Installing solar panels is an investment that promises long-term savings and environmental benefits. However, a significant portion of the upfront cost in the UK often stems from the necessity of safe and compliant access solutions, with scaffolding typically being the bulk of this expense. While traditional, full-building scaffolding provides comprehensive safety coverage, it can be prohibitively costly for many domestic solar installations. This article explores more cost-effective and practical scaffolding alternatives, focusing on scaffold towers, and offers advice on how to manage these costs effectively.
The Challenge of Traditional Scaffolding Costs
In the UK, the stringent safety regulations surrounding working at height mean that proper access equipment is non-negotiable for solar panel installations. Conventional scaffolding, while offering unparalleled safety and access to the entire roofline, comes with a substantial price tag. This can significantly inflate the overall project cost, potentially making solar power seem less accessible for some homeowners.
Scaffold Towers: A Cost-Effective Alternative
For many solar panel installations, particularly on properties with straightforward roof access, scaffold towers present a compelling and more affordable alternative to full scaffolding. These versatile structures can drastically reduce costs, whether hired or purchased, making solar energy more attainable.
Advantages of Scaffold Towers:
- Cost Reduction: The primary benefit of scaffold towers is their potential to significantly lower access equipment costs compared to full scaffolding.
- Maneuverability: Their design allows for easier relocation around the property as different sections of the roof are worked on.
- Sufficient Workspace: While not offering full roof coverage, a typical scaffold tower provides a practical work platform, often around 60cm x 180cm. This is ample space for loading one or two solar panels onto the work level before moving them onto the roof.
Important Consideration: Limited Cover
It’s crucial to acknowledge the main limitation of scaffold towers: the confined work area and the lack of full roof coverage. While excellent for direct access to the installation point, they do not provide the same level of fall protection across the entire roof should an installer slip or lose footing outside the immediate tower footprint. Therefore, rigorous adherence to additional fall arrest measures, such as harnesses and anchor points, is paramount when using towers. Always install your lower roof rail first.
Buy, Save, and Sell: A Smart Investment Strategy
For homeowners or installers who anticipate multiple solar projects, or even for those undertaking a single installation, purchasing a scaffold tower can often be more economical than hiring.
- Initial Savings: The upfront cost of buying a tower can frequently be less than extended hire periods, especially for larger or more complex installations that take longer.
- Future Utility: Owning a tower provides ongoing value. Beyond solar panel maintenance, it becomes an invaluable tool for various high-up jobs around the home, such as gutter cleaning, exterior painting, or roof inspections.
- Resale Value: After completing the solar installation, the tower can often be resold, recouping a significant portion of the initial investment and further reducing the overall cost of the solar project.
Safety First: Always Ensure Stability
Regardless of whether you hire or buy, safety must always be the top priority. When using a scaffold tower, always:
- Ensure Stability: Before commencing any work, thoroughly check that the tower is erected on firm, level ground and is properly stabilised with outriggers and base plates.
- Follow Manufacturer Guidelines: Adhere strictly to the manufacturer’s assembly and usage instructions.
- Regular Inspections: Before each use, visually inspect the tower for any damage, missing components, or signs of wear.
- Correct Usage: Never overload the tower, and ensure only competent persons are working on it.
- Bigger: having a higher scaffold will make you feel more at ease.
- Do NOT: never install solar in the rain/wet or in windy conditions.
RenewSolar: Your Partner in Cost-Effective Solar Installation
At RenewSolar, we understand the financial considerations of solar panel installation. To help our clients achieve their renewable energy goals without excessive access costs, we offer flexible solutions for scaffold towers:
- Purchase Options: RenewSolar can provide new scaffold towers starting from £350. This represents an excellent investment for those looking to save on hiring costs and potentially resell the tower after use.
- Used Tower Network: For those interested in the “buy, save, and sell” model, we facilitate a network of clients. We maintain a list of individuals looking to buy or sell used towers, helping to connect parties and lower overall equipment costs for everyone.
- Hire Services: If purchasing isn’t suitable for your needs, we also offer scaffold tower hire services. Simply contact us to discuss your requirements and obtain a competitive quote.
By embracing smart scaffolding solutions like scaffold towers and considering options for buying and selling, homeowners can significantly reduce the upfront costs associated with solar panel installation, making the transition to clean energy more accessible and affordable.
Prices:
Two story house £1050 (delivered)
Single story £400-£600 (delivered)
2 Responses
I appreciate how you highlighted a cost area many homeowners overlook—access and safety setups can quietly eat into the solar budget. It would be interesting to know how installers typically decide between full scaffolding and towers on a case-by-case basis.
Working at height regulations dictate what has to be done. it is only when DIY comes into play that you would use a tower.
if you provided a tower to a installer the chance of them doing the job will be reduced.
It really does come down to what you are doing and how skilled and experienced you are.