Concrete Saws – Rent or Buy?

How to Rent the Right Concrete Saws for the Job

Whether you’re a independent contractor or an individual looking to do your own home renovations, understanding the basics of concrete saws helps you rent the correct one for the job. Concrete saws aren’t a piece of heavy equipment that is needed frequently unless you work for a large construction firm. But that doesn’t mean the average person doesn’t need to use a saw in order to clear out a driveway to expand a yard or cut up an old concrete foundation in order to pour a new fresh one. No matter what your needs are renting heavy equipment is often more affordable and convenient than purchasing it.

Types of Concrete Saws

Handheld concrete saws are great for cutting through asphalt, stone, and steel. They work best when trying to cut concrete on a building where you need to make cuts in a wall or a ceiling. A walk-behind model is a piece where the blades are included in an enclosure and you slowly walk behind the machine holding a pair of handles. This type of saw works when cutting pieces of pavement, such as a driveway or thick concrete foundation. There are both manual and automatic blade choices depending on how much control you want over the saw while operating it.

Chain saw models are used to cut irregular shapes into concrete. While handhelds and walk-behinds cut great straight lines, if you’re looking to get into wedges or corners you may need a chainsaw. Green concrete saws are those used on concrete that hasn’t fully hardened in order to create joints to prevent cracking. These are often used for industrial purposes, but depending on the job you’re doing may come in useful.

Considerations to Take When Renting

Being able to rent equipment pieces makes you able to compete if you’re an independent contractor. There are companies that specialize in equipment rental, so it’s best to work with a business that has experience renting heavy equipment. As with any business transaction, it’s important to read your rental contract and understand the terms and conditions.

When renting out your saw, make sure you understand the timeframe of your rental period. Some companies charge a high fee or charge you for an extra day if you keep the equipment even one minute over the agreed upon rental time. Make sure there are provisions in the rental agreement that cover breakage of the equipment. You never know how a company is maintaining there equipment, so you don’t’ want to be charged for equipment breakage if the cause is poor maintenance. You may be able to purchase some form of insurance that will cover any problems. Find out if the company offers a tutorial on how to properly use the equipment. Some rental firms may have an employee who will teach you about the different concrete saws and how to use them before you leave. Once you are satisfied that you can comfortably operate the saw, sign your rental agreement and begin your work.