Hiring A Backhoe Service: What You Need To Know
Are you about to start a construction project? Does it require some heavy digging? Or maybe you are in the process of a job that has gotten a bit out of your depth. Whatever the case may be, the below checklist will help take a bit of the load off of your shoulders.
Hiring a Backhoe Service
Backhoes are one of those pieces of machinery that can be particularly versatile. Backhoes have been used for many years in residential, commercial, and industrial projects. Prior to locating a machine operator, you should know why you may need a backhoe.
What’s a Backhoe? What Is a Backhoe Used for?
Backhoes are heavy pieces of machinery that have mechanical arms with buckets on the end that are used primarily for digging. These arms will bend in the middle so that the arms are able to scoop and/or push material. With the bucket, the backhoe is able to dig down into the soil and scoop out significant amounts of dirt.
There are numerous types of attachments that can be used to replace the bucket and allow different types of excavation tasks to be performed. Some machines will come with a wheel loader on its front, allowing the machine to be an all-in-one piece of equipment.
Ultimately, this helps to save you time, money, and effort for construction projects that may require the following services:
- Demolition
- Excavation
- Lifting and position cables
- Foundation digging
- Landscaping
- Transporting materials
- Trenching for drainage or utilities
- Paving roads
Now that you are a bit familiar with the way that backhoes are used and their benefits, keep reading to learn about what you need to know regarding how to hire a backhoe service.
Five Steps to Hiring a Qualified Backhoe Service
Step #1: Ensure You Have a Well-Planned Project
Save yourself some time and money by ensuring all of your excavation services are planned well in advance. Depending on the exact job, heavy equipment services will charge either by the hour, day, week, or even month. If you plan sufficiently, you will not be paying for any wasted time. You can also coordinate with utility companies and other services to ensure that they are on-site at the same exact time, allowing everything to be completed in an efficient manner.
Step #2: Locate the Appropriate Backhoe
With a plan, you can move forward and decide the right size of machine that you need for the workload. There are many different sizes of backhoes. For lifting heavier materials and digging, you will need a larger machine. As a general rule, the larger the machine, heavier of a load it will be able to lift.
Another factor that you should take into consideration is the amount of access there is to the property. For a brand-new site, it will be easy for a large machine to gain access. However, if you are working in your backyard, then a large machine may be difficult to get back there, but a smaller backhoe may be just what is needed.
Step #3: Determine the Maneuverability of the Machine
Now you need to think about what the backhoe will be driving on. There are many different drive configurations when it comes to backhoes. The most common are 2WD, 4WD, and tracked. These drive configurations will ensure that the machines are able to maneuver in various types of soil.
2WD backhoes are ideal for lots that are easy to access and have surfaces that are relatively even. 4WD backhoes are able to maneuver uneven surfaces and difficult terrain.
Backhoes come equipped with a track that has the capability of going up and down steep hills that make them that much more capable on various types of terrain.
Step #4: Select Your Attachments
Additional attachments make it so that backhoes are more versatile, ensuring that you can do a variety of tasks with one machine. This minimizes the number of machines that you need on the job.
Here is a look at some of the different types of attachments and how they can be used:
- Jackhammer – This is great for demolition jobs like breaking up concrete.
- Compaction Wheel – This can be used to make sure that soil is properly compacted after filling a trench or hole.
- Sweeper – This is ideal for cleaning up dirt and debris or removing snow.
- Thumbs – These are added to the bucket attachment to provide the operator a better grip on what is currently being scooped up.
Step #5: Hire a Backhoe Service
The operation of heavy-duty machines should be left to the professionals. It is recommended that you hire a professional service to take care of this. Here are a few reasons why:
- Experience – The professionals have numerous years of experience in operating backhoes, which will help in the prevention of accidents and damage during projects.
- Expertise – The professionals can save you money in the long run due to the fact that they are familiar with what to do and are able to finish the job in a reasonable timeframe.
- Insurance – The professionals will have insurance to protect anyone working on the job, which is important since operating heavy-duty machinery can be dangerous and there are specific safety concerns that should be taken into consideration.
If you are in need of any kind of backhoe excavation services, get in touch with SK Excavating.