One structure for the whole build
Planned properly at survey stage, the same scaffold can serve brickwork, roofing and finishing without a second build part-way through.
Extension build access
Scaffolding For ExtensionsIn Hadlow
From a single-storey side return to a full double-storey extension, we build access that keeps bricklayers, roofers and window fitters working safely without getting in the way of the build below.
Free site survey. Written quote back within one day.
CISRS-carded
Every scaffolder trained and carded
£10m insured
Public & employers' liability cover
RAMS provided
Full paperwork handed over on site
Six-week hire
Included as standard on every job
The Thompsons Towers standard
Scaffolding For Extensions Backed By A Team You Can Check
CISRS-carded scaffolders
Every scaffolder trained, carded and checked before they set foot on your property.
£10m public and employers' liability
Full cover in place on every domestic and commercial job we take on.
Free survey, quote in one day
We survey at no charge and send an itemised written quote back within one day.
Six-week hire included
Six weeks of hire as standard, with weekly inspections throughout.
The service
Access that keeps an extension build moving
An extension project usually runs for months, with several trades needing access at different heights and different stages; foundations and brickwork first, then roofing, then windows, render and finishing. Thompsons Towers builds scaffolding designed to serve the whole sequence rather than something that has to be adjusted every fortnight.
We're a family-run scaffolding company based in Hadlow near Tonbridge. Mason runs the build side on site and Katie manages the office, quotes and communication with you or your main contractor, so there's always a clear point of contact through a long-running job.
Because extensions often go up against an existing house, we look carefully at how the new scaffold ties into what's already there; shared walls, existing gutters, drainpipes and neighbouring boundaries all affect how the structure is designed at survey stage.
Every job starts with a free site survey and a written quote back within a day, so you know the access cost before committing to the wider build programme. A standard six-week hire period is included, with easy extension if the build overruns.
We cover extension projects across Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Hadlow, Kings Hill, Paddock Wood, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Gravesend and London, working alongside builders, architects and homeowners managing the project directly.
Who it's for
Builders, main contractors and homeowners project-managing an extension, from a single-storey side return to a full double-storey rebuild.
When you need it
From first-fix brickwork through roofing, guttering, window installation and external render or cladding.
Why a professional scaffold
A multi-trade, multi-stage build needs a platform that's stable, correctly loaded and adaptable as the work progresses; not a fixed tower moved trade to trade.
What it costs to wait
Why extension access needs proper planning
Extensions are rarely a single, uniform elevation; they step in and out from the existing house, change height between storeys, and often sit close to boundaries. Get the scaffold plan wrong and it slows every trade that follows.
Uneven load and changing heights
A single-storey extension against a two-storey house means the scaffold has to step and adapt across the elevation, which needs planning rather than a standard straight run.
Restricted access on tight plots
Side-return and rear extensions are often built on narrow gaps between houses, so the scaffold footprint has to be worked out carefully to avoid blocking access or overhanging a boundary without agreement.
Multiple trades on site at once
Brickies, roofers, electricians and window fitters may all need the platform in the same week, so it has to be rated and configured to take that traffic safely.
Mistakes we get called out to fix
- Ordering scaffolding for the brickwork stage only, then needing a second build for the roof
- Not accounting for a neighbouring boundary or shared access when the plot is tight
- Underestimating how long the extension build will actually take against a short hire period
- Leaving no safe loading bay for materials being lifted to height
- Ignoring how the scaffold interacts with an existing roofline or gutter run
- Ordering the wrong scaffold system for a rendered or clad finish that needs standoff space
Our process
From First Call To
Signed-Off Scaffold
01
Free site survey
We visit the plot, look at the extension drawings if available, and assess how the scaffold should step and tie in against the existing house.
02
Written quote
A clear, itemised quote comes back within one day, covering the standard six-week hire and any design work needed for a non-standard layout.
03
Scaffold build
Our CISRS-carded team erects the scaffold in the sequence your build needs, from foundation-level access through to roof height.
04
Handover with paperwork
RAMS, scaff tags and inspection records are handed over so every trade using the platform has what they need before starting.
05
Adjust, inspect & dismantle
We adjust the platform as the build progresses, inspect weekly, and take it down once the extension is signed off.
What you get
Specific Outcomes,
Not Vague Promises
Safer working for every trade on site
A correctly loaded, edge-protected platform means bricklayers, roofers and window fitters aren't sharing an undersized structure.
Solid enough for the full programme
Tied and braced to suit the elevation, the scaffold holds up through the whole build period, not just the first few weeks.
Cost certainty from day one
Our price promise means we'll beat any genuine written quote, so the access budget is settled before the build even starts.
