The true cost of scaffolding

Why traditional scaffold could be costing your business more than just money – and what to do instead.

How much money would your business save without having to fork out for scaffolding? It’s a question that owners of window and construction companies alike need to be asking.

In today’s fast-paced, cost-conscious market, more businesses are beginning to count the real cost of scaffolding and if it’s worth it. And the short answer is, not always.

At between £30-£40 per square metre, scaffolding isn’t cheap; and that’s just the starting point. The project’s height, complexity, how many lifts it needs and location also play a part in the final price, and then there’s all the necessary features like alarms, safety netting or stair towers.

In terms of time, scaffolding for high rises with multiple stories can take several weeks to erect, severely eating into your schedule before the job has even started. If the job is even more complex, timelines stretch even further, and the cost can skyrocket into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Factor in delays, permits, space requirements, and potential property damage from fixings, and you quickly see the bigger picture: scaffolding isn’t just a physical structure, it’s a logistical and financial headache. And for many modern jobs, it’s completely unnecessary.

“If you have to replace one or two windows on the 50th floor, it seems mad to spend thousands on scaffolding just to get up there,” said Daniel Cheddie, the innovator behind the Stronghold system, a cheaper alternative to scaffolding, and founder of Glazesafe. “If you’re spending more on scaffolding than on the installation itself, you’re losing money, or maybe even losing the job if the client does not have the finances.”

The numbers can be huge in high-rise projects, added Daniel. “You generally get a few weeks free and then after that it starts being on hire and then the hire is a percentage of the job, a high rise would be £100,000 plus when everything else is factored in. And today, businesses just can’t justify that kind of outlay.”

A smarter solution

That’s where the Stronghold® Anchor comes in. Designed specifically for the fenestration industry, the Stronghold® Anchor is a revolutionary, tool-free safety barrier and harness system that allows installation teams to work securely at height – all from inside the building, with no external fixings, drilling, or damage to the building.

Set-up takes less than 10 minutes, meaning teams can immediately start work safely. The system accommodates openings up to five metres wide and provides anchor points for up to three engineers at once, allowing full freedom of movement with complete protection. In addition to this, light tools and product can also be tethered, preventing dropped objects.

“Stronghold was created to give installation companies a better choice,” explained Daniel. “It’s safer, faster, and more cost-effective than scaffolding for many jobs, especially in high-rise settings.”

A £160,000 saving

One of the clearest examples of Stronghold in action is a project delivered by MAC Site Services at Hammond and Dickson House in Stoke-on-Trent.

Tasked with replacing 250 Crittall windows across 15 storeys, the building’s owner wanted to find a smarter alternative to scaffold. Using Stronghold, all single-glazed, externally glazed Crittall windows were removed and replaced with uPVC alternatives safely and completely from inside the building. without the use of scaffold.

The result was £160,000 saved on scaffold and a project that was completed two weeks faster than their schedule based on using scaffold.

“The fitters said they felt safer and more efficient working inside rather than on scaffold and that helped them complete a project safely and ahead of schedule,” reported MAC’s Project Manager. “So much so they requested that any work at height, especially on tower blocks, uses the Stronghold as they feel much safer being able to work inside rather than on a scaffold.”

Giving your business a competitive edge

Time is money and the costs of using traditional scaffolding, from rental fees and setup time to the impact on project timelines, can rack up very quickly.

Stronghold eliminates delays, property damage risks, and huge access fees that come with scaffolding. For business owners looking to stay competitive and reduce costs, it’s a game-changer.

 “To save £160,000 on scaffold and help a project finish two weeks early shows exactly what Stronghold can do for installation businesses,” added Daniel. “That measurable result speaks for itself.”

If your business is still relying on scaffolding for every job, it may be time to rethink how you work at height.

For more information on the Stronghold anchor system, which is available to hire, visit https://www.stronghold-anchor.com/ or call 01992 302133.