Why programme planning matters more than erection speed
On a domestic scaffold, the erection is most of the job — put it up, minor alterations, take it down. On a commercial new build, the erection is 15 to 20 percent of the job and the alterations are 50 to 60 percent. The scaffold has to move with the build, and the build relies on each scaffold alteration landing when it’s needed.
We plan the alteration sequence before we mobilise. At quoting stage we’ll work through the contractor’s master programme and identify every alteration trigger — brickwork raise to cills, raise to wall plate, reconfigure for cladding, strip brick guards for glazing, alter for roof, phased strip. Each alteration gets a labour estimate and a lead time. The plan goes into the contract and we commit to it.
Resourcing across the programme
Long programmes demand resourcing consistency. A scaffold team that builds the scaffold and then disappears leaves the main contractor chasing alterations through whoever’s available. Our approach is to assign a named site team for the programme and keep them on the job through all phases. On the largest jobs we’ll have a resident scaffold supervisor on site full-time.
Pricing honestly for the full programme
Commercial scaffolding is priced differently depending on whether you’re buying erection-only or the full programme. Erection-only looks cheaper on paper, and is usually more expensive in reality once alterations and delays are accounted for. We price the full programme — erection, alterations, strip — and share the breakdown so the main contractor can see where the cost sits. No surprises at month five.
If you’ve got an upcoming commercial new build anywhere in the Milton Keynes region, get in touch at pre-construction and we’ll produce a full-programme scaffold quote against your master programme.
