HOW TO HIRE · TRADES & CONSTRUCTION

How to hire a scaffolder in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

A scaffolding in Ireland costs €700–€1,800 per job, typically around €1,000. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a scaffolder in five steps

  1. Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers scaffolder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — installation and Dismantling — scaffolding services encompass both the installation and dismantling of scaffolding structures.
  2. How does type of scaffolding required change the price?A locked gate or a shared entrance adds waiting time. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  3. How does height change the price?Working at height is slower and needs more care. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  4. How does complexity of the structure change the price?The quote moves with this more than with anything else listed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
  5. What is not included?Types of Scaffolding — scaffolding includes various types such as tube and clamp, system scaffolding, and mobile scaffolding — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a scaffolder job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

NO REGISTER APPLIES TO ROOFERS IN IRELAND. What governs the work is safety law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Work at Height) Regulations, enforced by the HSA. A roofer is not licensed; the scaffold, the edge protection and the method are what tell you whether you have hired a professional.

Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.

What to check instead

Edge protection or scaffold in the quote as a line item — a quote with no access cost has not priced the safe way of doing it; Public liability at a level that matches a roof, and employer's liability if they bring a crew; Whether they will go up and photograph the actual defect before pricing; A written scope saying what is stripped, what is reused and what is replaced; How they protect the inside if the roof is open overnight; The guarantee, in writing, on workmanship and on materials separately.

Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.

Insurance

Expect public liability and employer's liability; ask the limit, not just whether they have it. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.

Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.

Trader or private seller

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.

Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.

VAT

VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.

Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →

“Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?”

A good answer: No register covers scaffolder work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — installation and Dismantling — scaffolding services encompass both the installation and dismantling of scaffolding structures.

“How does type of scaffolding required change the price?”

A good answer: A locked gate or a shared entrance adds waiting time. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does height change the price?”

A good answer: Working at height is slower and needs more care. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“How does complexity of the structure change the price?”

A good answer: The quote moves with this more than with anything else listed. — ask before the quote rather than after.

“What is not included?”

A good answer: Types of Scaffolding — scaffolding includes various types such as tube and clamp, system scaffolding, and mobile scaffolding — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a scaffolder job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.

“Who insures you, and what is the policy number?”

A good answer: Expect public liability and employer's liability; ask the limit, not just whether they have it — industrial Scaffolding — designed for factories or warehouses, this scaffolding caters to maintenance and construction in industrial settings.

“What do I get in writing, and when?”

A good answer: A written scope and a price before the scaffolder starts, and an itemised invoice after — temporary Scaffolding — A short-term solution for quick jobs, allowing safe access without the need for permanent structures.

Getting the quote right

  • Type of scaffolding required — a locked gate or a shared entrance adds waiting time.
  • Height — working at height is slower and needs more care.
  • Complexity of the structure — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed.
  • Duration of the project — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job.
  • In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
  • What is NOT included, named
  • Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
  • The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register

Walk away if

  • They will not talk about it: type of scaffolding required — a locked gate or a shared entrance adds waiting time
  • They will not talk about it: height — working at height is slower and needs more care
  • They will not talk about it: complexity of the structure — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed
  • A price for the scaffolder before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
  • Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
  • No written quote, or one that moves once the scaffolder has begun
LOW
€700
TYPICAL
€1,000
HIGH
€1,800

What a scaffolder costs: €700–€1,800 per job

The figures are for the job, per job, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Residential scaffolding and Commercial scaffolding each carry their own band. Scaffolding price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Scaffolders near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. Look firstType of scaffolding required — a locked gate or a shared entrance adds waiting time — that is what the scaffolder is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
  2. Agree what is being doneHeight — working at height is slower and needs more care — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
  3. The work itselfComplexity of the structure — the quote moves with this more than with anything else listed — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
  4. Check it togetherDuration of the project — the hours quoted are the hours worked, not an estimate of the job — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the scaffolder is still there.
  5. What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, materials used — cheaper parts fail sooner and cost more over time.

