Overview
Scaffold is quoted by the week, and the first week is where the work is
Scaffolding is one of the few trades quoted in time rather than units. The customer pays by the week the scaffold is up, but the contractor's cost is in the first day and the last day. Erecting a four-storey domestic scaffold takes two days; striking it takes another day. Every week in the middle is largely passive cost. A quote that just gives a weekly rate hides the erect and strike, and the customer wonders why a five-day hire costs nearly the same as a ten-day one. Distance from the yard matters too, because the lorry isn't running for free.
QuoteGenio gives scaffolding contractors a structure for the real shape of the job. Erection as a fixed line, strike as a fixed line, weekly hire as the running line, edge protection or fans as extras, and transport priced by distance. Send the quote via WhatsApp from the customer's drive, take a deposit on acceptance, and once the scaffold is up the same record runs weekly until the strike. Customers who see the breakdown stop arguing about week three of a four-week hire, because they can see week one was the real work.
Who it is for
Who uses QuoteGenio
Built for every type of scaffolding and access business.
The problem
The quoting problems every scaffolder knows
Scaffolding pricing has three moving parts: erect, weekly hire, and dismantle. Miss one and the job loses money from week two onwards.
Site visits eat the whole morning
Measuring a building, counting lifts, and working out anchor points on a clipboard is a three hour job before you can even price it.
Weekly hire is easy to underprice
Scaffold earns most of its money sitting still. Forget to quote the weekly hire rate properly and the first month pays the yard, not you.
Main contractors dispute hire extensions
Without a clear quote showing hire period and extension rates, every over-run turns into a battle at month end.
The fix
QuoteGenio makes it simple
A faster, cleaner quoting workflow built around how scaffold crews actually price work, with erect, hire, and dismantle itemised separately.
The payoff
What you get with QuoteGenio
The everyday wins that add up across a year of quoting and invoicing.
Built for scaffolding
Line items for erect, hire, dismantle, edge protection, loading bays, and toe boards. Everything a scaffold quote needs.
Price by lift or by metre
Quote by lift (per standard lift height) or by linear metre of scaffold run, whichever matches how you price your yard.
Works from the van
Quote from the site visit on your phone, no laptop needed. Send it to the contractor before you drive back to the yard.
Weekly hire invoicing
Convert your quote into recurring hire invoices every Monday and track which contractors are behind on payment.
Built for your trade
Quoting calibrated to how scaffolding contractors actually work
Pick your trade in Settings and the entire quote flow switches to fit. Line item presets, compliance fields, on-the-quote calculators, and per-m² / after-hours pricing all change to match your industry.
Trade-specific line items
Quick add picker pre-fills the common items your trade quotes. Skip the blank rows.
Brand-specific catalogues
Pylontech, Hikvision, Canadian Solar, Sunsynk and others pre-named. Pick the brand, the description writes itself.
Compliance fields built in
IOPSA, ECASA, PIRB, PSIRA, NHBRC, SAQCC. Set once. Every quote prints them under FROM.
Registration expiry alerts
Dashboard notification 60 days before your PSIRA, CoC or any dated registration lapses.
Per-m² / hour / day billing
Unit selector on every line item: m², hr, linear m, days. Stop doing the maths externally.
After-hours and emergency
1.5× and 2× multipliers as a one-tap toggle. Customer sees the breakdown on the quote.
Quote-flow calculators
Solar size, battery backup, cable run cost. Compute on the spot, drop straight onto the quote.
Staged payments
Deposit on acceptance + balance on completion as two separate amounts on the quote PDF.
Scope-of-work checklist
Structured Included / Not included lists. Client acceptance = signing the scope.
Site-survey mode
Log a location per line item: camera positions, fixtures by room, sensors by zone.
Regional rate hints
Pricing ranges per item per currency shown as you quote.
Free on every plan
All of the above included on the free plan. Premium is for capacity, not the trade tooling.
Why QuoteGenio
Why Scaffolding Contractors choose QuoteGenio
The tools that matter most when you are quoting on-site, under pressure, and between jobs.
Quote from your phone
Most Scaffolding Contractors build and send quotes directly from the job site. No laptop, no office, no delays.
Win more jobs, faster
The first professional quote a client receives usually wins. Respond in minutes, not hours.
Quote to invoice in one click
When the job is accepted, convert to an invoice instantly. No retyping, no double entry.
Pricing guide
Typical Scaffolding Contractors job pricing
A rough guide to what scaffolders charge on typical jobs. Pricing varies by height, access, ground conditions, and whether the job is tube and fitting or system scaffold. Use these ranges as a sanity check when building your own rates, not as fixed numbers.
