Scaffolding for Chimney Work

A chimney scaffold provides a boarded platform with guardrails around the stack. Depending on the house, it may be supported by a scaffold built up from the ground, or built on the roof itself with measures to spread the load and protect the roof covering. Access to it is usually via a scaffold at eaves level.

The right design depends on where the chimney sits – on the front or rear slope, on the ridge or on a gable end – and on the height of the house. That's why chimney scaffolds vary so much in price.

On terraces and semis, chimneys often sit on the party wall and are shared with the neighbour. Repairing or removing a shared stack usually needs the neighbour's agreement, and the scaffold may need to stand on their side too. Talk to them early.

Photos of the chimney from the street and the garden, and a note of which side of the roof it's on, help companies understand the job. Many will want to visit before confirming a price for chimney scaffolds, because access makes such a difference.