If you are
carrying out a big construction project or you run a construction business, you
may find yourself wondering whether it is more financially sensible to hire or
buy plant equipment. Whether you’ve got a big project coming up that requires
an excavator or you are looking to expand the scope and services of your
business, making the decision between hiring and buying plant equipment can be
difficult.
For your
convenience, we have put together a guide on excavator hire, including why you
should consider hiring over buying plant equipment, the benefits of doing so
and reasons you may require excavator hire. At Graham Churchill Plant Ltd, we
hire out a wide range of excavators, breakers, loading shovels, dozers and more
to various clients - so it’s safe to say we know a thing or two about plant
hire! Read on for more information.
Plant hire vs buying: which is best?
Firstly,
let’s take a look at why hiring plant machinery may be a better option for you
as a company. Excavators in particular are expensive pieces of equipment, which
is why many companies look to hire them rather than buy them outright. There
are lots of different factors to consider, with perhaps the most important one
being your finances as a business.
It’s
important to remember that buying plant equipment is not quite where the
expenses end - you have to take into consideration operative costs and fuel
expenses as well as the cost of regular maintenance. On top of this, insurance
is going to come out of your pocket too. When you rent plant equipment, you
don’t have to worry about any of the expenses mentioned above apart from the
fuel.
You should
also take into consideration how often you will be using the equipment and over
what period of time. Investing in specialised plant machinery that you do not
need very often may mean that the equipment does not pay off its purchase -
something that can cost you as a business. Of course, if you are going to be
using an excavator frequently, it may be worth buying a piece of equipment
rather than renting it.
It’s
important to think about how frequently you will be using the equipment and
where you stand financially as a business before you purchase a piece of plant
equipment. It is also useful to note that many companies who rent out
excavators can provide training on how the machine is used. This is extremely
useful and will ensure that you handle the machine correctly and efficiently,
as well as know what to do should you run into a problem.
Reasons you may require excavators
An excavator
is a piece of heavy construction equipment that is used to dig and move large
and heavy objects. Generally used on construction sites, an excavator is an
expensive piece of equipment that is typically required to prepare a piece of
land before construction works begin. Excavators are available in different
sizes and can be used for a variety of different tasks, with some of the most
common uses including:
● Digging trenches, holes or
foundations
● Moving large objects
● Forestry work
● Handling materials
● Mining
● Rail construction
● Landscaping
● Site grading
● Construction and demolition tasks
Benefits of hiring an excavator
There are
many benefits of hiring plant machinery, some of which were briefly mentioned
above. Below, we take a look at some of the main advantages of hiring an
excavator:
Versatility
In
construction, every project is different - and, therefore, you’re going to need
a variety of different pieces of machinery to get certain jobs done. Excavators
come in different sizes, and each size will be better suited to different jobs.
For example, smaller excavators are suitable for landscaping and are ideal for
projects that do not require much lifting. In addition to excavators, there is
a variety of plant machinery that you may require for different projects, all
of which are expensive to purchase.
When you
choose to hire the equipment, you have the luxury of choosing specific pieces
of equipment for different projects. If you hire the wrong piece of equipment
or choose something that is not quite suited to your requirements, you can
easily replace it with something that is suitable for your project. Once you
have completed the project, you can return it. Many reputable tool hire
companies offer a pick-up and drop-off service too, adding extra flexibility.
High-quality equipment
When you
rent machinery, such as excavators, from a reputable company, you can rest
assured that the equipment will be in top working condition and meet all of the
required safety standards. Equipment that is rented out will be regularly
serviced and inspected by experts to ensure that it is fit for use, in good
working condition and won’t break down during construction - something that is
not only inconvenient, but costly too.
Equipment
hire companies will be able to offer you the most advanced and top-quality
equipment, along with skilled technicians and engineers to regularly maintain
the machinery. Plus, if you do experience a problem or the excavator breaks
down during construction, many companies have a maintenance team that you can
call who will come and repair or replace the equipment for you, minimising the
downtime of your project.
No need for storage
When you
purchase equipment, you always have to consider where you are going to store it
when you’re not using it. Excavators, no matter what size, take up lots of space
and require a big storage area. If you don’t have storage readily available,
hiring out or finding storage for big pieces of equipment can be costly. In
many cases, leaving pieces of equipment on your site is simply not an option.
In fact, in 2014 it was found that UK construction site
theft costs the construction industry £800 million a year, so it’s important that you find
somewhere to store your equipment that has tight security.
When you
choose to hire your machinery rather than buy it, you can rest assured that the
equipment will be delivered to you and then sent back afterwards, cutting out
the worry and hassle of finding storage for the machinery.
Graham Churchill Plant Ltd: from Plant Hire to
Rubbish Clearance
If you are
looking to hire excavators or plant machinery for your next job or project,
look no further than the experts at Graham Churchill Plant Ltd, the leading
waste disposal company. We have a wide range of excavators, breakers, loading
shovels, dozers and more to ensure that your job is always completed to the
highest standard and in an efficient manner.
When hiring
an excavator, you can rest assured that you will also be hiring one of our
experienced and accredited operators who all have CITB/CPCS safety certificates
and NVQ qualifications, ensuring that your excavator is always operated by an
experienced professional who has top industry knowledge. Our machinery is
available throughout Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and the
surrounding areas.
If you’re
not sure which excavator is most suitable for your job or project, a member of
our experienced and skilled team will be able to assist you, ensuring that you
hire a suitable piece of machinery. In addition to machinery and excavator or
digger hire, we also offer additional services such as waste recycling, skip
hire and land reclamation services.
For more information,
visit our website
or
get in touch
with one of our experts today.
