Top tips on hiring excavators

22 July 2015

Eugene Vargas

Excavators have undergone tremendous evolution; they are no longer the digging machines that were present in the past. Nowadays, these beauties come packed with a lot of features. They are faster than ever before, larger and much easier to operate making them more efficient and economical. However, before getting an excavator in your property, there is a lot to take into consideration. Talk with a contractor from a company like DM Contracting to learn about specific types of excavator hire. But here are some of the most important factors to look out for.

Budget

First and foremost, you need to work within your budget. You should clearly know the scope of your project so you avoid getting a gadget with specifications you won't even need. If your project involves just a little digging, then a mini excavator would do just fine. Don't get such a heavy duty machine that's got the bells and whistles only to realise you won't even need them.

Also get to know all the costs involved when picking your contractor. Does the price quoted by your plant contractor also include clearing of the land? That will take away all the surprises and constitute a smooth flow of work.

Tracks

Be aware of the kind of tracks the excavator has. Most of them use either steel tracks or rubber ones and the type of surface you've got should give you a hint on which one to choose. If your land surface is mainly turf and pavement, then you'd want to go with the rubber-tracked excavator. Steel-tracked ones would tear up the surface as the excavator moves along it. However, there are some contractors that have detachable tracks that can be placed on the surface for the excavator to move on.

Operation weight

Another factor you should have in mind is the weight of the excavator to hire. This is greatly affected by the kind of land present and your current project.

The land you're working on needs to be able to properly support the heavy machinery. If you're working on an area that has got numerous underground pathways, then limit the weight and get a smaller excavator. Also be very careful when working on soft grounds and on high structures such as bridges.

Size

You should also get a machine that can easily manoeuvre the site without bringing walls down. Gates and doors can be a great sign that you need to get a smaller machine that can go past the narrow passages. You wouldn't want to bring down your neighbours home just so you can clear your land.

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