This article asks: can you work on a roof without scaffolding? Learn about the considerations and alternatives in our comprehensive guide. Understand the potential risks, safety measures, and equipment choices when working on a roof.
Northampton Scaffolders offer bespoke scaffolding hire throughout Northampton, Daventry, Wellingborough and Northamptonshire. Whether it's ladders, safety harnesses, or other methods, we provide insights to help you make informed decisions for a secure and efficient roofing project.
What’s the point of scaffolding?
While scaffolding can be annoying, especially if it prevents easy access to your home or business, it does serve a vital purpose. Roofers and other construction professionals are much safer when using scaffolding to access your roof. It also allows them to handle any materials and tools safely, rather than running up and down all day, which only increases the risk of injury.
Therefore, while scaffolding might inconvenience you for a day or two, it helps construction workers to be safe and efficient when working. This increased efficiency means you won't have to worry about the scaffolding for long anyway.
Is scaffolding necessary?
If you're having any work done to your roof, then scaffolding is definitely necessary. The only time you won't need scaffolding is if workers can access your roof from inside your property. For example, if you have a flat roof or one with a low pitch, you might have stairs granting access to it.
There are some cases where scaffolding wouldn't be appropriate to access your roof. If your roofers need to access awkward or difficult areas, or if your property has more than two storeys, then scaffolding wouldn't help. Instead, you might opt for a powered access platform.
These platforms are far more flexible than scaffolding frames, offering you a maximum height of around 90 metres. They are also much quicker to install and remove and are often more cost-effective when dealing with difficult roofing jobs.
Do you need scaffolding for Roof work?
Whether you need scaffolding or not depends on the job itself. For example, small roof repairs that you can do yourself might not demand a giant scaffolding frame. However, you want to ensure you or any contractors you hire are safe when working on your roof.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) determine that any roofing work on domestic properties requires scaffolding. However, for small, one-man jobs, this might seem like overkill. Instead, a properly secured ladder might do the trick instead.
However, before attempting any roofing work yourself, you must be honest with your ability to perform the work safely. If you're in any doubt about your abilities, contact a professional roofing company. It's not worth the risk to your own health and the structural integrity of your roofing system.
Poor roofing work can lead to serious issues, such as leaks, which can weaken your roof structure over time. This can then spread to other areas of your home, such as internal ceilings and walls. These issues will cost you significantly more money than you would have spent hiring professional roofers in the first place.
So, if you're wondering whether you need professional scaffolding for your roofing project, consider the following questions:
What are the rules?
If your roofing project needs more than four people working on it, you'll need to conduct a full risk assessment. In almost all cases, your assessment will determine that scaffolding is the safest way for your workers to carry out the project.
How big is the job?
If your project requires you to work on the entire roof, then you'll need scaffolding. Frames are designed to protect both those working on the roof and anyone working beneath it. Therefore, if there's any risk of falling materials or other objects, scaffolding is a necessity.
You can hire scaffolding with protection around the edges to prevent falling objects from injuring those on the ground. If you need to pass materials from the roof to the ground, you might also need to hire a chute that you can safely drop things into.
How Big Is The Job
How Long Will The Job Take
How long will the job take?
If your project will likely take a few days to complete, scaffolding is recommended. This is especially true if the weather is supposed to be unpredictable during your project. You can use the scaffolding to protect exposed bits of roof, materials and tools from inclement weather.
Do I need a platform?
Working on awkward sections of your roof, such as the areas around a chimney, may require the use of a platform. These provide a stable and safe area for your roofers to work from. There are other ways to reach these awkward areas, but none that are safer than using professionally-built scaffolding.
When do I not need scaffolding?
If your roofing project will only take a day to complete and is relatively simple, you might only need a sturdy and properly-secured ladder. Small roofing jobs, such as replacing loose and broken tiles or clearing your guttering, won't require large scaffolding frames to complete.
Of course, you need to bear your safety in mind. So, if you don't think you can't perform these tasks safely on a ladder, then it's better to be safe than sorry and hire some scaffolding. Again, it's best to be honest with yourself about what you can manage.
The height of your roof is also a consideration. For example, if you only have a single-storey, flat roof, then you probably won't need scaffolding. A secure ladder and material chute will usually do the trick if you can guarantee your safety.
It is naturally tempting to try and perform the work yourself. After all, DIY projects are the best way to save money. However, saving money at the cost of your own safety is definitely not worth the risk. Most people will overlook safety when budgeting for their projects, but this is a serious mistake.
If you do decide that scaffolding is needed for your project, ensure it is designed and built properly. You should never improvise your scaffolding or build it from different components that aren't designed to match. You should also ensure you have the right safety gear, such as hard hats and arrest systems to prevent falls and injuries.
How much does Roof Scaffolding cost?
As you can imagine, the size of your property and the heights you need to reach are the main factors determining how expensive your scaffolding will be. For example, for a small, terraced house, costs for scaffolding at the front and back will start around £400.
This can rise to £2,000 and upwards for larger detached homes where you need scaffolding on all sides. Again, the safety this scaffolding provides will be worth every penny. If you're performing a significant renovation, such as a roof replacement, you want to ensure everyone working on it is as safe as possible.
Not only will scaffolding make your project safer, but it will also allow your roofers to do their work more efficiently. Trying to replace a roof without scaffolding can take forever and will generally result in poor-quality work. Rectifying this shoddy work will cost you much more than the original scaffolding costs would.
When considering your costs, ensure that any quotes you receive from roofing companies include scaffolding. This can save you from surprise costs that might throw your budget into chaos. It will also prevent your roofing company from attempting the work without scaffolding.
Even professional roofing companies will try to cut down costs by not using scaffolding. Again, this can be incredibly dangerous. By requesting that scaffolding be included in your quotes, you prove that you're willing to cover the costs. This will encourage your roofing company to be safe for everyone's benefit.
At Northampton Scaffolders, we offer a broad spectrum of scaffolding services for our customers in Northampton to hire. Our family-run business is fully qualified and has all the experience to deliver and install bespoke scaffolding and roofing covers. We complete scaffolding solutions for residential and commercial building projects throughout Northampton, Daventry, Wellingborough and Northamptonshire..
