Living in a top floor flat has its upsides… and occasionally, its downsides.
I personally love top flats; all the puffing and panting as you carry your tools up and down the stairs… I’ll tell you what – it really keeps you fit!
However, sometimes it can make a boiler replacement just that bit more difficult, with the added expense and hassle of scaffolding.
But wait, don’t panic; just because you live in a top flat doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll need scaffolding. So, how do you tell?
Glad you asked. I’m going to explain all, below:
Check your access
Firstly, if the flue can go through the wall, your engineer should be able to use a diamond-core drill to get the job done from inside the building – this is the simplest option.
However, if that’s not possible, and you’re not sure whether you need scaffolding for your top floor flat, the next thing I’d recommend is to check all your access points.
Does your flat have any roof access, or a skylight? If so, it’s possible that scaffolding may not be required.
However, if there is no roof access, skylight or opportunity for the flue to go through the wall, it is likely that scaffolding will be your only option.
TIP: This is particularly the case in newer flats, which are often built without an access hatch due to the fact that the rawbolts required need to be tested annually for corrosion and safety.
What to do next
I’d recommend having a good talk with your chosen engineer, and let them have a good look at the property so they can give you a fixed price quote – this should include the cost of the scaffolding.
But before any work goes ahead, your safest option is to ensure you have permission from your neighbours, or at least inform them that the scaffolding will be in-place for a day or two while your boiler replacement goes ahead.
TIP: If you meet with resistance from neighbours, despite assuring there will be minimal disturbance, there is such a thing called ‘wayleave’. This essentially means that you have the right to scaffolding in cases where work needs to be carried out on your property.
Cost and responsibility
Typically, I’d say scaffolding should only be up for around 48 hours, which is plenty of time to assure the boiler replacement is carried out to a high standard.
For scaffolding to be erected on a three-storey building over a 48-hour period, you can expect to pay around £450.
As for responsibility, I’d recommend talking to your engineer before making any calls, as you could save money that way.
As an experienced engineer, I know that when I go to a job where I know scaffolding is needed, I like to sort it out myself.
Usually I can get it built to the specific height specifications and access needs, but also because I use scaffolding quite a lot, I have a contact who gives me a very good rate.
Conclusion
Living in a top flat has good points and bad, just like any property. The added expense and hassle of putting up scaffolding can definitely be a downside. However, if you don’t have roof access or a skylight, sometimes it can be your only option – unless the flue can go through the wall, instead.
If you need scaffolding, make sure your chosen engineer can take a good look at your property before agreeing to the work, and don’t forget to ask for a fixed price quote that includes the cost of the scaffolding. Often, letting your engineer organise the scaffolding themselves could mean you’ll save on the costs.
Do you need scaffolding for your top flat boiler replacement?
