Roofing / Scaffold Query!

[Eddieslofart]

This would be the regs you/you’re Architect/PC would need to comply with.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/construction/cdm/2015/domest...

Whoever is in the hot seat, takes the rap when an accident occurs.

[Ricky146a]

mtrehy said:

I asked the same thing about the scaffold tower. I think it's not such a question of what people can do it's more that there's a lot of work around and any project that is awkward is not top of peoples list....

I'm obviously not a roofer but the more I think about it I wonder whether it couldn't be done from inside the building.... Hear me out....

Building is empty, just 4 walls.

Install trusses - should be easy enough without going onto the neighbours garden.

Put up scaffold inside building and reach around outside to fit fascia, soffitt etc - awkward but not impossible? Neighbour would probably allow access on foot for this anyhow.

Standing on scaffold inside and install 1 row of 1 metre roofing membrane at bottom of roof, batten & slate that and work my way up the roof to the ridge. It's a raised tie trussed roof so lots of scaffold space inside...

My side can be done from inside or out.

Any roofers think this is realistic... It works in my head.

It is not so much the battens, membrane and slates that is the problem.
Fitting the fascia and soffitt and guttering from inside the building would be a bit of a nightmare so get access for this if you can and do it after the roof is slated.

The rest can be done from the top of the trusses with a bit of care. Roofers always like to work forwards up the roof but sitting on the battens and facing down the roof for the first2 or 3 slates is possible - I did it on my extension as I had no scaffold.

[mtrehy]

Cheers Ricky - I don't think there is likely to be an issue with access on foot in the neighbours garden at some point in the future. I assume fascia, soffitt & gutters will be easy enough to do on step ladders..? Also I assume that these can be done either before or after the slates?

As access to the roof is fairly simple and can be via scaffold front, rear and one side (as well as underneath I don't see not having scaffold on the neighbours side as an insurmountable problem but my builder is describing it as a show-stopper and seems to think that no roofers (or perhaps his preferred) will touch it.

Obviously the ideal will be to get something agreed with the neighbour in advance of the roof going on but I don't want to delay the project moving forward because of this and I'm happy to DIY it if necessary which is why I'm looking at the technicalities.

From what I've seen most roofing is done by guys sitting on the roof and walking along the battens and I'm not sure why the scaffolding (or lack of) is such an issue.

[Little Lofty]

Leaning out of a roof to fit fascia and guttering with no scaffold is not a good idea, the scaffold is there not just to store materials and access the roof but also as safety net if you slip off the roof. I wouldn't allow anyone to work at height without a scaffold for obvious reasons. Access should have been agreed before the start, and if it couldn't be built using safe methods then it shouldn't have been built. I've done a few jobs that have required neighbours permssion for scaffold and acesss, they are usually offered a sweetener such as a new garage roof or new fence etc as compensation for the inconvenience.

Edited by Little Lofty on Sunday 18th February 21:28

[Eddieslofart]

So when they are fitting the final flashing at the abutment, and one slides down the roof and breaks his neck, that’ll be ok ?

You’re builder at least seems to give a fk.

[mtrehy]

Can the job not be done safely with scaffold on 3 sides and underneath?

[dickymint]

Cherry picker?

[Mandat]

A question for the OP.

If the wall is built on the boundary line, then presumably the fascias and guttering at the eaves will be over the boundary line and trespassing over the neighbours property.

Or have I incorrectly understood what you are proposing to do?

[paulwirral]

I'm guessing your neighbour is ok not taking legal action against the contractor when someone drops a hammer and it hits him or one of is family on the head and puts them in a wheelchair or worse , sounds a little extreme but not beyond possibility , as pointed out , the scaffold isn't just for access , it's for the safety of all concerned .
I'm curious why they are so against scaffold but willing to give access for ladders or steps ?

[tighnamara]

paulwirral said:

I'm guessing your neighbour is ok not taking legal action against the contractor when someone drops a hammer and it hits him or one of is family on the head and puts them in a wheelchair or worse , sounds a little extreme but not beyond possibility , as pointed out , the scaffold isn't just for access , it's for the safety of all concerned .
I'm curious why they are so against scaffold but willing to give access for ladders or steps ?

