Construction Equipment - Are You Qualified To Rent?

Those who are "do-it-yourselfers" know that the best and least expensive way to accomplish a task is to pull out the work gloves and get after it. But does that include projects that require construction equipment? There are several things to ask yourself before you decide whether to rent (or buy) construction equipment or to call in the pros.

Two of the most important things to consider are cost and size of the project. Have you always wanted a pond? There's really nothing stopping you from building one if you have enough land and there are no zoning laws restricting it. That's going to be a pretty big project and you might be surprised how much earth has to be moved to create even a small pond for watering livestock.

Think you're not qualified to operate construction equipment? You might be right. If you've never operated a bulldozer, you're going to quickly find out that those professionals only make it look easy. There's a lot to learn before you can successfully move dirt the way it's supposed to be moved. But even if you know how to run a bulldozer or other construction equipment, you may not have enough knowledge to put the equipment to proper use.

If you know anything about ponds, you know that just digging a hole isn't going to get you a pond that holds water. If you know how to go about the sealing process, whether you should have a drain and how to choose the best place for your pond, you may very well be in a position to rent a bulldozer and build your own pond.

Think you're going to need a series of ponds? In that case, you need to carefully consider how long it will take you to do the digging and get a good estimate for the cost of renting the construction equipment you need for the entire project. Don't overlook transportation fees, especially if you plan to only use the equipment for a few days, send it back and then rent again. Don't overlook your time. If you're taking time off work, figure that into the cost of renting.

Compare that to the cost of hiring someone who owns the construction equipment to get the project completed. If it's a big project, consider purchasing your own construction equipment. After you're done, you can always sell the equipment to regain at least part of your investment.

Whether you're talking about a bulldozer for a major earth-moving project, a Ditch Witch to lay cable or water lines, or a jackhammer to bust up a concrete pad, you may be surprised at how affordable renting construction equipment can be.