For many roof repairs, particularly those that are comprehensive or complex, you will need to put up scaffolding in order to provide a safe platform for work to take place at height.
A scaffolding system must be put up and taken down by professionals, and because of this, many contractors will look to ensure that any scaffolding installation is necessary, appropriate, safely installed and helps to protect workers and building occupants alike.
Does every piece of work at height require scaffolding? And are there situations where ladders or another tool to work at height would be sufficient?
When Is Scaffolding Required For Roofing Work?
Outside of the most basic repair tasks where access is easy and safe, scaffolding is usually required, not only for safety reasons but to ensure the highest quality of work through providing a stable platform to access work on repairs.
Whilst the number of jobs that require scaffolding is comprehensive, here are some of the most common jobs for which scaffolding is the only reasonable choice.
Most Chimney Repairs
Because chimneys are often the highest point of your home, are not typically located on the edge of the roof and need two-sided access to undertake repairs, a scaffolding setup is almost always required.
Longer Ridge Repairs
If a repair requires extensive work on the ridge of a roof, often the tallest point of a pitched roof, scaffolding will usually be required in order to complete careful, precise work without the risks involved with a ladder or having to make multiple trips up and down it.
Most Valley Repairs
The valley of a roof is often quite difficult to reach and requires precise work to complete careful detailing work in an area which is remarkably prone to leaks.
Tall Buildings
Most homes in the UK have two or more storeys, and this additional height can be potentially life-threatening if the area cannot be easily reached safely with a ladder.
Because of this, even relatively small repairs could require scaffolding work if in awkward places or where a ladder cannot be securely placed close enough to the repair for safe work to be completed.
Significant Repair Work
Any work that takes place over a significant area of your roof or requires more than a day to complete will almost always require scaffolding to ensure work can be restarted quickly and safely.
Are There Situations Where You Do Not Need Scaffolding?
In some situations, if there is a safe way to access a relatively low roof to undertake straightforward and relatively simple work, a ladder or access tower may be usable instead.
Simple Bungalow, Shed Or Garage Repairs
If relatively basic patchwork repairs are needed on a garage, shed or single-floor house, it may be possible to do it without a scaffold as long as it can be accessed safely.
Any height comes with risks, however, and in some cases a small scaffold installation will be needed instead.
Ground Floor Repairs
Work that can be done at ground level, such as cleaning gutters using reaching tools, can be done without having to climb at all. However, if actual repairs are needed, there will need to be some way to safely access the roof.
