Rental yard is the place to go for big equipment and tools

Tag : Hand Tool Bits

I t's a simple fact of life that every home-improvement projectrequires tools of some sort. As a result, just about everyhomeowner has a toolbox -- or at least a kitchen drawer --thatcontains a decent assortment of hand tools. But what happens whenyour project requires a jackhammer, an airless paint sprayer oreven a tractor?
You're better off turning to your local rental yard than shellingout the money to buy a tool or a piece of equipment that you'llprobably only use once. The typical rental yard offers a prettyastounding assortment of tools and equipment, and since the rentalcompany doesn't make any money if its tools are in the repair shop,you will generally find late-model equipment in very good workingorder.
What to rent: When going through a rental yard, the first step isto decide exactly what you need to rent. That may sound obvious,but if renting a tool you've never used before, you may not knowexactly what it's called, or what variations of it might beavailable.
For example, you may know that you need to drill some holes inconcrete, but you may not know if you need a small hammer drill, alarger rotary hammer or even diamond-tipped core-boring equipment.
Don't despair, and don't feel embarrassed. Rental-yard personnelare well-acquainted with the tools they have available and exactlywhat these tools can -- and can't -- do. Simply explain yourproject, and they will steer you to the right tool for the job.
Length of rental: Some equipment can be rented by the hour, oftenwith a two-hour or longer minimum. Other choices typically includea per-day rate (24 hours) and a per-week rate (seven days).Sometimes half-day and monthly rates are available. The longer therental term is, the cheaper the rate -- for example, a tool mightrent for $10 per hour, but only $75 for a full day, and perhaps$350 for a week.
Estimate about how long you'll need the tool, then add some time toaccount for your unfamiliarity with the tool's operation, as wellas the glitches that almost always arise in home-improvementprojects. And don't forget to allow time to pack up the tool anddrive back to the rental yard with it.
You may be pretty sure that you can get the job done within therental yard's two-hour minimum, but if you pay a little more forthe half-day or even the full-day rate, you won't feel rushed.
Once you have a rough idea of how long you'll need the tool, askabout the policy on late and early returns. Most rental yards willonly charge you for the actual time you have the tool, and willwork with you to give you the best rate. For example, you may sayyou want the tool for a whole day, but are able to get it backwithin just a few hours -- you will typically be charged either anhourly or a half-day rate, not the more expensive full-day rate. Ifyou need the tool longer than expected and someone else hasreserved it, you may be required to return it before you're done.
Training and transportation: So, how do you get that big trencherhome -- and how do you use it once you get it there? Rental yardshave lots of trailers, in different sizes. If you rent a largerpiece of equipment, the rental price may include the trailer, oryou may be able to rent a trailer at a discounted rate. If youcan't or don't want to tow a trailer, or if the equipment is toolarge to be towed, the rental yard can deliver it directly to yourjob site for a nominal fee, and then pick it up when you're done.