Scaffolding hirein West Sussex, Hampshireand Surrey
A six-week standard hire period stated in writing before we start, erected and dismantled by our own CISRS-carded team, with one number to ring if you need it longer. No open-ended weekly charges quietly accumulating in the background.
Six-week standard hire · Free site visit and written quote · Erected by our own team
- Six-week standard hire period
- 24 years in the scaffolding trade
- Erected and dismantled by our own CISRS-carded team
- £10,000,000 public liability insurance
- Free site visits and written quotes
Scaffolding hire: what it is and when you need it
What the service is
Scaffolding hire covers the design, delivery, erection, hire period, inspection and dismantle of the structure you need — as a single arranged service rather than a pile of equipment dropped on your drive. We do not hire out loose material for you to build yourself; the structure is erected by our own trained operatives and taken down by them.
Every hire begins with a free site visit and ends with a written price stating the hire period, so you know exactly what you are committing to before anything arrives.
Who it is for
Homeowners hiring scaffolding for a re-roof, extension, rendering or repair; builders and trades who need reliable access for their own clients; property managers and landlords maintaining a portfolio; and commercial clients needing access for a defined phase of work.
If you are a trade who has been let down on dates before, this is the part that matters: we erect with our own team, so the date is ours to keep rather than a subcontractor's to miss.
When it is needed
Any project where work needs to happen above safe ladder height for more than a short period: roofing, rendering, repointing, painting, window and fascia replacement, chimney works, solar installation, extensions and loft conversions.
Book as soon as your start date is roughly known. Scaffolding is one of the few trades that has to be first and last on site, so it is the one worth confirming earliest.
Why professional help matters
Self-erected towers and ladders are legitimate for short, light tasks, but they are the wrong tool for sustained work at height with materials. The Work at Height Regulations require the right equipment for the task, and a properly erected, boarded and guarded scaffold is that equipment for most building work.
Hiring from a competent scaffolder also transfers the technical responsibility for the structure to people qualified to carry it — CISRS-carded operatives under a Gold Scaffolding Supervisor, backed by £10,000,000 of public liability cover.
What it costs to get this wrong
The single biggest complaint people have about scaffolding hire is the bill they did not expect. An open-ended weekly rate, agreed verbally, on a project that overran by a month, produces an invoice nobody budgeted for. Worse, some structures are left standing long after the trades have finished, simply because nobody was clear about who books the dismantle.
The second problem is the phantom booking. A date is agreed on the phone, no survey happens, and on the morning it either does not arrive or it arrives and the crew discovers the ground is soft, access is too narrow or a conservatory is in the way. Your builder is standing in the drive with nothing to do, and the whole programme moves.
Third is the structure that technically exists but does not work — the wrong height for the trade using it, no reasonable way to get materials up, boards short of the gable, or an access ladder positioned where the wagon needs to park. It is legal, it is standing, and it slows everybody down every single day of the hire.
Mistakes we see most often
- Agreeing a weekly rate with no defined hire period and no written quote.
- Never confirming who is responsible for booking and paying for the dismantle.
- Hiring from someone who cannot evidence insurance cover or CISRS cards.
- Leaving the scaffold booking until after every other trade is scheduled.
- Not telling the scaffolder about narrow access, soft ground, conservatories or oil tanks until arrival.
- Assuming any extension of the hire will be free, or that it can be arranged the day it runs out.
Our process
How we run a scaffolding hire job
- 01
Tell us the job and the timing
Postcode, what work is being done and roughly when you need access. A short call is usually enough to understand it.
- 02
Free site visit
Billy attends, measures up, checks ground conditions, access for the wagon, boundaries and anything that needs working around. No charge, no obligation.
- 03
Written quote with the hire period stated
One clear price for erection, the six-week standard hire and dismantle, so there is nothing to discover later.
- 04
Erection on the agreed date
Our own CISRS-carded team builds it, ties it in, boards and guards it, and hands it over ready for your trades to use.
- 05
Extend if needed, then dismantle
Running over? Ring early and we arrange an extension. Finished? Ring us and we book the dismantle and clear the structure away.
What you get
The difference it makes on your job
A hire period you can budget for
Six weeks as standard, stated in the written quote, so the cost of access is a known number before the job starts.
Erected by the people who quoted it
Our own team, not a subcontracted crew who have never seen the survey — which is why the dates hold.
Flexibility when projects slip
Builds overrun. Tell us early and we extend, rather than leaving you without access at the worst possible moment.
A structure built for the trade using it
Lift heights, decking and access positioned around the actual work, so your trades are quicker and the finish is better.
Insurance and competence covered
£10,000,000 public liability, CISRS-carded operatives, Gold Supervisor oversight and Scaffolding Association membership.
