Who we're talking to

A short job that shouldn't need a long hire

Most solar installations take a day or two on the roof. The access should be priced and programmed accordingly.

If you're a homeowner

Your installer says you need scaffolding

Most solar installers won't work off a roof without proper access, and they're right not to. What you don't need is a scaffold priced as though it's staying up for a month - the install itself is usually a couple of days.

Some installers include scaffold in their quote, others leave it to you. If it's the latter, get your own price - it's a straightforward job and you may not need as much structure as you'd assume.

If you're a solar installer

You need access up and gone to a tight schedule

Your programme is measured in days, so a scaffolder who can't hit the date costs you an install slot. We'd rather commit to a date we can hold than promise one we can't.

Tell us the roof, the array position and the install date. If you're running multiple installs, talk to us about doing them as a run rather than one at a time.

Request a quote for solar panel installation scaffold

Tell us about the property and roughly when access is needed. Prefer to talk it through? Call 01223 756 576.

No obligation. We'll usually come back to you the same working day.

The jobs

Solar jobs and what access they need

Pitched roof arrays

The standard job - access to the elevation carrying the panels, boarded at roof level so installers can work the array out from the eaves.

Full roof or dual-elevation arrays

Panels on front and rear need access to both, which is effectively two scaffolds - worth knowing before you compare quotes.

Flat roof and ground-mount

Often doesn't need a full scaffold at all. Where the risk is the roof edge rather than reaching the work, edge protection and handrail is faster and cheaper.

Battery and inverter installation

Usually internal or at low level, so no scaffold needed - but worth mentioning if it changes the install sequence.

Panel removal and re-fit

Roof repairs under an existing array mean panels off and back on, often with roofing work in between. One scaffold, two trades, sequenced.

Maintenance and fault-finding

Short visits to an existing array. If it's recurring, it's worth asking whether permanent roof access is a better answer than repeated scaffold hire.

Cost

Why solar scaffold shouldn't cost like a re-roof

The scaffold for a solar install is normally one elevation, up for under a week. That should be reflected in the price. If a quote looks like a full-house re-roof structure for a two-day install, ask what's driving it.

The genuine cost drivers are which elevations carry panels, the height of the property, and access for the lorry. Where the array is on a flat roof, edge protection alone may do the job for considerably less than a scaffold.

We scaffold solar installs across Cambridge, Royston, St Ives and the surrounding area - see all areas we cover.

How we work

Built around the install date

Up before the installers

Access ready the day before so a booked install slot doesn't get wasted waiting on scaffold.

Right-sized for the array

Access to the elevations carrying panels, not a wrap of the whole house by default.

Struck the same week

Short job, quick strike. There's no reason for solar scaffold to sit on a drive for a fortnight.

Questions

Solar scaffolding, explained

For a pitched roof, almost always - installers need to work safely across the roof plane and most won't do it off a ladder. For a flat roof or ground-mounted array, often not, or edge protection alone may be enough.

Usually under a week. A typical domestic install is one to two days on the roof, plus a day either side for erection and strike. If you're being quoted a long hire period for a short install, ask why.

Some do and include it in the quote, others leave it to the customer. Ask which. If it's down to you, getting your own quote is worth doing - it's a straightforward job and prices vary more than people expect.

Yes, though it's effectively two scaffolds and priced accordingly. If the array is split across elevations, say so when you enquire so the quote covers it rather than being revised later.

Get a free quote

Tell us about the job and we'll come back with a clear price - no obligation.