Scaffold hire prices:
- Cost to scaffold a one-storey house is typically between $2,000 – $4,000 ex GST
- Cost to scaffold a two-storey house is typically between $2,000 – $4,000 ex GST
- Average weekly scaffold hire cost is between $250 -$400 ex GST
- Minimum weekly scaffold hire cost is between $140 ex GST
Whether you’re building a new home or renovating, you’ll most likely need some degree of scaffolding to complete exterior work on the house safely. Usually, scaffolders are the first trade-in and the last out, so factoring them into the budget early on is essential to avoid building delays.
Here, I want to discuss the cost of hiring scaffolding for a 2 storey house and a 1 storey house. I also want to explain the factors affecting the cost of scaffolding hire and how the team here at ALTA Scaffolding set prices.
The cost to hire residential scaffolding depends on several factors:
- The height of your building
- The length of the scaffolding job
- The scope of the building project
- The job site environment
Disclaimer: Keep in mind the prices outlined in this article are only a guide. I recommend contacting us directly for an accurate quote.
Average scaffolding hire cost
What is the average price for scaffolding? At ALTA, we set our scaffolding hire prices based on industry standards. Most scaffolders will consider these standards while also factoring in the required experience, skill, and other factors. In Australia, the average cost of scaffolding will depend on daily or weekly hire:
Average cost (weekly)
Hiring scaffolding weekly will generally work out cheaper than daily hire. When you’re looking to hire scaffolding for a week, expect a quote between $250 -$400 ex GST. The exact price will vary depending on the amount of scaffolding needed, access, and project location.
Minimum cost (weekly)
Again, the minimum weekly cost will depend on the type of job, scaffolding height, and other factors. However, expect to pay $140 ex GST each week for a basic scaffolding job. This minimum charge helps to cover yard costs such as counting, packing, loading, unpacking and recounting the scaffolding before and after every job.
Maximum cost (weekly)
It’s almost impossible to quote the maximum weekly cost without knowing the project requirements. For a precise scaffolding quote, we recommend contacting us.
How to calculate the cost of scaffolding
To help us guide the costs of rates and taxes applied to scaffolding hire, we need to consider a range of factors, to provide an accurate quote. The first thing we do is assess the type of job (including length), property access, travel time, and labour costs. We also look at the type of solution required (eg. Aluminium Scaffold versus Steel Scaffold). When structuring our prices, we also factor in safety protocols, permits, and quality assurance for scaffolding stability.
How long does it take to erect residential scaffolding?
The time it takes to put up the frame will depend on the size of the property and the access to the site and the difficulty of the job.
The industry average recommends expecting anywhere from 4 to 48 hours to assemble residential scaffolding.
One-storey houses
The average house in Australia has a ceiling height of 2.4m and generally requires scaffolding 2-3m high. In that case, the cost to scaffold an entire one-storey home will typically cost between $2,000 – $4,000 ex GST.
Two-story houses
A standard two-storey home typically requires scaffolding 4-6m high. The cost to fully wrap an entire house, including labour, transport and 1 week of hire will typically be between $4,000 and $8,000 ex GST.
Large properties
When a house does exceed a height of 6m, the cost of the structure will increase. Expect to pay upwards of $8,000 – $14,000 ex GST for properties requiring scaffolding over 4m high.
Uneven terrain
Scaffolding on sloping, uneven and difficult blocks can be complex and may translate to extra costs. The exact cost will depend on the severity of the slope and the stability of the ground. We recommend contacting us for an accurate quote on your sloping block property.
Factors affecting the cost of scaffold
It’s also essential to consider the following cost of scaffold factors:
1. Labour hire
Labour costs factor in the staff required to erect and dismantle scaffolding onsite, as well as the labour required to count, pack, load, unload, recount and unpack before and after every job. Generally, larger jobs need a bigger team to assemble and disassemble the structure and deliver and pick up the equipment.
2. Width
Building a new home may require an entire house-wrap scaffolding around all sides, whereas a renovation may only need structures on one or two walls. The cost of scaffold hire will be cheaper for one wall than scaffolding all four walls of a house.
3. Transport costs
When estimating the cost of a scaffolding job, we have to consider the time it will take to reach the property, as well as the weight of the scaffolding it is carrying. The closer the project is to Newcastle, the lower the travel costs. We complete jobs across regional NSW; however, you should expect additional charges to cover travel and delivery costs.
4. Site access
Sufficient space and access to a property can significantly reduce the labour costs associated with a project. If a job requires scaffolding down narrow alleyways or on public land, labour costs may increase as building the structure will take additional time and risk.
5. Type of land
We can work on sloping blocks, uneven ground, and complex blocks, but the price will be higher. The scaffolding may require extensive customisation, which adds labour costs.
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