The Role of Excavators in Construction Projects

Excavators are without an ounce or shred of doubt an essential heavy machine consisting of a single bucket attached to an extendable arm controlled by an operator seated in a rotating cab who moves the machine either on tracks or wheels depending on the model. There are even excavators that are spiderlike and have legs usually used for projects in extremely difficult terrain. Tracks, wheels or legs, these are just the mobility factors  and there is a lot more to what excavators are able to these days than there ever was, thanks to the latest advancements in hydraulic technology. These advancements in hydraulic technologies have made these heavy machines so versatile that these days they are able to perform just about any type of task that conventionally required different sets of people working an array of different tools ranging from digging and drilling holes and trenches, taking sledge hammers for demolition work, augers for drilling, compactors for compacting earth and wheelbarrows for moving earth or debris. Excavators nowadays come with everything, and it is all about what tool do you want attached to an excavator as they are interchangeable (the standard bucket is replaced with an attachment tool that those taking excavators for hire request). The two primary types of excavators are crawler excavators and wheeled excavators. Crawlers are good for uneven or rough terrains as they are more stable when performing tasks on uneven surfaces and wheeled excavators on the other hand are generally used on even surfaces or flat ground. Mini excavators come in both formats (wheeled and tracked) and some mini excavators for hire are fitted with tracks made off rubber which are perfect solutions for landscaping projects as these rubber tracked mini excavators keep the landscaped ground safe.

For most urban home improvement or renovation projects, the contractors usually hire excavators (rentals) on specific days to perform specific tasks and the hydraulic attachments that are taken on hire usually depend on the stage of the project. For example, the excavators are hired on the first and second day for prepping the project grounds then returned until the excavator is needed again for clearing. However, some projects require larger or standard sized excavators if the depth and reach of the mini or compact excavator is limited. The various types of excavators that are available in the market, makes choosing the right excavator a little tricky, hence it is best to know what the project requires because as far as excavators go, it is not a ‘one size fits all’ machine. The fact these heavy machines are available on hire makes them all the more cost effective as they are expensive and buying an excavator instead of renting excavators also mean that the owners will be strapped with maintenance costs which can add up quite significantly. Plus, buying a standard excavator would mean that the excavator cannot be used in an urban project setting which usually requires mini excavators and similarly buying a mini excavator would mean that the machine will not be able to handle bigger projects, hence project and development companies need to buy more than just a single excavator which could place pressure on cash flow for the company. Therefore, prudent and well managed construction outfits generally do not own their own excavators as most of them just hire excavators depending on the needs of the projects. The average price of hiring an excavator for a day is approximately 200 AUD (extended hydraulic attachments are hired out separately) and this factor forces project managers to use excavators optimally when they hire them based on ‘actual and practical needs’.