scaffolding required?

[Steve]

We're having a few new windows fitted. One is above a porch. Having done a survey the window company has come back and said they need scaffolding around the porch. Is this the case? They want another £130 for this (they told me the scaff will cost them £300 so they're doing me a favour???). Could I get this cheaper myself?



Thanks

 

[Steve]

I will add I've agreed a price already with the window firm and taken out finance with them for this price. The price agreed was very good, almost too good to be true, but they're a national firm so I trust they'll do a good job (and if not I'll be on their case).

 

[Notch7]

£130 is not bad, scaffolding has to be done to accepted practice and insurance is expensive.

Its tricky fitting above a tiled pitch roof.

Safestyle?

 

[ronniecabers]

£130 is not bad, scaffolding has to be done to accepted practice and insurance is expensive.

Its tricky fitting above a tiled pitch roof.

Safestyle?

More than likely Safestyle or Safeglaze , very common for them to come and say scaffolding required. I disagree t hat scaffolding is required though , Nearly all ( if not all ) Upvc windows are internally glazed now , so no need to get outside. To remove existing , remove sash from inside by unscrewing it , then remove fixed pane glass ( If externally beaded plenty of room to lean round , may need a ' mate ' to steady the glass ) , remove window frame ....put in new window , before glazing do all trimming and sealing before the glass goes in , glaze , finish inside off ... presto job done , no scaffolding . See this all the time done this way ... only ever seen Safestyle use scaffolding for a job like that. In fact we rarely have ladders or access up to the outside of the windows on first floor as you can lean out ( obviously not completly lean out , but certainly enough to do the work )

 

[Steve]

Yes it's safeglaze. They're doing the front 3 windows for £1200 all in. Now come back with this extra charge we can ill afford. Could I try to convince them scaff isn't required? Or refuse to pay the extra and then hope they do the work anyway?

The old windows are externally glazed. New ones will be internal.

 

[ronniecabers]

Safeglaze what a surprise ! Please tell me they didn't say they had been around for years either? It is run by ex directors from Safestyle , hence the same practices as Safetsyle. I came across them about 6 months ago when a customer told me about them , and they said the has been around for years ..only after a little digging looked like they only started up last November after some of the directors of Safetsyle quit ( or were pushed... ) .

If you've got a signed contract, I'd dig my heels in and refuse to pay it, you signed their contract, if they missed quoting for the scaffolding thats their issue ( whether I think its needed or not. Did you try a local company for a price too?

 

[Bosswhite]

If a workman does a job on a property without the correct safety, tools and materials the householder can be held responsible for any outcome if there is an accident under H & S rules

 

[Newboy]

Not when the contractor is reasonably expected to understand and eliminate the risks inherent in the job, as you would expect from a company specialising in window installation - the legal requirement for risk assessment and method statement would be with the contractor.

If the householder contributed to the accident by specifying how the work was to be done, providing (unsuitable) equipment or having an unsafe environment in which the contractor was expected to work then there may be some liability.

 

[Steve]

They didn't tell me they'd been around for years. I went into this with my eyes open.

I think I'll just tell them I'm not paying any extra. I suspect if I hadn't haggled down the price they wouldn't be chasing me for extra. The initial price was £3500. Got them down to £1200.

They'll either pull out and cancel the order or decide they're in too deep now (or they've already made the windows!) And fit them anyway.

The man on the phone said the window can't be fitted from the inside. But not sure about that now.

 

[Steve]

The existing windows, though fitted in 1991 are in very good condition. No Draughts. So the job isn't urgent and I'm not fussed if the job doesn't go ahead right now!

 

[ronniecabers]

Suspect the ' man on the phone ' had never fitted windows! Were they going to carry the window up a ladder for the other upstairs window then? Lol. Must are done from inside now to eliminate the need for access equipment .

As for starting at 3500, that's std practice for the national companies . £1200 fitted for those three windows seems about right to me ( without going into dimensions and specs ). 3500 would have been a complete rip off!

 

[Mr Chibs]

I've never had scaffolding before, but just had some to reach the chimney stack on a cottage, cost me £160 cash (south yorks).
It's like four uprights, bracing, platforms & ladder. Credit to the guys, it was very well put together and was a joy to work from.

£130 is probably a fair price, granted you don't need it long, but that's sod's law.

 

[Mottie]

A boiler quote from British Gas showed a standard flat fee of £600 to put up scaffolding/tower to slip a collar over a new flue in an existing hole in my flank wall. Needless to say, they didn’t get the job.

 

[tally100]

When i had mine done i chose a company that provided there own scaffolding and didn't add a premium for providing it