharging you.
The cost breakdown
When you need to know the cost of scaffolding, and whether it’s a commercial or domestic project, you need to ensure that you have safe ease of access to inaccessible areas during construction. The scaffolding costs will vary in many companies depending on the size of the building, work at height, and ease of access, among other things. Your recommended local builder need to work with a reliable scaffolding firm depending on the nature of the project being undertaken.
Chimney
It is not uncommon to find your chimney has cracked or unstable chimney stacks that need repair. Scaffolding for the chimney will come in handy for your contractor to have easy and safe access. The cost of hiring scaffolding will vary depending on where your chimney is located, whether at the eaves, ridge, or gable end.
The ease of access to the chimney that needs to be repaired will impact the price because the problems incurred vary. For instance, if it is near the eaves, the average scaffolding cost for the chimney is between £450 to £650 per week. It is less because there is easy access.
If the chimney is in the middle of the house, you will be charged more ( between £900 to £1000 per week ) for the chimney scaffold. It costs more to erect scaffolding because of the difficulty in accessing the area for the chimney work.
Conservatory, Greenhouse and Orangery
To easily access such roof areas, there will need to be a scaffolding bridge over the conservatory. So the cost of the conservatory scaffolds is between £400 to £900 on a weekly basis. On the other hand, if it is a smaller job, you can get away with just a Conservatory Access Ladder.
Where there’s a conservatory, it will be difficult to access. Most conservatories are built using materials that can barely hold much weight load, such as glass. Access to the other parts of the roof, like roof tiles or a gutter, will be difficult. Hence you will incur an extra fee to install the scaffolding bridge.
Loft conversion
Different loft conversion types involve the need for alterations made to the existing roof structure. For this to be possible, you may require roof scaffolding to allow easy access to the roof work that may need to be done, such as roof repairs for your loft. Scaffolding for a loft will cost you £500, depending on the complexity and nature of the project.
Gutter repair
When repairing the gutter, you can opt for an access tower, as it will serve the purpose depending on the gutter height. This costs you between £70 and £150 every week. The gutter repair scaffolding prices can range between £250 to £400 on a weekly basis. You will also require scaffolding for gutter cleaning.
If required scaffolding is less complicated, it doesn’t mean that it will be cheap. The scaffolding prices for the access tower are still affordable compared to erecting a static one.
Semi-detached homes
The cost of hiring scaffolding in London for semi-detached homes can be £800 and £1200 a week. Semi-detached house happens to be one of the costly options that you can consider, depending on whether the roofing has gable walls or equally levelled eaves will determine how the scaffold structure will be installed.
You need to establish whether the scaffolding will get to your neighbour’s property. Is your roof close to the boundary? If that’s the case, you’ll need to acquire a permit.
It is essential to note that this price is for one level. If the building work requires other levels, then the cost of hiring scaffolding will be more. Other prices to keep in mind:
- Between £1000 to £1250 per week for scaffolding around a 4-storey semi-detached house. Of course, this will depend on your location and time limit, among other things.
- Around £750 to £900 weekly for a 2-bed semi-detached house, depending on your location, among other things.
- Expect to pay anything between £900 to £1150 for a 3-bed semi-detached house on a weekly basis.
- Between £550 to £700 for 10-meter scaffolding for the first floor. The set-up for such a scaffold is easy since it can take around two to three hours.
- Wall work is more costly and quite common for terraced houses. Expect to pay approximately £310 every week for one side. On average, the costs of scaffolding hire range between £960 and £1100.
How about the scaffolding cost per m2
The average price of scaffolding per square meter is £15. Erecting scaffolding, dismantling, and labour costs are included in the overall rental price.
If you’re not planning on buying your own scaffold structures, here’s an overview of the cost you will have to pay per square meter:
- Around £15 per square meter for the independent scaffold.
- Roughly £10 per square meter for edge protectors.
- Around £10 per square meter for guardrails.
