When it comes to taking construction equipment such as small excavators for hire, there are a number of factors that contractors or DIY enthusiasts must take into consideration in order to ensure optimum productivity is achieved for a given project. As it is with almost any endeavour getting your money’s worth or rather extracting as much returns on investment as possible will be at the core of the projects goal.
When it comes to rentals, things can get tricky, especially when it comes to scheduling the use of the rented equipment. Rentals which can be anything from a dump truck, hydraulic attachment or crane, all the way to a compactor, standard or even small excavator often end up being scheduled haphazardly which in turn results in rented equipment idling and unused which in essence is a ‘waste of money’.
In order to avoid this scenario and keeping project budgets lean, meticulous planning becomes crucial. In this article we will present some tips and considerations that should be taken into account prior to hiring construction equipment such as small excavators.
The typical excavator hire rental prices for a small excavator weighing between 1 to 5 tons per day ranges between $250 and $450 depending on the model type and size of the machine. In contrast, the weekly rate for a small excavator taken for hire on a weekly basis range between $1,000 and $2,000, however, weekly rentals are generally only applicable for large projects.
For medium sized excavators, the daily rate floats between $600 and $750 and the weekly rates range between $2000 and $2300. The rental rates for large excavators are subjective and vary greatly and few construction equipment rental companies carry large excavators simply due to the fact that large excavators are used for long term projects and purchasing the excavator for the duration of the project would be a more viable option than renting.
Among the key considerations prior to finalizing a rental includes checking the rental agreement thoroughly, conducting a site assessment, assessing requirements such as additional hydraulic attachments, and also the ensuring that the project flow schedule fits the ‘hire timetable’ in order to make the most out of the rental.
When hiring, the agreement becomes a critical factor as the hirer must ensure that value added services such as drop off and pick up are included in the agreement. Site assessment is also important and it would be wise for contractors to measure the narrowest access points to ensure that the machine is able to move within the site unhindered.
It is also advisable to check elements such as dig depth and reach and ensure that the machine meets these requirements. The hirer must also determine what types of attachments are required and that the rental company is aware of these requirements.
Lastly, the operator skill must also be factored as operating any heavy machinery without adequate training is hazardous and thus in the event the hirer lacks experience, consideration must be given to a “wet hire” (machine and operator).