First floor scaffolding

[flanagaj]

I have the scaffolding company coming around this week.  The brickies have told me to get the first floor joists in and chipboard flooring and they'll use trestles.  This approach is great as I save money on having bird cage scaffolding, but given we are using 15kg medium density blocks internally, I'm concerned about the amount of weight when they load out the blocks.  They said they will put acro props under the floor joists, but I'm concerned it's not a great idea.  What have others done?

Edited 21 hours ago by flanagaj

[Mike]

You seem not to have a roof yet? I wouldn't be installing chipboard anyway in that case, so I'd would stick with the birdcage (or I'd be using beam and block at 1st floor level).

[ToughButterCup]

10 hours ago, flanagaj said:

...  The brickies have told me to get the first floor joists in and chipboard flooring and they'll ...

 

They would tell you to do that. In addition to the quip about weight and blocks, the next thing they'll say is  "Oh, don't worry about the rain and the chipboard - it'll be fine. "

 

Birdcage - keep going

[Nickfromwales]

P5 Egger Protect is fine outdoors, as long as you are ‘weathered in’ in <90 days.

 

You can control the weight by asking that only x number of blocks are landed in any 1m2, or prop from underneath.

 

However, given the grief to date I think a birdcage is the best solution here; you may not appreciate the condition of the new deck after the brickies have been on it for the duration.

 

Birdcage isn’t expensive and they shouldn't need it for that long.

[dpmiller]

^ wot he said. The coated board is amazing stuff, ours was exposed for quite some  time with no ill effects. But if you can get scaff up handily, I'd do it...

[saveasteading]

16 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

Birdcage isn’t expensive 

Get several quotes. Some scaffolders have lots of kit and the timescale is secondary. Others have very little and effectively hire it to you. If you will need it to be adapted during the period, discuss that too. It's amazing how quickly they can do what they do when it is "included".

[flanagaj]

Was wondering what the logistics are in relation to installing the first floor posi joists.  They are obviously built in, so I assume they are fitted and then the scaffolders erect the bird cage?

[Mr Punter]

In the past I have put in temporary floor decks with 18mm T&G OSB which was later binned and replaced.  This was with treated timber joists.  As it was a 3 storey building and a bit fiddly there was no chance of getting up and in the dry quick enough.