Scaffolding

[10800]

We're looking at having our house repainted this year (or maybe next year) which will mean involving scaffolding contractors.

 

Now, some of our neighbours have had experience with scaffolders who, once the job is finished, don't dismantle the scaffolding for several months, and over a year in one case. So presumably this happens when business is slow and/or yard storage is limited, and they use their customers as storage instead.

 

I can think of a few things to prevent this, or at least minimise the chances of it:

 

1) Use a reputable firm (obvious maybe, but definitely not one very close to us who is called 'John Wayne' - biggest cowboy in the west, haha geddit?)

 

2) Have a suitable clause in the contract

 

3) Have a payment schedule so that there is a significant retainer that only gets paid when it's all gone

 

Now this is all very well, but if it actually happened, enforcing it could still be a problem, and it's not as if you could do it yourself.

 

Has anyone else had this problem or any suggestions as to how to avoid it happening?

[Adrian]

Has anyone else had this problem or any suggestions as to how to avoid it happening?

 

 

Could you not just charge them storage fees after the job is finished? I seem to remember that with uncollected goods, if you give them suitable notification then you can charge them reasonable storage fees. You might be able to do the same in this situation, although as with any advice - I'm not a lawyer!!

 

[10800]

Trouble is Adrian that if they are minded to leave their scaffolding wrapped around your house they are hardly likely to cough up money to you. That's really what the withheld retainer is for, the advantage being that I would have control over the money rather than them.

 

(Maybe I'm being too pessimistic here, but this does happen).

[br2975]

Try the 'unsolicited goods and services' route.

.

If they leave the scaffold after the job is finished, and you feel they are using your property for storage purposes, send them a letter, by recorded delivery (or whatever it's called now) - and in it say that the contractor has seven days, commencing at say midnight on the following Sunday night to remove the scaffold. If it has not been removed at the expiration of the allotted seven days you will assume that the contractor has forfeited all rights to the equipment, ownership of which you will assume (and it is your intention to dispose of the scaffold).

.

Don't know the full legality of this, but it would be worth a try.

.

Brian R

[Bernard Lamb]

Most small firms seem to be reliable. They only own what they require and are keen to take it down and get it to the next job ASAP. I had the opposite problem recently. I had a chimney stack extended and needed to get a TV ariel installed. I had to persuade them to leave the scaffolding in place for three days for the mortar to be cured enough before the aerial could be fitted. I would suggest you contact a small local jobbing builder and ask him who he uses for scaffolding. It might cost you a couple of pints but you should get a straight honest answer.

Bernard

 

edit

Getting rid of the empty gas bottles of the type used by roofing contractors is very different story.

[Kenton]

2) Have a suitable clause in the contract

That's the one.

 

All materials must be removed from the site under the direction of xyz builders following a period of 14 days after the completion of the work to the satisfaction of Mr Customer Any materials remaining on the site after this period without the express and written agreement of Mr Customer will as of that date become the property of Mr Customer who may elect to dispose of the material by any means. If the costs incurred in disposal exceed the proceeds of disposal then they will be charged to xyz builders.

 

Scaffolding is expensive and most builders are more concerned about it being nicked from your site. Though your property may be more secure than theirs. A local scrap merchant will pay handsomely, probably reselling to a scaffolding company.

[Edwin_m]

I seem to remember there's a health and safety rule that scaffolding has to be checked weekly by a competent person. Might be a good idea to check that out, if it's true print a copy and leave it lying about with the number of the local HSE office written on it...

[The Stationmaster]

I seem to remember there's a health and safety rule that scaffolding has to be checked weekly by a competent person. Might be a good idea to check that out, if it's true print a copy and leave it lying about with the number of the local HSE office written on it...

 

 

Regrettably - judging by a recent incident 'up north' - the HSE are only ever likely to take an interest if it falls down and injures somebody. The checking responsibility lies with the contractor's/builder's own H&S person (I can recommend someone but he's an awful long way north of 10800's parish ).

[Harbottle]

Do take care dealing with such people. Scaffolding at our house was left standing for an unacceptable length of time. When we told them we wanted it shifting NOW they didn't dismantle it, they ripped it down, damaging paving slabs and shrubs. I was half expecting a pole to come through the window. Going outside to "have a word" was greeted with Neanderthal grunts and snorts.

