Scaffolding is widely used on construction sites but is it appropriate for installing gutter guards safely in the building? Ensuring the right kind of scaffolds prior to a gutter guard installation can save you a lot of money.

Gutter guard installers require scaffolding to be properly ‘workable’ and safe before starting work on your gutters. If the roof doesn't have a proper scaffold around it, Grayson's team can assess other options to work safely on the roof. However, if proper scaffolding is pre-installed onsite, we can offer big discounts on the cost of gutter guard installation.

All of Grayson's staff have accredited training and Construction Induction (White Cards), a requirement for carrying out construction work.

History of scaffolding in brief

Scaffolding has been a necessary aspect of building construction since ancient times. Scaffolding allows building workers to safely stand up close to the sidewalls as they get higher up during the course of the project. Scaffolding is used in all types of manmade structures, including bridges, monuments and statues.

The earliest known history of scaffolding dates back 17,000 years to the Lascaux Caves in southwest France. Ancient humans used makeshift scaffold to climb higher up the cave walls to complete artistic paintings. Of course, back then nobody knew about gutter guards!

Wacky enquiries about gutter guard scaffolding

We get enquiries every week from homeowners and tradespeople who insist that their scaffold system is totally sound, fully workable, and ready and waiting for a gutter guard install. Unfortunately, most residential building site scaffolds are not actually fully ‘workable’. It's very common for us to arrive on site and find that only a small portion of the new building has scaffolding in place, even when the owners or builders have sworn it's a “complete scaff setup”.

Timing is everything

Everything needs to be timed right – gutter protection can only be installed once the roof and gutters are completely finished. At this point, the builders onsite may be tempted to pull down the upper platforms of scaffolding. But for us gutter guard installers, we need the scaffold walkway platform to be no higher than about 150cm below the height of the gutter. This is so we can reach over the gutters and install the mesh.

Often we find the scaffold walkways to be 2 metres lower than the gutters, even when the builder has insisted, "yeah mate, the scaffolding is perfect for gutter guards to be fitted". Professional builders often have dozens of sites being coordinated at once, so they're not always in touch with what's happening at each individual site. To help coordinate your prompt gutter guard installation, whether there's workable scaffolding in place or not, we can usually attend Melbourne/Victorian construction sites at fairly short notice.

We are happy to offer discounted rates for installation of gutter guards from ‘workable’ scaffolding.

What defines a ‘workable’ scaffolding setup:

  • We actually need to be able to safely stand on the scaffold platform and reach the gutters without the risk of a fall.
  • The scaffold needs a complete handrail/safety rail around the perimeter that's about waist height.
  • If you have roof safety rails installed with the rails attached to the top side of the fascia and in the gutters, it won't be possible to install the gutter guard until after the rails are removed.
  • If builders’ ladders are fixed to the scaffolding, the ladders must be sturdy and compliant with general ladder safety requirements.
  • The scaffolding structure must be firmly placed so it doesn't wobble or shake (this sounds pretty obvious, but many residential building sites having unstable scaffolds that shake).
  • All other roof works need to be completed already.
  • To provide a full scaffold discount for our gutter guards, the scaffolding walkway must continue around all sides of the building in one continuous, level walkway.
  • The scaffolding should be installed by a licensed Scaffold Assembler and/or comply with Australian legislation regarding proper scaffolding erection.

Scaffolding

The scaffolding on this construction site was incomplete. So the Grayson's Gutter Guard fitter had to set up his own trestle system between ladders.

Onsite issues that render scaffolding unworkable for gutter guard installs

  • The horizontal walkway planks are missing and the builder in charge expects tradespeople to just stand on the under rails.
  • There is no suitable stairway or builders’ ladder rigged up.
  • The walkway planks are too low down below the gutter height.
  • The roof safety rails are still fixed to the roof edge and obstructing the inside of gutters.
  • There are too many separate scaffolding segments that aren't joined together, which means our gutter guard fitters have to keep climbing down to ground level and back up again.

If we must actually climb onto the roof during the gutter guard install, the scaffolding is definitely not fully ‘workable’. But when there's a will there's a way – Grayson's will always figure it out!