Temporary Roof Scaffolding in Oxford & Oxfordshire
A temporary roof is a weatherproof canopy built on scaffolding over a building, so work can carry on underneath in any weather. Premier Scaffolding Oxford designs and installs temporary roof scaffolding across Oxford and Oxfordshire for re-roofs, loft conversions, fire and storm damage, and listed building repairs. Prices start from £3,500.
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Temporary Roof Scaffolding at a Glance
- Cost: from £3,500 for a small building; £6,000 to £20,000 or more for a two-storey house
- Design: every temporary roof is individually designed, because sheeting catches the wind
- Types: traditional “tin hat” roofs and aluminium system roofs
- Uses: re-roofing, loft conversions, extensions, storm and fire damage, heritage work
- Area: Oxford and all of Oxfordshire
Book a temporary roof survey
Call 0800 288 4791 or request a quote online. Tell us the size of the building, the work planned and your start date.
When do you need a temporary roof?
You need a temporary roof when a building will be open to the weather for longer than a tarpaulin can be trusted. Typical cases:
- Full re-roofs, especially in autumn and winter
- Loft conversions and dormers, where part of the roof is removed for weeks
- Timber frame and structural work that must stay dry
- Fire and storm damage, to stop water making the loss worse. See emergency scaffolding
- Listed and period buildings, where old timbers, plaster and stone cannot be left exposed
- Occupied buildings, where people are living or working below
For a repair lasting a day or two in settled weather, an ordinary roof access scaffold and good sheeting by the roofer is usually enough. We will say so if that is the case.
Types of temporary roof
| Type | How it is built | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tin hat scaffolding | A tube and fitting frame over the building, clad with corrugated sheets | Small and irregular roofs, long hires |
| System roof, such as HAKI or UBIX | Lightweight aluminium beams with tensioned sheeting that slides into tracks | Wider spans, faster installation, roofs that need to be opened for craning materials in |
| Sheeted or shrink-wrapped scaffold | The sides of the scaffold enclosed with sheeting such as Monarflex, or heat-shrunk wrap | Keeping wind, rain and dust out at the sides, and containing dust and debris |
Most jobs combine a roof with sheeted sides. The supporting scaffold stands outside the building, so the whole roof below can be stripped at once.
Why every temporary roof has to be designed
A sheeted roof behaves like a sail. Wind tries to lift it and push it sideways, and those forces go into the scaffold, the ties and the ground. A temporary roof therefore falls outside the standard TG20:21 scaffolds and needs its own design, with calculations for:
- wind uplift and sideways load on the sheeting
- extra ties into the building, or buttresses and kentledge (ballast) where the building cannot be tied
- leg loads on the ground, with spreaders on soft or made-up ground
- rainwater run-off, so water is not shed onto a neighbour or a public path
Read more about scaffold design and erection.
How much does temporary roof scaffolding cost?
Temporary roof scaffolding costs from £3,500 for a small building to £20,000 or more for a two-storey house. The supporting scaffold is usually the larger part of the price.
| Building | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Small building or extension | From £3,500 |
| Bungalow | £5,000 to £12,000 or more |
| Two-storey house | £6,000 to £20,000 or more |
| Three-storey house | £10,000 to £35,000 |
| Large or complex structure | £50,000 or more |
As a rule of thumb, the supporting scaffold costs £30 to £50 per linear metre for each lift, and the roof covering £40 to £60 per square metre. A bungalow with 45 linear metres of scaffold over four lifts and a 55 m² roof works out at about £8,775.
The span, the height, the hire period, the type of sheeting and the design all change the figure. Our temporary roof scaffolding cost guide shows the full worked examples.
Safety and inspection
- Temporary roofs are inspected before first use, at least every 7 days, and after high winds.
- Work underneath stops if the wind reaches the limit set in the design.
- Scaffold alarms can be fitted where the roof gives access to upper windows.
- If any part of the scaffold stands on the pavement, we arrange the Oxfordshire County Council licence.
How it works
- Survey. We measure the building and look at the ground, the access and the neighbours.
- Design and fixed quote. Drawings, calculations and one price.
- Supporting scaffold. Built around the building and tied in.
- Roof and sheeting. Beams and sheeting installed, then inspected and handed over.
- Hire. Inspections continue weekly while your trades work below.
- Removal. The roof comes off once the new roof covering is watertight.
Temporary Roof Scaffolding FAQs
What is a temporary roof?
A temporary roof is a weatherproof cover built on scaffolding over a building while its own roof is being repaired, replaced or altered. It keeps rain, wind and snow out so work can continue and the structure below stays dry.
How much does a temporary roof scaffold cost?
A temporary roof scaffold costs from £3,500 for a small building, £5,000 to £12,000 for a bungalow and £6,000 to £20,000 or more for a two-storey house. The supporting scaffold runs at about £30 to £50 per linear metre per lift, and the roof covering at £40 to £60 per square metre.
What is tin hat scaffolding?
Tin hat scaffolding is the traditional form of temporary roof: a tube and fitting scaffold frame built over a building and clad with corrugated metal sheets. It suits small or irregular roofs. System roofs with aluminium beams and tensioned sheeting are lighter and quicker on larger spans.
Do I need a temporary roof for a loft conversion?
Not always. You need one when a large part of the roof will be open for more than a few days, as with a full dormer or a hip-to-gable conversion, or when the work is planned for autumn or winter. Small roof-light conversions rarely need one.
Can work continue under a temporary roof in bad weather?
Yes in rain and snow, which is the point of the roof. Work stops in high winds, at the limit set by the roof's design, and the structure is inspected before work restarts.
Does a temporary roof need to be designed by an engineer?
Yes. A sheeted roof takes wind loads that standard scaffolds are not built for, so it falls outside TG20:21 and needs a bespoke design with calculations by a competent scaffold designer.
How long can a temporary roof stay up?
As long as the job needs. Temporary roofs are hired for an agreed period and extended by the week. They are inspected at least every 7 days for as long as they stand.
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Book Temporary Roof Scaffolding Today
Need reliable cover for roof repairs, renovations, or emergency roofing work? Arrange professional temporary roof scaffolding today and keep your project safer, drier, and easier to manage. Contact a trusted scaffolding team now to request a quote and plan the right access solution for your property.
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