If you need scaffolding, you need it!
Without special equipment required to complete or undertake a particular project - there can be no completion.
The middle ground has to be sought. Plant hire or tool hire is the answer. The hirer of a digger or cement mixer gets to fulfil the task they are undertaking while not having to invest valuable capital in something that will probably not see regular future use.
A chainsaw, a digger, a cement mixer - hire is good for occasional use
The world of plant hire and tool hire in the Milton Keynes area is not really a case that needs to be made. It is obvious to all that buying a rotavator, wacker plate or portable generator for a single task is foolhardy - unless that single task is to be a plant hire or tool hire company!
The question is not whether to hire a crane, scaffolding, chainsaw, cement mixer and the like. Thought needs to go into what surrounds the act of doing so. For instance, if intending to go to a plant hire depot for a portable generator, cement mixer and wacker plate - does the outlet have them all, or do you need to go to multiple plant hire shops? The same applies if you are after securing the use of tools from a tool hire depot - a chainsaw and a rotavator, for instance - you don’t want to be forced to obtain them from different sources if for the one project.
Lifting scaffolding with a huge crane could be interesting
Plant hire can tend towards very heavy equipment. A huge mobile crane with a capacity over 200 tonnes is not going to be something you hire on a driving licence. On the other hand, a grab lorry might be something you do have suitably trained drivers available for. The question of whether plant hire offered is operated or non-operated becomes relevant.
What is very important is the geographic location of the supply of the plant hire or tool hire. There may be cost-related timing issues with regards to getting a digger or crane out to the location where you are working. Additionally, most plant hire and tool hire companies charge for delivery. Even if you have hired a wacker plate from a tool hire shop - there is still the cost to yourself of collection if you don’t have it delivered. Whether it is fuel used, or your time taken to fetch the portable generator, chainsaw or whatever; there is a cost to yourself.
Pay for a wacker plate only - not over the top for running about
Unless you run a large vehicle, scaffolding is not going to be something you will be able to manage to move readily. However, you do not want to be incurring large charges for transportation to yourself over a large distance.
It makes sense to use a plant hire or tool hire depot close to where you are operating.
There are other aspects of plant hire that need to be considered. In addition to whatever plant hire charges are listed, plant hire depots may charge for ‘consumable’ items such as light bulbs etc. That might be a minor consideration to many. However, it is common practise that plant hire and tool hire outlets consider the person or business hiring it to be fully responsible for the equipment. Accordingly adequate insurance needs to be arranged.
A portable generator to power an electric rotavator - plant hire can be a funny ol’ game
Plant hire and tool hire isn’t as straightforward as it first appears. It obviously helps to look locally and hire locally. That digger you need for a day or two ought not have to come far. If you are preparing ground to make good after a project, that rotavator should not cause you to make a long round trip to collect and return it.
Keep it close, keep it local, keep the costs of tool hire and plant hire real.
