Exterior painting, rendering, repointing and brick cleaning all need someone to work steadily across the whole face of the house for days at a time. A scaffold gives them a level platform at each floor, so the finish is better and the job is faster than moving ladders or towers around.
Render in particular needs a scaffold standing slightly away from the wall so the plasterer can work the full face without the tubes getting in the way – tell the scaffolder what finish is going on.
What scaffold set-up you need
- Usually one lift per storey, boarded the full length of the elevation.
- For rendering the scaffold is set out with a wider gap to the wall, and ties are placed so they can be moved as the work progresses.
- Sheeting or debris netting can be added to protect fresh render from rain and wind.
How much does it cost?
A front-only scaffold on a two-storey semi is typically £650–£1,100 for four weeks. A whole-house wrap for full rendering is more like £1,500–£2,500 on a semi, and more in London.
For a guide price for your own home, use the scaffolding cost calculator or start a quote.
Tips
- Do all exterior work at once – gutters, fascias, windows and painting – while the scaffold is up.
- Allow for weather: render and masonry paint need dry days above about 5°C.
- Ask for a price per extra week up front in case the job runs over.