[wollastonblue]

Depending on the height of the building, and how many people will be painting. Have a look at Alloy towers from someone like Speedy Hire, HSS etc. When they deliver them they will assemble the tower for you as part of the rental and transport costs, then when ready call them and the collect within a day or two. This route should also work out cheaper than all the way round scaffolding.

 

With reference to gas bottles, call the company they belong to, they should pick them up for nothing. Some may even pay you for them.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

[edcayton]

In the OP you implied that you were getting someone in to do the painting. If you don't want to use the scaffolding for other jobs then why not leave it to the painters to organise scaffolding/towers/cherrypickers or whatever?

 

Ed

[QWILPEN]

Getting rid of the empty gas bottles of the type used by roofing contractors is very different story.

 

too true have 2 of the blighters at the back of my shed i cant get rid of.

 

steve

[bertiedog]

I would not worry too much about the scaffolding, just make sure it is in the contract, and trust them to comply, you can't do more. You are then able to get someone else to remove, and charge etc, but the chances of recovery are slim with a company that has just broken a contract.

 

However have a word with an insurance broker and insure yourself if this is going to be a deep issue for you, say a wedding is approaching and the house outside has to be tidy and clear.

 

Not cheap, but the only way to ensure peace of mind. The policy must be a short one, to cover the failure to remove by due date, and pay the cost of removal that you incur, less agreed excess.

 

Stephen.

[10800]

Do take care dealing with such people. Scaffolding at our house was left standing for an unacceptable length of time. When we told them we wanted it shifting NOW they didn't dismantle it, they ripped it down, damaging paving slabs and shrubs.

 

That would be the time to take lots of before, during and after photos then.

 

 

In the OP you implied that you were getting someone in to do the painting. If you don't want to use the scaffolding for other jobs then why not leave it to the painters to organise scaffolding/towers/cherrypickers or whatever?

 

Maybe, would depend on the capabilities/cost/reliability etc of the painting contractor. But if it goes wrong you are another step removed from the scaffolders to do anything.

 

Thanks for everyone's suggestions, very helpful

[28XX]

Worcestershires household waste sites will take anybody's gas bottles, and presumably returns them in bulk to the owner.

 

Sell unwanted scaff. on ebay, buyer collect!

[Captain Kernow]

Has anyone else had this problem or any suggestions as to how to avoid it happening?

Arrange for a crack team of DRAG dismantlers to carefully remove it piece by piece....

[Tom Bayford]

Arrange for a crack team of DRAG dismantlers to carefully remove it piece by piece....

 

What with the sledge hammer

[10800]

Arrange for a crack team of DRAG dismantlers to carefully remove it piece by piece....

 

Actually we need some support framing for the various layout projects ...

[noiseboy72]

If your house is less than 12M tall, simply use Quick Form mobile scaffolding. The training to become a competant person is half a day and it can be wheeled around or re-erected where required. Hire cost is less than £100 per week for a 10M tower, boards and braces.

[doodaa]

Ive Just had scaffolding removed..... was removed reasonably quickly, only turned up 5 days late. Problem was the pole they put through the new garage door, result £600 worth of damage, the door had not been fitted 24 hrs luckly for me they had left by the time I discovered this, casue I was tempted to inflict similar damage on them, None of the workers admited doing it. The company owner found it hard to denie it was them due to the 3in circular hole the exact same size of a scaffolding pole. The to top it all after some choice words were excanged between boss and workers, they still managed to put several gouges in the rendering.

 

Lessons is there is a next time I need scaffolding, watch them like a hawk

 

steve

[Ark Royal]

Depending on the height of the building, and how many people will be painting. Have a look at Alloy towers from someone like Speedy Hire, HSS etc. When they deliver them they will assemble the tower for you as part of the rental and transport costs, then when ready call them and the collect within a day or two. This route should also work out cheaper than all the way round scaffolding.

 

With reference to gas bottles, call the company they belong to, they should pick them up for nothing. Some may even pay you for them.

 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

I work for one of the aforementioned Leading Hire Companies, Yes we do have Ally towers, Yes we do Deliver and Collect, but we most certainly don't erect the tower for the client.

We provide the necessary H&S literature with the towers to explain how to build it.

It is up to the client to erect the tower safely.