Scaffolding for loft

curtis122

Can someone who has had a loft conversion tell me how long scaffolding has to be up for? We are having a Velux conversion so no dormer which will add extra time to the conversion so it will not be needed for that.


The issue is it is going to be sat on our front garden and basically want it gone as soon as they don't need it as in this weather will ruin our garden and also it has to go over onto our neighbours front garden which they are not too happy about makes it worse so want it gone as soon as its not needed. I'm assuming they only need it while putting in the supports?


I'm waiting to hear back from our loft company but won't hear back till next week now and fretting a bit while waiting that its going to have to be up for weeks and weeks!

Hoploz

I think you're going to have to speak to the building company you choose on this one.

My loft is being done right now. It's a bigger than average job including one large and two small dormers, and we had various quotes for the job, most said it'd take 12-14 weeks. The guys we chose reckoned 5-6 weeks. The scaffolding took a few days to go up, then the builders started on 12th March. After 18 working days the job is virtually finished - we have doors and skirtings fitted and just a few more days finishing off to do. We are astounded at the 5 weeks turnaround and they've done a great job. (and building inspector is happy!) Scaffold is still up but presume it'll be down next week so just over a month.

We assume if we had gone with a different builder we would only be a third of the way through!

Furts

You have the wrong mindset here. You want the scaffold up for as long as you possibly can. This maximises your time for management, inspection and snagging. It also gives the Building Inspector the opportunity for the Completion Certificate to include getting up on the scaffold. Couple this visit with any of your concerns because you go up on the scaffold with the inspector and point out these concerns you have.

Hopefully during this long period of scaffolding there will be decent rainfall so you can inspect for leaks with the roof, check flashings and check guttering. You will not get this opportunity if you are demanding a quick removal.

By stating you want to minimise scaffold time you are doing yourself a huge dis-service. Music to the ears of cowboy contractors if you have said this. That is not to say you have cowboys - only you know what your due diligence has revealed on the workers.

That your concern is damage to your garden, and not due diligence, and good practice with building leaves me scratching my head with bewilderment

Robin9

Scaffolders do not like dismantling and taking back into their yard - they would rather dismantle from your job and erect the same day at the next job - that minimises the handling.

Furts

Robin9 wrote: »

Scaffolders do not like dismantling and taking back into their yard - they would rather dismantle from your job and erect the same day at the next job - that minimises the handling.

I second this, but it does give the consumer the lateral thinking approach. Whilst it is there it provides FOC access for cleaning gutters, for painting fascias, for re-pointing chimneys, checking roof tiles and underlay, looking for leaks . .. a multitude of uses. Which is why I am amazed OP is not saying hooray, let us take advantage of this.

As for the neighbour again think laterally - for a few hundreds more (a drop in the ocean in loft conversion terms) the scaffold could be extended and they too get FOC access for a multitude of jobs.

kerri_gt

Unless you have a garden the FA are wanting to use for the cup final, don't worry about the grass. We had a skip in our front lawn for weeks last summer, lovely brown rectangle once it was lifted. Within a very short time the grass recovered and now you'd never know it had been there. If it's that bad chuck some grass seed down when the scaffolding has gone.
And take a bottle of something nice round to your neighbours for any inconvenience .