If you are engaged in a self build project and have hired equipment to help you complete the job, then it is important to keep it in good condition and protect it as far as you can from the elements, and from thieves and vandals. Here are some tips to help you look after all kinds of hired machinery, which will also help you keep your building site in a safe and tidy state:
Consider Erecting a Construction Tent
Although the equipment you’ve hired may look tough, it is likely to have delicate electronic parts or parts that can be damaged over time if left out in the open, where it is subject to the weather. For this reason, machinery should be put away or covered when you are not using it, particularly overnight when there is nobody around to keep an eye on it. If you have a lot of machinery and nowhere safe to put it, throwing up a temporary structure like a construction tent is an easy way to keep it covered, and also shields it from the eyes of anyone who might want to steal or vandalize it.
Bear in mind also that building machinery can look like a fun thing to play on to a child, and if any wander onto your site and get hurt messing around with your machines, even though they are trespassing you are likely to have legal liability. This is another good reason to keep your machines hidden when the site is empty!
If you are putting the equipment away for a number of days (but will be wanting it again later in the project), clean it thoroughly before you do so.
Regularly Grease Up Lubricated Parts
Unless you are only using the hired machinery for a day or two, you should be lubricating any parts of it that require grease every few days. This will keep it working well and prevent damage. Most heavy duty machinery of the sort you are likely to find on a building site requires a calcium sulfonate thickener to be liberally applied to its lubricated parts, however you should check either with the manufacturer or the company you leased the gear from what the recommended lubricant and lubrication schedule for your machine is.
Have It Moved and Set Up By Professionals
Get your building equipment brought to your site and set up by a professional machinery relocation company, particularly if it is especially large or complicated. This will ensure it arrives in the best possible condition and is configured properly, meaning all you have to do is protect, clean and maintain it to keep it that way while you proceed with your job. Companies like these have people who are highly trained when it comes to driving, loading and setting up all kinds of commonly used building machinery, and know how to do so within health and safety guidelines. They are also likely to know about any permits needed or restrictions when it comes to driving tall, wide or heavy items to your site from the site of the company you are leasing your gear from.
This post has been contributed by Danny Sawyer, who is currently working at company that offers machinery movers. His grey cells spell creativity and fun. He always helps his nieces in their science and art projects.