Reasons to Invest in Excavator Hire

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.