Hire periods are flexible
There's no fixed length for scaffolding hire. A chimney repair might need a scaffold for a week or two, a re-roof for several weeks, and a construction project for months. Scaffolding companies price the hire around your project, and most allow the hire to be extended if needed.
How hire periods are usually priced
Many quotes include erection, dismantling and an initial hire period of a set number of weeks in one price. If the scaffold stays up beyond that, a weekly hire charge is added. The length of the initial period and the weekly rate vary between companies, so they're worth comparing alongside the headline price.
Some companies quote differently – for example, a lower initial price with a shorter included period. Neither approach is better in itself; what matters is the total cost for the realistic length of your job.
What makes jobs overrun
- Bad weather delaying roofing, rendering or painting
- Extra repairs found once work starts – for example, rotten timbers under a roof
- Trades not being available when planned
- Waiting for materials or decisions
- Additional work being added while the scaffold is up
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Planning the right length of hire
Ask your tradespeople for a realistic timescale, including weather, and agree the order of work if more than one trade will use the scaffold. Book the scaffold to go up shortly before the work starts, and ask for it to come down promptly once everything has been checked and signed off.
Don't rush the dismantling, though. If something has been missed, putting a scaffold back up usually costs almost as much as the first time.
Long-term hire on commercial projects
On construction and commercial projects, scaffolds may stay up for many months and be adapted several times. Hire is often charged weekly or periodically after the initial period, and adaptations are usually priced separately. Phasing work and removing sections that are no longer needed can help control costs.
