Cheap Scaffolding

Cheap Scaffolding

CHEAP SCAFFOLDING

• What is Cheap Scaffolding?
• How can the price of scaffolding be made cheap?
• Is it possible to produce quality CHEAP SCAFFOLDING without compromising on quality?
• I am a buyer; I look at the price, I don’t take risks!
• Does every manufacturer calculate the same number of products for the same m² of facade? Or is there a way to make the price appear cheaper?
• When you purchase scaffolding from the manufacturer offering the cheapest price, have you made the right decision?
• Is every TSE-certified, TS EN 12810-1 compliant scaffolding of the same quality?
• Is every stage of production inspected by TSE?
• Is it possible to distinguish between hot-dip galvanized coating and electrostatic galvanized coating?
• Is it possible to distinguish between galvanized coating and galvanized-colored paint?
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What is Cheap Scaffolding?

Generally, in every country, there are imported and local products. Imported products incur customs and transportation costs, which significantly increase the price. You can make a more cost-effective purchase by choosing local manufacturers.

However, in every free market, there is an established price range. Experienced local manufacturers like Oğuzhan Scaffolding, which has been producing quality and standard-compliant products for 38 years, also have a price range that is generally close to each other. If the scaffolding you purchase is priced significantly below the average range (e.g., 15% lower), this is what we call CHEAP SCAFFOLDING, and you must know that you are being misled.

How can the price of scaffolding be made cheap?

Unfortunately, in our country, scaffolding is made cheap through wrong methods (by reducing quality).

 Use of Low-Quality Steel: Substandard materials reduce load-bearing capacity and increase brittleness.

 Galvanizing Method: Marketing products coated with electrostatic galvanizing as "hot-dip galvanized." Hot-dip galvanizing is expensive, while electrostatic galvanizing is cheaper because their purposes are different.

The most common issue in our country is this: Ready-made electrostatically galvanized pipes are purchased, and their ends are welded. When welding is done on galvanized pipes, the galvanized coating is damaged. This flaw is disguised by spray-painting the welded areas with galvanized-colored paint, making the product appear as if it were hot-dip galvanized. This is a low-quality and non-standard method.

The same applies to metal walking platforms (decking). Ready-made galvanized sheet metal is used to produce platforms. The end caps, where the hooks are, are made from unpainted material and welded to the galvanized sheet. Then, both ends are spray-painted to match the galvanized color.

In both cases, you are not actually getting a hot-dip galvanized product. The system's durability is only as strong as its weakest link. The spray-painted parts will start rusting very quickly, resulting in a much shorter lifespan. While you may think you’ve won by purchasing cheap scaffolding, this will only be a short-lived satisfaction.

Poor Welding Workmanship: Cheap labor shortens the scaffolding’s lifespan and poses safety risks.

Is it possible to produce quality CHEAP SCAFFOLDING without compromising on quality?

Truly, companies that have well-established systems and advanced automation can produce similar quality scaffolding at a lower cost. Costs may vary depending on the factory’s location and labor availability. Here, we are referring to an acceptable lower and upper limit within a price range for scaffolding of similar quality. Some quality manufacturers can produce scaffolding at this lower limit without compromising quality.

However, scaffolding produced by cutting corners in quality is sold at much cheaper prices than quality, reasonably priced scaffolding. This is exactly what we call CHEAP SCAFFOLDING.

I am a buyer; I look at the price, I don’t take risks!

Yes, some large-scale purchasing departments are tasked with finding the cheapest products. If they proceed with the mindset of "I won’t take risks; I’ll buy the cheapest scaffolding," they may avoid personal risk but endanger all the workers who will use the scaffolding.

At Oğuzhan Scaffolding, we constantly try to inform these purchasing officials over the phone. Let us reiterate here: Always visit the manufacturer you plan to buy from, learn about their production processes, and compare apples to apples to avoid mistakes when making a purchase.

Does every manufacturer calculate the same number of products for the same m² of facade? Or is there a way to make the price appear cheaper?

No, not every manufacturer calculates the same number of products for the same m² of facade. This is something we struggle to explain to buyers. Customers request prices for, say, 1,000m² of scaffolding and compare only the total price at the bottom of the page. They assume that every manufacturer’s 1,000m² scaffolding is a complete system for 1,000m².

However, this is not the case. Some companies provide quotes with missing materials for the same area. If you compare prices based solely on m², you will encounter VERY CHEAP scaffolding. But if you compare based on the number of products and weight, you will find more balanced prices.

When you purchase scaffolding from the manufacturer offering the cheapest price, have you made the right decision?

As mentioned above, buying the cheapest scaffolding does not mean you’ve made the right decision. You simply own CHEAP SCAFFOLDING. While you may spend less money initially, you may end up paying much more in the long run.

Is every TSE-certified, TS EN 12810-1 compliant scaffolding of the same quality?

TSE EN 12810-1 only sets minimum safety standards; company quality control, production processes, and material quality can vary. Certified scaffolding may also differ in galvanizing thickness, welding precision, component compatibility, and static performance.

Is every stage of production inspected by TSE?

TSE conducts sample tests and conformity audits based on the product and standard but does not continuously inspect every production line or batch. After certification, the manufacturer must maintain its own internal quality system. TSE conducts audits in case of issues, but the company’s internal systems are far more important for consistent quality.

Is it possible to distinguish between hot-dip galvanized coating and electrostatic galvanized coating?

The answer is 'yes,' but can you make this distinction with an untrained eye? If not, you may be misled.

The most noticeable differences are layer thickness and surface appearance.

Hot-dip: 50+ µm thick, long lifespan (20–50 years).
Electrostatic: 10–15 µm thick, limited durability.

Hot-dip has a characteristic spangle (not painted), matte, and textured appearance. Electrostatic coating is smooth, shiny, and homogeneous.

Additionally, hot-dip galvanizing affects all surfaces, inside and out, while electrostatic galvanizing only coats the outer surfaces, leaving the pipe interior untreated.

Is it possible to distinguish between galvanized coating and galvanized-colored paint?

Again, the answer is 'yes,' but can you do this with an untrained eye? If not, you may be misled. Paint manufacturers have developed products that perfectly mimic galvanized coating. These paints are used to cover minor flaws in galvanized products.

For example, during hot-dip galvanizing, small black residues may form on the product surface if cleaning is not done properly. In such cases, spray paint may be used for visual touch-ups.

What you need to watch out for is manufacturers intentionally painting non-galvanized parts to mislead you into thinking they are galvanized. This could lead you to compare a corrosion-prone product with durable ones.

Conclusion:

You must distinguish between reasonably priced scaffolding and cheap scaffolding. Reasonably priced scaffolding is produced without compromising quality, only through process and material efficiency. Cheap scaffolding, however, is produced by cutting corners in material and workmanship quality.

Price alone should not be the criterion; production quality, customer support, certification validity, and the manufacturer’s industry experience should all be evaluated together.