A schedule your builder can rely on
Katie coordinates timing directly with contractors, so the scaffold is up and ready when the build programme needs it.
Tidy site, happy neighbours
Known locally as the posh scaffolders, we build and dismantle cleanly; important on a tight plot next to someone else's garden or drive.
In detail
How extension scaffolding is designed and built
Extension access has to flex with the build, which means more planning up front than a straightforward single-elevation job.
Materials
Most extension scaffolds use tube and fitting or a modern system scaffold, chosen for how quickly it can be reconfigured as the extension progresses. Boards form the working deck at each lift, with guard rails and toe boards fitted at every stage rather than just the top lift.
Where render, cladding or brick slips are being applied at the finishing stage, we build in extra standoff space from the wall so those trades have room to work without the scaffold sitting flush against wet or uncured material.
Methods
Because extensions step in height against the existing house, we build in lifts that match the new roofline, often independent from the main house scaffold but tied back at key points for stability. Loading bays are positioned so bricks, blocks and roofing materials can be lifted straight to the working level.
On tight plots we plan the footprint down to the last few centimetres at survey stage, checking boundary lines and any access agreements needed with neighbours before the build goes up.
Service variations
A single-storey side-return extension typically needs a simpler, lower platform than a double-storey rear extension, which may need full-height access with more ties and bracing. Loft conversions combined with an extension add another layer of complexity, often needing a stepped platform across two rooflines.
We also vary the build for extensions with a flat roof versus a pitched roof, since flat roofs often need a safer perimeter edge protection setup for ongoing access during the roofing and waterproofing stage.
Where it applies
This covers side-return extensions, rear extensions, wraparounds, double-storey additions and loft conversions built alongside an extension. It also applies where an extension links to garage conversions or outbuildings needing their own access.
It's common for extension scaffolding to run alongside renovation work on the rest of the house, in which case we'll plan a single combined structure rather than two separate builds where the footprint allows it.
Residential vs commercial
The large majority of extension scaffolding we do is residential; family homes across Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and the surrounding villages; where the build needs to be practical for a family still living in the house during the works.
Commercial extensions, such as an addition to an office, school or care building, usually need a formally designed scaffold with drawings and calculations, available at extra charge, along with closer coordination around public access and working hours.
Common questions
Scaffolding For Extensions
Questions Answered
Still unsure? Ring 07355 037000 and speak to Katie or Mason directly.
How much does scaffolding for an extension cost?+
It depends on the size and height of the extension and how it ties into the existing house, so we quote after a free survey. We'll beat any genuine written quote you've already had.
How long does the scaffold take to go up?+
A typical extension scaffold takes one to a few days depending on size and access, and we'll confirm timing in the written quote so it fits your build programme.
What's the process from enquiry to build?+
Free site survey, written quote within a day, then a build by our CISRS-carded team with RAMS, scaff tags and inspection records handed over before work starts.
Is the scaffold guaranteed to be safe?+
Yes. Every scaffold we build is guaranteed secure, safe and fit for its intended purpose, checked with weekly inspections for the length of the hire.
How long can we hire the scaffold for?+
Six weeks is included as standard, which suits most extension programmes, and it's straightforward to extend if the build runs over.
Can you help if the build overruns and we need scaffolding at short notice?+
Yes, our phone is answered out of hours and we aim for a fast response, day or night, to keep your build programme moving.
What paperwork will we get for building control or the contractor?+
RAMS, scaff tags and inspection records as standard, and design drawings and calculations for non-standard or larger structures at extra charge.
Do you cover extensions outside Tonbridge?+
Yes, we work across Kent, Sussex and London, including Tunbridge Wells, Hadlow, Kings Hill, Paddock Wood, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford and Gravesend.
Related scaffolding services
See every service on the scaffolding services overview or read more about Thompsons Towers.
Areas we cover
- Tonbridge
- Tunbridge Wells
- Hadlow
- Kings Hill
- Paddock Wood
- Maidstone
- Sevenoaks
- Ashford
- Canterbury
- Dartford
- Gravesend
- London
Postcode not listed? Check our coverage or ring the office.
Free survey · Quote in one day
Planning an extension?
Get your scaffold quote sorted early.
Call 07355 037000 or email thompsonstowers@gmail.com: Mason will survey the plot and Katie will have a written quote back to you within a day.
- CISRS-carded scaffolders
- £10m public & employers' liability
- RAMS, scaff tags & inspections
- Six-week hire included as standard
Opening hours
- Monday9am – 5pm
- Tuesday9am – 5pm
- Wednesday9am – 5pm
- Thursday9am – 5pm
- Friday9am – 5pm
- Saturday9am – 5pm
- SundayClosed
Phone answered out of hours for emergencies.