How to hire an excavator - a Rabbit Plant Hire Guide | Rabbit and Dowling Plant Equipment Hire

Hiring An Excavator vs Purchasing One

Excavators come in a wide range of sizes to suit all manner of projects, but what are the reasons why you might choose to hire an excavator, rather than buy one?

Many people choose to hire an excavator because of the cost savings which can be made. It can cost many thousands of pounds to buy an excavator, but if you don’t need the use of one on a regular basis or for a lengthy period of time, it’s most likely a waste of money.

With excavator hire, you only pay to use the excavator when you need it. In addition to not having to pay out to buy one, you also won’t need to worry about having somewhere to store it long term. You also won’t need to put in permanent security measures to protect it from theft and vandalism. You’ll only need to keep it secure over the hire period.

Why not ask us today about our excavator hire costs and see how much you could save? Contact our expert and friendly team on 01903 851957 or email info@rabbitanddowling.co.uk.

Getting The Right Size Excavator For Your Project

Excavators are used for a wide variety of tasks and are popular due to their versatility and strength. Tasks you might need an excavator for include removing rubble from a demolition site or mining project, or clearing the way for a landscaping or construction project.

Their super strength and hardwearing nature make excavators a superb choice for moving material of all shapes and sizes, and they also come with various attachments, such as breaker or auger attachments, which can be attached to the boom and arm, adding to their versatility.

When choosing the right size of excavator, there are several factors to consider, but the most important one is the scale of the project itself and the space you have available onsite.

The amount of material you have to move should help dictate the size of the excavator that you need, but it’s important to ask yourself, is there room for it? Often on construction or demolition sites space is tight. You therefore need to be sure that, not only is the excavator small enough to gain access to the site, but also that there is enough space for it to manoeuvre and be able to tackle the work you need it to. Remember to also factor in the tail swing of the excavator.

Another major consideration is the weight of the excavator. The ground it will be working on and travelling over needs to be able to cope with its weight, plus that of any material it’s carrying and the weight of the operator. Some types of ground are sturdier and more stable than others, and you may need to bear in mind what lies beneath the ground, too, such as pipes, cables or tree roots, which could be disturbed or damaged.

Other Aspects Of Excavator Hire To Consider

INSURANCE

Do you need insurance to hire an excavator? You must take all reasonable measures to protect the property and equipment hired to you. This includes keeping it completely safe and secure overnight and ensuring that all relevant statutory and other regulations relating to the plant are observed. Having the correct insurance in place is vital while the excavator is in your care.

You can get more details of your responsibilities regarding loss or damage in our Loss or Damage waiver agreement.

Liability insurance is also recommended in the event that someone is injured and claims are filed. You’re likely to already have some level of liability cover protecting your construction site, but be sure this covers hired-in plant equipment, as policies can be different.

TRAINED OPERATORS

While our team is on hand to offer help and advice regarding the type of excavator you might need and will be able to deliver it to site, we are not able to supply trained staff to operate the machinery.

Therefore it is your obligation, as the hirer, to ensure that anyone operating the excavator is properly qualified, trained and able to do so. Full instructions and a brief handover on the operation of the excavator are provided on request when the equipment is delivered to your site.

COST AND LENGTH OF EXCAVATOR HIRE

Other considerations are how long can you hire the excavator for and whether the cost to hire it will fit within your budget.

All of our equipment is available for hire for any period of time over 24 hours and we are able to provide a free site visit to help you assess the type of excavator hire that you need.

Please feel free to discuss the cost of hiring your excavator with a member of our team when you make your enquiry. Our aim is always to get you the very best possible price for excavator hire.