What are the other additional costs you might incur
Depending on the London scaffolding hire company you choose to work with, you might find yourself incurring different costs. Some of the additional costs you’re likely to incur include the following:
- If there’s a need for a bridge like in the conservatory, it will cost you around £400 in addition to any other scaffolding that may be necessary. It is advisable to be sure of the quote and what it entails before hiring any scaffold companies.
- If the scaffolding tower interrupts any public access to areas like footpaths or roads. You will need a permit. Council license fees are from £45 per month or £215 a week. depending on your location. It is also important to note that the charges can be per scaffold instead of per project.
- You will also need a clearance company for waste removal services to remove any rubbish from the site. This means you’ll have to incur an extra cost of around £250. It is good to opt for a clearance company that provides eco-friendly services.
Factors affecting the cost of scaffolding
There are many factors that have an impact on the scaffolding cost you’re likely to incur. Some of these factors are as discussed below:
Length of hire
You will be charged depending on the duration you’re going to need the scaffolding. Most scaffold companies in London have a rental period of between six to eight weeks. The more you keep the scaffolds, the more you will pay for it.
Your location
Scaffolding costs more in London and its surrounding areas compared to other rural parts of the UK. Because of obstructing you will incure on coun
Scaffold length and height
The length of scaffolding you’ll need for your project plays an important role in determining the cost. The longer the height of the scaffold, the more you’re going to be charged for the scaffold cost especially since it takes more time to assemble. The same goes for if you’ll require more than one level for the scaffold.
Accessibility
The ease of access greatly influences the overall scaffolding costs. Suppose the scaffolders will have obstacles, such as tight passages when assembling the scaffolds. The project will incur additional charges due to the increased complexity and work involved.
Scaffolding placement that happens to restrict public access to roads or footpaths will lead to further charges, such as council license fees and installing edge protection.
How many working platforms do you need
The number of walking levels or working platforms also plays a key role in determining the cost. Essentially, each additional walking level implies a proportional increase in the amount of materials, labour, and time required to erect the scaffold, thereby raising the overall cost. Each extra level requires its own set of safety features, such as guardrails, toe boards, and special walkways, all of which add to the total budget. Scaffolders refer to walking levels as boarded lifts.
Any extras such as additional materials
Extras in scaffolding can encompass a wide array of materials beyond the basic structure. These can include safety equipment such as ladders, ladder rungs, edge protectors, handrails, and special walkways designed to ensure secure and efficient movement around the site. In addition, materials like walking boards for better footing, horizontal tubes for additional structural support, and waste chutes for efficient debris management can also be part of the extras. However, most scaffold quotes do not typically include these additions. So, if you require any of these materials, be sure to communicate this to the scaffolder during the planning stage.
Are there other alternatives?
Depending on the project you’re undertaking, you’ll realise that not all the work needs scaffolding. Some of the viable alternatives that you can opt for in such cases include the following:
- Access tower. Also known as a scaffold tower. Hiring a scaffold tower makes a great alternative to be used in areas that don’t need a lot of movement. They’re also an affordable option since their weekly hire rate is £39. You can also have them custom-made and in different sizes to fit the staircase.
- Trestles/ access platform. Costing around £40 to hire per week, this alternative is ideal for indoor use. Whether it’s a simple paint job or decorating your interiors, this option is suitable because aside from offering safe access, whoever’s using it also gets a wide working surface with minimal strain.
- A ladder. Although ladders are the cheapest alternative to scaffolding, it doesn’t mean that they’re suitable for the job at hand. It is advisable to use a ladder if it’s safe to do so when working at height. You certainly do not want to risk getting hurt.
- Scissor lift. This alternative is especially suitable for projects with limited surface area. The scaffolding rental cost ranges from £300 a day. Another thing that makes it convenient is that it doesn’t require much time to set it up or dismantle it as it can be moved from one place to the other and you only need to adjust the height/length.
In this scaffolding cost guide, you learned that scaffolding is typically charged by the day and the average cost of scaffolding per day is £60 and £190. The more days you need it for, the less it will cost you per day.
