How to Find a Reputable Scaffolding Company

When working from height, many people prefer to hire a scaffolding company to make the project safer for all involved. Unfortunately – as with any profession – some scaffolding firms cannot be trusted. They lack the right tools, materials, and experience to perform a proper job and often cut corners in terms of insurance and compliance with health and safety regulations. 

Having decided that a professional scaffolder is best for you, how do you go about finding one you can trust in your local area? In this article, we explain how to choose a scaffolding contractor.

How to choose a scaffolding contractor

The key to knowing whether or not a given scaffolding firm can be trusted is how open and transparent they are. Any company worth their reputation will expect customers to have a few questions about how they operate and how the process works. These are some of the things you will want to consider, but how they respond is just as important as what they respond with. Evasive or contradictory answers should be an immediate red flag for you.

Quotations

Any reputable company should be prepared to give you a written quote for their services, once they’ve seen your project. These should be fairly detailed, including the cost of materials, time/labour, VAT, and any additional fees. Always ask whether all charges are included in the quote. A reliable company should have no problem with you taking their quote and getting a competing quote from another company. If they try to badger you into accepting straight away, be warned.

Professional website and/or vehicle

We’re not saying you have to have professionally-applied livery to be a good scaffolder, nor are we saying you need a commercial-standard website. However, both of these items require an initial outlay of money, which indicates that the company in question is not just a fly-by-night enterprise. It also shows that they have the resources to pay for van livery and websites, which suggests they have had some success in the field.

Reviews

Always look online for reviews. If they have their own site, they will probably have some testimonials listed (though these will often only show positive reviews). Try sites like Google Reviews, Checkatrade, and TrustATrader for free, independent reviews.

They know what they’re talking about

A scaffolding company should know the latest health and safety regulations for working at height. They should appear knowledgeable about what constitutes a safe working environment.

Insurance

Your scaffolding should be fully-covered by the company’s insurance, in two key respects: damage made to your property when the company erects or dismantles the scaffolding, and damage or injury caused if the scaffolding fails during use. A reputable scaffolding firm should have no problem confirming that you are covered in these instances, and be able to show you the relevant paperwork that proves it.

How to find a reliable scaffolding company: final thoughts

If you’re looking for a reputable scaffolding hire in Cannock, Stafford, Staffordshire or Wallsall, contact Cannock Wood Scaffolding today. We will answer any of your queries openly and immediately, and we already advise all prospective customers to check our online reviews before making a decision. Call us on 01543 379 112 or 07866 672 460 or send an email to cwscaff@gmail.com to receive a free, no-obligation quote.