A clean exit
We take it down with our own team and clear the site, so you are not chasing anyone to remove steel from your driveway.
Scaffolding hire in detail: materials, methods and applications
What is included in a scaffolding hire
A hire from us covers the site survey, the design of the structure, delivery of material, erection by CISRS-carded operatives, handover, checks during the hire period, and dismantle and removal at the end. Where a job needs debris netting, sheeting, protection fans, ladder access towers or gates, those are specified and included in the quote rather than added afterwards.
What is not automatically included is variation: additional lifts, extra elevations or adaptations that were not part of the original scope. Those are quoted when they arise, and on planned work we try to anticipate them at the survey so they are in the original price.
- Free site survey and structure design
- Delivery, erection and tie-in by our own team
- Boarded working lifts with guardrails and toe boards
- Ladder access with gates rather than climbing the frame
- Checks through the hire period
- Dismantle, load out and site clearance
Hire periods, extensions and what drives duration
Six weeks is the standard period because it fits the great majority of domestic projects — a re-roof, a render, a chimney rebuild or a modest extension phase. Where a job is obviously longer, such as a full commercial refurbishment or a structural roof project, we agree a specific period at the quoting stage instead.
Extensions are routine and we would far rather arrange one than strip a scaffold off an unfinished building. The only thing that causes problems is late notice, so if your builder tells you the job is running over, pass that on to us as soon as you hear it.
Structures available for hire
The same range we build on any job is available on hire: independent tied elevation scaffolds, gable and chimney scaffolds, birdcage decks for internal work, edge protection, loading bays, temporary roofs and shoring arrangements. Most domestic hires are traditional tube and fitting, which suits irregular older housing stock across Sussex and Hampshire.
For lighter, shorter tasks, we will tell you honestly if a full scaffold is more than you need. There is no benefit to us in hiring you a structure that the job does not justify.
- Independent tied scaffolds to one or more elevations
- Gable-end, dormer and chimney scaffolds
- Internal and external birdcage decks
- Roof edge protection and guardrail systems
- Loading bays for material handling at height
- Fully sheeted temporary roofs
Domestic and commercial hire compared
Domestic hires are usually a single defined period with one trade or a small sequence: scaffold up, roof done, scaffold down. The emphasis is on clear pricing, tidiness and keeping the household's access to their own home sensible.
Commercial hires run longer, involve several trades and typically need planned adaptations across the period, plus RAMS, handover packs and inspection records. Both are quoted the same way — a free survey followed by a written price with the duration stated.
Related services
Where we provide this service
- Scaffolding Chichester
- Scaffolding Bognor Regis
- Scaffolding Arundel
- Scaffolding Hampshire
- Scaffolding Surrey
Back to the Square Scaffolding home page, see all scaffolding services, or book your free site visit.
Scaffolding hire: frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire scaffolding?
Cost depends on the size of the structure, the height, how many elevations, ground and access conditions and the duration. We survey the property free of charge and give you a written price covering erection, the hire period and dismantle.
How long is the standard hire period?
Six weeks, unless we agree a different period when quoting. It is stated in your written quote so there are no surprises.
What if my project takes longer than six weeks?
Ring us as early as you know and we will arrange an extension. We would much rather extend than take a scaffold off an unfinished building.
Can I hire scaffolding and put it up myself?
No. We erect and dismantle everything with our own CISRS-carded team. Scaffolding erected by untrained people is both dangerous and, in most work contexts, non-compliant.
Do you charge for the site visit or quote?
No. Site visits and written quotes are always free, with no obligation to proceed.
How much notice do you need to book a scaffold?
The more the better, particularly through busy periods, but ring and ask — Billy will tell you honestly what dates are realistic rather than guessing.
Is the scaffolding inspected while it is up?
Yes. Structures are checked through the hire period and after events that could affect stability, such as high winds. Inspection records can be provided on commercial work.
Are you insured, and can I see the certificate?
We carry £10,000,000 public liability insurance and certificates are available on request. All operatives hold in-date CISRS cards and we are members of the Scaffolding Association.
Who arranges the dismantle?
You ring us when the trades are finished and we book it in. The structure comes down and is cleared away by our own team.
Which areas can I hire scaffolding in?
West Sussex, Hampshire, Surrey and East Sussex, from our yard at JBS Yard, Eastergate — including Chichester, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Arundel, Worthing, Portsmouth and Horsham.
Get a written hire price with the period stated before anything arrives
Free site visit, clear quote covering erection, hire and dismantle, and an extension arranged if your project runs on. Ring Billy or send the details.
Six-week standard hire · Free site visit and written quote · Erected by our own team