Roof and chimney scaffolding in Broxbourne, East Herts and Enfield

When does roof or chimney work need scaffolding?

Most jobs that mean working on a pitched roof, or beside one, call for a proper working platform. That includes stripping and re-covering a roof, replacing fascias and soffits at the eaves, repointing or rebuilding a chimney stack, fitting a roof window, and repairing a gable end or a dormer cheek.

A ladder is fine for looking at a slipped tile. It is not a safe place to stand while carrying heavy slates, lead or bricks, which is why the roofer will usually ask for a scaffold before they start.

What does the scaffold actually do?

A roof scaffold does three jobs at once. It gives the roofer a level, boarded platform at eaves height. It carries edge protection so that nobody can fall from the platform or slide off the roof. And it gives a safe route up and down, usually a stair tower or a fixed ladder.

On a roof refurbishment the scaffold often continues above the platform with a second lift, so tools and materials can be stacked within reach rather than carried up a ladder.

Why are chimneys different?

A chimney stack sits high and is often narrow, so working on one safely means reaching all four sides at once. The scaffolder may build a small tower beside the stack, or take the scaffold up over the ridge. Chimneys on a party wall or a gable can be awkward because the stack may belong to the house next door, or lean over their roof.

If the stack is being taken down or rebuilt, tell the scaffolder early. Debris chutes and sheeting are often added so that bricks and dust do not fall onto a neighbour's garden or the pavement.

Is a temporary roof possible?

Where a whole roof is being stripped, some scaffolders can build a temporary covering over the top so the house stays dry while the work goes on. It is not always possible, because it depends on the shape of the roof and how much of it is open at once. Ask about it if the job will take a while or if the forecast worries you.

Does the scaffold need a licence?

Only if any part of it stands on the public highway, which in practice means a pavement or a road. In Hoddesdon, Broxbourne, Cheshunt and Waltham Cross the licence comes from Broxbourne Borough Council, elsewhere in Hertfordshire from Hertfordshire County Council, and in Enfield from the London Borough of Enfield, or Transport for London on a red route such as the A10. The scaffolder normally applies for it, and the conditions can include lighting and keeping a safe route for pedestrians, as Hertfordshire County Council's scaffolding licence page sets out.

If the scaffold is entirely on your own front or back garden, no highway licence is needed.

What about the neighbours?

A scaffold that stands on a neighbour's land, or whose boards and netting reach across the boundary, needs their permission first. Speak to them before the job is booked rather than on the morning the poles arrive.

Who is responsible for the scaffold's safety?

Mainly the scaffolder, who works out how the scaffold should be built for your roof, puts it up and inspects it. The roofer working from it should also check that it has been inspected before they use it. Under the Work at Height Regulations 2005, a working platform must be inspected before it is first used, then at regular intervals of no more than seven days, and again after anything that could affect its stability, such as high winds. Ask the scaffolder how they record those inspections.

For your part, do not move boards, remove ties or take down any part of the scaffold, and keep children and pets away from it. If something looks loose, tell the scaffolder.

What should I think about for a listed building or conservation area?

Planning rules do not usually apply to the scaffold itself, because it is temporary. But if the roof or chimney is on a listed building, or in a conservation area, the repair may need consent, and ties fixed into old brickwork or stone may need to be agreed first. Check with the local council before work is arranged.

What affects the cost?

The scaffolder prices each job. The main factors are the height of the roof, how many sides need covering, whether the scaffold must reach a ridge or chimney, how long it stays up, access, any highway licence, and extras such as a temporary roof or sheeting.

What should I include in my enquiry?

• the postcode of the property
• the type of roof and its height, for example a two-storey house with a hip roof
• what is being done: re-roof, chimney repair or rebuild, or something else
• whether a roofer has been chosen and when they hope to start
• where the scaffold would stand, and whether that is a garden, a driveway, a pavement or a road
• whether any neighbour's land or roof is involved