Types of Scaffolding
Scaffolding includes various types such as tube and clamp, system scaffolding, and mobile scaffolding.
Installation and Dismantling
Scaffolding services encompass both the installation and dismantling of scaffolding structures.
Residential Scaffolding
Used for home repairs or renovations, this involves setting up scaffolding around a house for tasks like painting or roof work.
Temporary Scaffolding
A short-term solution for quick jobs, allowing safe access without the need for permanent structures.
Industrial Scaffolding
Designed for factories or warehouses, this scaffolding caters to maintenance and construction in industrial settings.
Call-out
A fixed charge for turning up, separate from the work itself. On a short scaffolder job it is often most of the bill, so ask whether the first hour is inside it.

AFTER

When the job is done

Keep the invoice and the paperworkAn itemised invoice with the trader's name, the work and the total — installation and Dismantling — scaffolding services encompass both the installation and dismantling of scaffolding structures, because it is what a buyer's solicitor, an insurer or a lender asks for long after the scaffolder has gone.
Test what was doneTypes of Scaffolding — scaffolding includes various types such as tube and clamp, system scaffolding, and mobile scaffolding — and something that does not work on the day is theirs to put right there and then.
Ask what the guarantee isOn the workmanship and on the parts, and for how long each one runs — they are usually different. industrial Scaffolding — designed for factories or warehouses, this scaffolding caters to maintenance and construction in industrial settings — under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 what was agreed is what can be relied on.
Leave the reviewOnly a booked job can be reviewed on Locufy, which is why the score on a scaffolder's card means something — temporary Scaffolding — A short-term solution for quick jobs, allowing safe access without the need for permanent structures.

STEP 1Say it in writing, firstSay what is wrong and what you want done. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 the work must be carried out with reasonable skill and care, and defective work put right.
STEP 2Use the make-it-right step on LocufyUnder four stars you are asked whether to send it to the provider first; we follow it through. Then review.
STEP 3Escalate to the body that regulates itThere is no register, so the route is the consumer body and, if needed, the courts.
STEP 4Small claimsSmall claims covers €2,000, once you have asked in writing and given them a chance to put it right.

Hiring a scaffolder: questions people ask

The cost of scaffolding services can vary based on factors such as the type of scaffolding required, the height and complexity of the structure, and the duration of the project. Additional costs may arise from safety equipment and inspections needed for compliance.

The duration for setting up scaffolding depends on the size and complexity of the project. Generally, simple setups can take a few hours, while larger or more intricate installations may require several days.

Emergency or same-day scaffolding services may be available, but they are typically subject to availability and may incur additional charges. It's best to contact providers directly for urgent needs.

Yes, many scaffolding companies offer the option to book multiple jobs simultaneously, which may lead to cost savings. Discussing your project needs with the provider can help streamline the process and pricing.

Out of scope for scaffolding services usually includes any construction work beyond the scaffolding itself, such as painting or roofing. It's important to clarify the scope of work with your provider before starting the project.

NO REGISTER APPLIES TO ROOFERS IN IRELAND. What governs the work is safety law: the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Work at Height) Regulations, enforced by the HSA. A roofer is not licensed; the scaffold, the edge protection and the method are what tell you whether you have hired a professional.

MORE GUIDES

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How to hire: BuilderHow to hire: General ContractorHow to hire: BricklayerHow to hire: StonemasonHow to hire: PlastererHow to hire: RenderingHow to hire: Dry LiningHow to hire: TilerAll 701 hiring guides →

Scaffolders near you

Scaffolders in DublinScaffolders in CorkScaffolders in GalwayScaffolders in LimerickAll scaffolders on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. HSA — work at height
  2. HSA — using ladders safely
  3. CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
  4. Consumer Rights Act 2022
  5. Courts Service — small claims
  6. Revenue — BUILDING and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES (Private dwellings and Non-residential immovable goods) — Reduced rate
  7. Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
  8. Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only