Small scale, big consequence
Propping is easy to underestimate because the components are small and the installations are usually local. But a prop failure during a structural alteration is a serious incident — a floor slab coming down, a beam dropping, a wall collapsing. The consequence is out of proportion with the scale. That’s why we treat propping with the same rigour as larger-scale shoring: engineered design, proper install, and signed-off sign-off before loading.
Small jobs attract cheap solutions, and that’s where incidents come from. A prop that’s slightly under-capacity, a sole plate that’s the wrong size, a sequence of installation that unloads a wall before the prop takes the load. Each feels like an acceptable shortcut in isolation. In combination they are how structural failures happen. We don’t take shortcuts on propping, and we encourage builders who use our kit to follow the same discipline.
Hire versus supply and install
Most domestic propping jobs are hire-only — we supply the props and sole plates, and the builder installs them to the structural engineer’s drawing. That works well when the builder understands temporary works and the install is straightforward. For larger or more critical jobs, we’ll supply and install ourselves, which is the safer option on anything complex. We’ll advise at quote stage on which approach fits the job.
Engineering-led, not price-led
One-stop propping suppliers often compete on price alone, which pushes builders towards the cheapest kit and the least rigorous install. We’d rather lose a quote on price than supply under-spec props to a structural alteration. If your structural engineer’s calculation is for heavy-duty props with specific load plates, that’s what we’ll quote — not a cheaper alternative. The cost of doing it properly is always less than the cost of a propping failure.
If you’ve got an upcoming structural alteration, refurbishment or slab construction project that needs propping, get in touch.
