Ask most builders, and they’ll tell you that the hardest part of managing a project is coming to agreement on critical decisions. Getting the numerous people involved at every stage of a project, all with their own priorities and opinions, onto the ‘same page’ can be challenging.
Luckily, as technology evolves, some choices become easier to agree on. Innovative build methods eventually become industry standards – the default choice – and debate over their use disappears.
One such choice facing builders today is how to best access the envelope of a building: should they opt for traditional scaffolding or modern mastclimbing technology?
In this article we’ll explore why that decision is now easier than ever to make. Beneficial at every stage of a project, mastclimbers are fast becoming the preferred access solution for today’s leading builders. Let’s look at the reasons why specifying them for your next project is one decision your whole team will get behind.
The design of a building’s envelope and the access system used to install it are closely linked. Traditional scaffolds put restrictive limits on the size and weight of façade components – with head-height lifts, tight spacing of upright standards, and low-capacity inside boards. Modern high-rise designs increasingly specify large, prefabricated components, and installing those pieces via scaffold is simply impractical.
Mastclimbers, in contrast, handle the bulkiest of materials with ease. Their open platforms provide generous working space – and with capacity of up to 5 tonnes, they hold more weight than even the heaviest-duty scaffolds. Critically, clear access is maintained to the building’s façade, meaning cranes can lift heavy components into position while installers on the platform fix them in place – a method not possible with scaffolding in the way.
In today’s construction market, the importance of controlling cost can’t be overstated. Mastclimbers are an essential tool to run an efficient high-rise build – as well as to avoid spiralling access costs.
Though scaffold contractors are quick to point out that their decks can be adapted ‘on the fly’ to suit the needs of work on site, doing so is costly – every modification requires labour, materials, and for more complex changes, temporary works designs. Those changes add up: it’s not uncommon for adaptions to inflate the value of a scaffold contract well beyond its original budget.
A well-planned mastclimber system avoids the need for constant modifications – with customisable layouts designed prior to assembly, and extendable platforms to reach tricky areas, a mastclimber’s adaptability is one of its major advantages.
Mastclimbers don’t just save money on access – they accelerate other trades’ work as well, shortening your programme and reducing overheads. Consider a typical 12-storey brickwork job: erecting scaffolding might take 30 working days, whereas installing a mastclimber takes three. That’s over a calendar month knocked off your project programme straight away – not to mention the additional time saved by avoiding the need for brickwork-stage scaffold adaptions.
If anyone appreciates the benefits of mastclimbers, it’s crews on site.
Let’s start with safety: mastclimbers massively cut down on manual handling – traditional scaffolding requires workers to carry tools and materials long distances from hoist to work area. Mastclimbers enable loading (by machine if needed) directly in line with the workface – reducing the risk of trips, falls, and overuse injuries.
And because platforms can be raised and lowered to the most suitable working level, ergonomics are optimised – no need for operatives to climb, duck, or shimmy through scaffolding to reach their work. With proper body positioning, fatigue is reduced, and workmanship is enhanced.
Mastclimbers also benefit on-site logistics: thanks to their minimal profiles, they require fewer deliveries, smaller laydown areas, and less upkeep than scaffolds. And at the end of the day, platforms are locked out, eliminating trespassers and keeping the site secure.
You might not think that a piece of site equipment can build your brand’s market presence – but in fact, choosing to use a mastclimber on your project says a lot about your business. A mastclimber is a highly visible, eye-catching piece of kit – and in tandem with site branding, it can make your project stand out.
On refurbishments, opting for mastclimbers shows your business cares about the building’s occupants. Rather than enclosing their living space in scaffolding for the duration of the job, using mastclimbers shows a conscious choice to minimise your project’s impact – while maximising light, fresh air, and quiet. Satisfied occupants means satisfied clients, and better chances of follow-on work.
Most importantly, mastclimbers demonstrate that your business values innovation – that it’s an industry leader with a mindset of embracing the best build methods available. That reputation goes beyond choice of access equipment: it represents the way you build as a whole.
Every stage of construction is full of tough decisions. But choosing your access system doesn’t need to be one of them. As the UK’s leading mastclimbing provider, we aim to make the choice a ‘no-brainer’ – supporting your project every step of the way to help you build faster, safer, and more efficiently.
Hundreds of satisfied customers have already discovered the benefits of switching to mastclimbers, and now’s the perfect time to learn how your business can benefit. If you’re wondering whether a mastclimber is right for your project, get in touch with us today.
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