Making Your Heavy Construction Equipment Last As Long As PossibleMaking Your Heavy Construction Equipment Last As Long As Possible

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Making Your Heavy Construction Equipment Last As Long As Possible

Hi, my name is Jamie, and for close to twenty years, I had the challenging job of running a construction company. We had lots of heavy construction equipment at our disposal, and we faced huge loan payments and bills every time we had to buy new equipment. To help control our bottom line, I began to research strategies for lengthening the lifespan of heavy equipment. I discovered everything from covering equipment with tarps in the rain to training drivers to use the heavy construction equipment more carefully to better insuring equipment. If you are interested in these ideas, please take a look at these posts to see what I have discovered and learned over the years. Thanks for reading.

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4 Things You Need to Consider Before Choosing Your Excavation Equipment

18 May 2021
 Categories: , Blog

Drilling, backhoeing, bulldozing, and general excavating are the four main excavation techniques in the construction industry, and your choice of equipment will depend on which technique you'll be using. However, there's more to choosing excavation equipment than just thinking about technique. Here are four other facts you'll also need to keep in mind before making a purchase or rental decision. 

1. Your site

If you are digging in just a few inches or feet of soil, opt for a small machine. Small excavation equipment is great for digging shallow holes or creating trenches for pipes and cables. Unless you need to excavate deep chunks of land, large equipment is generally a waste of your money.

On top of site size and depth, think about the terrain too. If your site is rocky, it wouldn't be a good idea to use a dozer that could damage the rocks under the surface. The impact could cause a landslide, so you'd need to use smaller equipment that won't damage the land. If your site is very muddy, on the other hand, it would be better to use small excavators, as larger ones can sink in loose terrain.

2. Your budget

If you have a budget you need to stick to, always choose the smallest, least intricate machine you need for the job. Purchasing a larger or more complex machine may seem like it will make tasks easier, but they can push you over budget very quickly. If you do need a larger excavator but it won't fit in your budget, consider equipment rental, like an excavator hire. You won't get to keep the excavation equipment at the end of your project, but you'll save a lot of money compared to buying outright.

3. The weather conditions

The weather projections for your project is a big factor in determining your choice of equipment. If you'll be excavating during the rainy season, for example, think about how this will affect your land. It may mean you'll need a smaller or more powerful machine than you would do if you were constructing through a dry period. 

4. The operator's expertise

Last but not least, you need to choose an excavator that your chosen operator is trained to use. Bulldozing and backhoeing, for example, do require different skillsets. Presenting your staff with machinery they can't use will lose you money at best or lead to a serious accident at worst.