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Domestic single-lift scaffold (per linear m) | R744 - R1,405 / m |
| Double-lift scaffold (per linear m) | R1,240 - R2,314 / m |
| Weekly hire extension (after first 4 weeks) | R132 - R297 / m / week |
| Dismantle and load out (per linear m) | R297 - R628 / m |
| Mobile tower hire (per week) | R1,983 - R4,628 |
| Edge protection to flat roof (per m) | R463 - R909 / m |
| Chimney access scaffold | R14,048 - R39,665 |
Pricing converted from USD to ZAR at indicative rates. Rates vary significantly by country, region, currency, and market.
Call-out fees
Scaffold pricing has three separate components on every quote: erect, weekly hire, and dismantle. Most contractors bundle the first 4 weeks of hire into the erect price, then charge a separate weekly rate after that. Make this structure crystal clear on the quote so the main contractor can't argue about extension costs three months into a delayed programme.
Hourly vs fixed pricing
Use fixed rates per linear metre or per lift for standard scaffold runs where the drawings are clear. Use hourly rates (typically R1,074 to R1,570 per scaffolder per hour) for alterations, adaptations, and access changes once the scaffold is up. Put a day-works rate on every quote so mid-job changes have a pre-agreed price.
See it in action
Example quote breakdown
Here's what a clean, itemised scaffold quote looks like for a typical residential renovation. Notice how erect, hire extension, and dismantle are all priced separately. That transparency is what stops arguments when the programme runs long.
Try it yourself
Job size
Region
Sample quote
Residential renovation, two-storey scaffold, 28m run
Double-lift scaffold erect (28m run)
Loading bay and gin wheel platform
Toe boards and guard rails (full run)
First 4 weeks hire (included in erect)
Hire extension, weeks 5 to 8
Mid-job adaptation (gable access)
Dismantle, load out, and site clean
| Description | Qty | Rate | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Double-lift scaffold erect (28m run) | 28 | R1,570 / m | R43,962 |
| Loading bay and gin wheel platform | 1 | R6,280 | R6,280 |
| Toe boards and guard rails (full run) | 28 | R198 / m | R5,553 |
| First 4 weeks hire (included in erect) | 1 | R0 | R0 |
| Hire extension, weeks 5 to 8 | 112 | R198 / m / week | R22,212 |
| Mid-job adaptation (gable access) | 1 | R4,628 | R4,628 |
| Dismantle, load out, and site clean | 28 | R463 / m | R12,957 |
| Subtotal | R95,592 | ||
| Tax (10%) | R9,553 | ||
| Total incl. tax | R105,145 | ||
Totals recalculate as you change the controls above. Tax rate inferred from the sample quote.
Items often forgotten
Gin wheel and loading bay, toe boards and guard rails, debris netting or mono-flex sheeting, weekly inspection and handover certificate, mid-job adaptations, dismantle, and waste removal. Put these on your template once and stop eating them in your erect rate.
Peer snapshot
How Scaffolding Contractors actually use QuoteGenio
Indicative activity for Scaffolding Contractors on the platform. Use it as a benchmark for how often to quote and how fast to respond.
21
Quotes sent per month
47%
Average quote acceptance
3 min
Median time to send quote
R105,145
Typical quote value
Figures are indicative platform averages for this trade segment.
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Avoid these
Common quoting mistakes
We talk to a lot of scaffolders. The same pricing traps come up again and again: bundled hire rates, forgotten adaptations, and dismantle jobs that take twice as long as the erect. Fix these and your yard earns from week one through to dismantle.
Mistake: Quoting erect and hire as one lump
Better: Split them on every quote. Erect is labour and material, hire is the rent on your yard asset. When a programme slips from 6 weeks to 12, you need the weekly hire line to kick in automatically, not to be renegotiated.
Mistake: No hire extension rate on the quote
Better: State the weekly extension rate clearly, so when the job over-runs the main contractor can see what week 5 onwards costs. No surprises at month end and no arguments on the invoice.
Mistake: Forgetting debris netting and sheeting
Better: If the client wants mono-flex, shrink wrap, or debris netting, price it as a separate line with weekly hire. It's expensive material and it takes time to fit and strip.
Mistake: No handover certificate line
Better: Every scaffold needs a handover and weekly inspection certificate. Some clients expect it free, but it's time on site and paperwork. List it on the quote so the admin gets billed.
Mistake: Ignoring mid-job adaptations
Better: When a roofer asks for an extra lift or a gable access change, that's a variation. Don't send a scaffolder up for an hour and forget to invoice it. Quote a day-works or hourly rate upfront so adaptations are covered.
Mistake: Forgetting dismantle access problems
Better: If the build is complete, pavers are down, and landscaping is in, dismantling is slower than erecting. Quote dismantle separately and state that protected surfaces add to the rate.
Mistake: No deposit on long-hire contracts
Better: For jobs with 12+ weeks of hire, ask for 25 to 40 percent upfront. You're tying up yard stock that could be earning elsewhere. State the deposit clearly on the quote.