OP hasn’t said what is in the neighbours garden
I am presuming it’s not a slabbed hard surface and possibly grass / garden area that would get damaged from having scaffold built on.
OP, what is the ground area that scaffold would be built on in neighbours garden and how long would it be up.

[mtrehy]

The part of the garden where the scaffold would be is grass / dirt. They have about 1/3 of an acre and this bit of garden is not particularly close to the house - in terms of safety while it is obviously their garden and they have the right to go where ever they like in it they would have to be trying to put themselves in harms way and the area is entirely avoidable.

[tighnamara]

mtrehy said:

The part of the garden where the scaffold would be is grass / dirt. They have about 1/3 of an acre and this bit of garden is not particularly close to the house - in terms of safety while it is obviously their garden and they have the right to go where ever they like in it they would have to be trying to put themselves in harms way and the area is entirely avoidable.

Not very neighbourly then, must be dissapointed with them.
Hope you get a solution with minimal additional work / cost.

[paulwirral]

mtrehy said:

The part of the garden where the scaffold would be is grass / dirt. They have about 1/3 of an acre and this bit of garden is not particularly close to the house - in terms of safety while it is obviously their garden and they have the right to go where ever they like in it they would have to be trying to put themselves in harms way and the area is entirely avoidable.

At a guess , they sound like the type who probably would put themselves in harms way while checking what's going on .
Good luck on this but if they won't allow a scaffold on their land for the safety of the people working on your extension and themselves I'd imagine they'll always be a pain .

[uk66fastback]

Can you wait for them to go on holiday and then do it while they're gone?

[fionalam]

Scaffold towers are a cheaper and safer way of working on heights. I can give you advice, never try to build a scaffold tower by yourself if you don't know how to do it. When I was building my chimney, I wanted to save some money, and I thought that I don't need to buy a scaffold tower, ad I can do this by myself. When I build it and climbing on it, I fell and got hurt because the construction wasn't stable. After I got better, I rented a scaffold tower from petesuen.com . I felt the difference between a scaffold tower made by me and a scaffold tower made by professionals.

Edited by fionalam on Saturday 3rd July 10:27

[TooLateForAName]

fionalam said:

Is scaffold a must for roofing?

Pretty much. How else do you manage the safety aspects of people working at height with heavy things like tiles/joists etc?

[dickymint]

mtrehy said:

I asked the same thing about the scaffold tower. I think it's not such a question of what people can do it's more that there's a lot of work around and any project that is awkward is not top of peoples list....

I'm obviously not a roofer but the more I think about it I wonder whether it couldn't be done from inside the building.... Hear me out....

Building is empty, just 4 walls.

Install trusses - should be easy enough without going onto the neighbours garden.

Put up scaffold inside building and reach around outside to fit fascia, soffitt etc - awkward but not impossible? Neighbour would probably allow access on foot for this anyhow.

Standing on scaffold inside and install 1 row of 1 metre roofing membrane at bottom of roof, batten & slate that and work my way up the roof to the ridge. It's a raised tie trussed roof so lots of scaffold space inside...

My side can be done from inside or out.

Any roofers think this is realistic... It works in my head.

I can see no reason whatsoever why a "willing" roofer/builder couldn't do it entirely from your side. Pain in the arse yes, might take an extra day or two labour yes. Key word is "willing" and as far as neighbour is concerned he'll just have to put up with an eyesore of unrendered stty block work to stare at!!

Edit: WTF am I replying to an ancient post for OP what was the outcome?

Edited by dickymint on Tuesday 29th June 15:38

[mtrehy]

Yeah, all done and dusted a couple of years ago. Did it exactly as planned: scaffold platform just below eaves height inside the garage, installed trusses, installed soffit and fascia, onto roof, fit membrane, friend outside on the roof - passed slates from inside down through the overlap joins in the membrane. Piece of piss.

Now have a lovely workshop with 3 nicely rendered walls!