Find and hire scaffolding companies

Whether you’re planning a loft conversion, extension, or replacing the roof, this guide will give you tips for finding and hiring the best scaffolders near you.

The easier way to book quality trades

Download app

When planning an extension, roof work, or updates to the exterior of your property, you’ll need to think about hiring scaffolding for the project.

In this guide, we’ll help you find the best local scaffolders for the job. Keep reading to find out more.

What qualifications do scaffolders need?

Reputable scaffolders in the UK should have the following:

• A Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) card

• Certification from a recognised scaffolding training course, such as the Construction Industry Scaffolders Record Scheme (CISRS) course

Scaffolding Association

The Scaffolding Association is the UK's largest trade body for the scaffolding industry.

Scaffolding Association members have to demonstrate competence and commitment to high standards of safety and technical quality.

Other scaffolding accreditations

In addition to the above, various national bodies offer certifications and accreditations for tradespeople in the UK.

If possible, look out for scaffolders who also have any of the following qualifications or accreditations:

• Competent Person Scheme

• NVQ (National Vocational Qualifications)

• City & Guilds Certifications

Scaffolding rules and regulations

Here are some of the main rules and regulations around scaffolding, according to Gov.uk:

• Only trained and competent builders or scaffolding contractors can put up scaffolding

• It’s the responsibility of the builder or scaffolding company to get a licence for any scaffolding they put up

• It’s your responsibility to check they have this legal document and that it doesn’t run out before the building work is finished.

• By law, builders and scaffolding contractors must make sure scaffolding is safe:

  • Before they first use it

  • Every seven days while it’s up

  • After any alterations, damage, or extreme weather conditions

Related content: Scaffolding health and safety rules.

How much does hiring scaffolding cost?

The average cost for hiring scaffolding for a 2-storey semi-detached house is around £875.

Here are some other average costs for hiring scaffolding in the UK:

• Single scaffolding (up to 10m) – £625

• Single tower over conservatory – £420

• High level chimney scaffolding – £660

• Bridge over conservatory – £650

For more information about prices, check out our guide to scaffolding costs.

Tips for hiring scaffolding

Here are some of our top tips for hiring scaffolding in the UK:

• When hiring a scaffolder, make sure that they’re fully trained in erecting and dismantling scaffolding

• Check that a competent person will be on-site at every stage of the scaffolding process

• Only ever hire scaffolders with the right level of insurance for the work they’re carrying out

• Before any work is carried out, make sure strength and stability calculations for scaffolding are carried out

• When hiring scaffolding, toe boards, guard rails, and other barriers must be in place

• Inspections must be carried out by a competent person to ensure the scaffolding is safe for use

Need to hire scaffolding? We always recommend speaking to experienced local scaffolding companies to get their professional advice.

Questions to ask local scaffolders

The best way to find out if a local scaffolder is right for the job is to have a chat with them.

By asking a few specific questions you can find out who has the right skills and experience.

Do you have references for previous customers?

Speaking to previous customers is an excellent way of finding out the quality of the service that a tradesperson offers.

Do you have insurance?

Whatever home improvement job you’re planning, it’s important to work with tradespeople who have the appropriate insurance.

They’ll need suitable cover for their work, just in case anything goes wrong.

That’s why we make it mandatory for all Checkatrade members to have up-to-date public liability insurance to be listed in our directory.

What’s your availability and when can you do the work?

The best local scaffolder will often get booked up in advance. So, the earlier you book them in, the better.

It’s also a good idea to ask them how long they think it will take them to carry out the work. And exactly what you can expect as part of the job.

How much do you charge?

It’s always important to find out how much they’ll charge you for hiring scaffolding.

Make sure you ask for a breakdown of costs so that you can compare them with quotes from other tradespeople.

As part of the quoting process, make sure they give you details of exactly what is included in their price – such as labour, materials, and waste disposal.

Does your work come with a guarantee?

Many scaffolders will offer a guarantee for their work. And good news if you hire through Checkatrade…

Checkatrade members come with the Checkatrade guarantee! Find and book your scaffolder with us and we'll guarantee their work up to £1,000. Guaranteed for 12 months - Eligibility and T&Cs apply.

How do I find a good scaffolder?

Here at Checkatrade, we have two quick and easy ways to help you find the best scaffolders near you:

• Request a quote by telling us what you need doing and we'll get approved scaffolders in your area to contact you directly

• Enter your postcode into the search box below to browse a list of top Checkatrade scaffolders near you

You can also check out our top tips in our guide to finding a scaffolder near you.