Don't Forget These Factors When Choosing a Crane for Hire
Hiring a crane can allow a contractor to manage construction jobs that would otherwise be literally out of his or her reach, and can make renovation or repair work on a home or commercial building easier and safer overall. Rather than trying to haul heavy equipment up to a roof or second story, a crane can be used to lift roofing materials, building frames and anything else quickly and easily. Before renting a crane for any job, you want to note a few important factors about the crane itself and about its rental. Consider the following.
1. The load value
When renting a crane, it will include insurance in case of damage to your property, but you might need to note the load value as well. This means the value of what the crane is actually lifting, if it will be particularly expensive. Roofing tiles may not be overly expensive, but fabricated sheets for a metal roof may be very costly, as is a building's steel frame. If the load that the crane will be lifting is expensive, note its value when renting the crane so you know if the insurance amount provided will be adequate.
2. Obstructions for the lift
Will the crane need to lift things over power lines, trees or other obstructions? This can be important to know as it may mean that you need added height for the crane, rather than just figuring the height of the roof or other destination for lifting. If necessary, take photos of the jobsite and bring these with you when renting a crane, so the agency will know if there will be obstructions and will ensure you get the right crane for the job.
3. City versus all-terrain cranes
If the jobsite where the crane will be located is not paved, you might note if you need an all-terrain crane. This will usually be a truck with thicker treads or a crane with treads rather than tires. For pavement, a city crane may be a better choice as the thicker treads will slow down the truck-mounted crane or the crane itself.
If you're not sure if the ground of the jobsite would be cause to rent an all-terrain crane, this is where photos may also be helpful. The rental agency may note from the photos if the ground is dense enough to accommodate a city crane. In some cases they may even want to visit the jobsite so they can check out the ground in person and then recommend the best type of crane.
Contact a business like Warringah Crane & Transport to learn more about the process of crane hire.