Mistake: No follow-up after sending the quote
Better: Most quotes that don't close, don't close because nobody followed up. Send a polite check-in 48 hours after the quote lands, and a second nudge at day 7. Two of every three accepted quotes get there because someone followed up.
Step by step
How to quote scaffolding jobs
Walk the building with a tape and a camera before pricing. Measure the frontage in linear metres for each elevation, count lifts from ground to the highest working platform, and note standard lift height (2m or 2.7m) because that decides tube and fitting counts. Check ground conditions under every standard for base plates or sole boards, because soft or uneven ground needs spreaders. Identify anchor points into the building for ties, overhead power lines, roof overhangs, and anything that will slow the erect crew. For chimney access or loading bays, sketch the platform detail. For double-lift residential work, check gable ends and roof pitch so gin wheels and loading bays get priced in from day one rather than added as a panicked variation.
Itemise erect, first four weeks hire, weekly hire extension, dismantle, and load-out as separate lines instead of a single lump. Price erect per linear metre by lift count (double-lift at $ 75 to $ 140 per metre), state the weekly extension rate clearly ($ 8 to $ 18 per metre per week after the initial period), and quote dismantle per metre because with a completed build landscaped around the feet the strip can take longer than the erect. Add gin wheel and loading bay as a lump, toe boards and guard rails per metre of full run, debris netting or mono-flex sheeting as a separate line with weekly hire, and weekly inspection plus handover certificate so the scaff-tag admin time is billed. Include a day-works rate of $ 65 to $ 95 per scaffolder per hour for mid-job adaptations.
Scaffold hire rides on time, so the validity and deposit structure on the quote matter more than material price swings. Put a 30 day quote validity on, but make the weekly hire rate and the trigger date (day one of week five) crystal clear so over-runs bill automatically without argument at month end. For jobs with 12 or more weeks of hire or complex system scaffold, ask for a 25 to 40 percent mobilisation deposit because you are tying up yard stock that could earn elsewhere. State on the quote that the weekly inspection certificate is mandatory and priced as a separate line, because some clients expect it free. Quote debris netting with weekly hire because the fabric cost is real and the fit-and-strip time is not zero.
Send the quote the same day as the site walk. Site managers and roofers on tight programmes book the scaffolder whose itemised PDF lands first with a clear erect-hire-dismantle split, not whoever offers the cheapest single number. Build the quote on your phone from the site gate, share the link via WhatsApp to the foreman, and follow up the next morning. When the roofer asks for an extra lift for a gable detail or the client decides to render an elevation mid-hire, issue a short variation inside QuoteGenio with the day-works hours and extra tube-and-fittings, get it signed off on the client's phone, then send the scaffolder up so the adaptation is paid for in writing before a single clip is turned.
FAQ
Common questions from scaffolding contractors
Everything you need to know before getting started.
Yes. QuoteGenio supports unlimited line items. Add erect, weekly hire, dismantle, adaptations, edge protection, and any other charge. Each line has its own description, quantity, and price.
Yes. As you add line items and quantities, totals update instantly. VAT, subtotals, and grand totals are all calculated for you. No spreadsheet needed.
Yes. Every quote can be downloaded as a professional branded PDF or shared as a secure link via WhatsApp, email, or any other channel.
Yes. You can edit and resend a quote at any time. Issue a variation quote for adaptations and send it to the site manager for sign-off before the scaffolder climbs up.
Yes. QuoteGenio shows you the status of all your invoices (outstanding, paid, or overdue) so you always know which sites are behind on weekly hire.
Yes. The free plan gives you 5 quotes and 2 invoices per month with no credit card required. Upgrade to Premium for unlimited quotes, invoices, statements, and reports.
Per linear metre is the industry standard for straightforward runs because it ties cleanly to the frontage a client can measure off a drawing. Per lift makes sense for complex jobs with unusual heights or stepped scaffolds. Whatever you pick, make sure the quote clearly states the assumed lift height, because a 2m lift and a 2.7m lift have very different material counts.
Most scaffolders bundle the first 4 weeks of hire into the erect price, then charge per metre per week after that. Typical extension rates are R132 to R297 per metre per week depending on scaffold type. State the rate and the trigger date clearly on the quote so over-runs are billed without argument.
Yes, on every commercial and most residential scaffolds. A scaff-tag or handover certificate confirms the scaffold is safe and signed off by a competent person, and weekly inspection records are required for the duration of hire. Quote the inspection cost as a separate line so the admin time is paid for.
Put a day-works rate on every quote, typically R1,074 to R1,570 per scaffolder per hour plus any extra tube and fittings. When a trade asks for an extra lift or a gable opening, issue a short variation quote with the hours and material, get it signed off, then send the scaffolder up.
Still have questions? We would rather answer them now than after you have signed up.
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Guides
Guides for Scaffolding Contractors
Practical advice to help you quote better, get paid faster, and grow your business.
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