DIY Tool Rental Tips
DIY Tool Rental Tips | Years ago it would have taken eight men with wheelbarrows to bring the concrete to the rear of this house. You can rent this machine to transport and dump the concrete exactly where you need it. Copyright 2023 Tim Carter
DIY Tool Rental Tips - You Can Save Thousands of Dollars
I do media scanning each week to keep abreast of all that has to do with building new homes, remodeling existing homes, new tools, financial news, etc. Unless you’re living under a rock and hibernating you’re surely aware that inflation is raging, interest rates are much higher than they had been, and it’s causing you to contemplate tackling projects that two years ago you would have hired out. The good news is you can rent many tools you might not realize exist.
The best news is if you get stuck on a DIY job, I can help you. I do DIY phone coaching. GO HERE to set up the phone or VIDEO call.
Here’s an example of how extreme it’s become. A month ago I was hired by a woman who lives in Florida to be her virtual general contractor for a major house renovation in the deep wilds of central Maine. This energetic woman figured that with me in her back pocket available to do video or voice calls while she’s at the job site, I could help her successfully navigate this project. She stands to save close to $100,000 by my calculations.
The good news is she has at her disposal a plethora of tools and machines she can rent that will help her, and her sub-contractors, complete the project. I want to share just a few of them here to inspire you to jump into a project that you might have backed away from thinking it took too much manpower.
A man lift is one of the most exciting machines that you might rent allowing you to work safely up high. While these are not necessarily new, the capabilities and reach of the machines have significantly improved. Imagine working from a level platform with guardrails 30 feet off the ground. Just a few days ago one-half mile from my house a fireplace contractor used one to install a stainless steel chimney on the roof of a new house. The machine allowed him to do this quickly and most importantly safely.
You can use man lifts to install windows, siding, gutters, paint house exteriors, tuck point brick chimneys, and even re-roof a steep roof that might terrify you. If you hate ladders, you’re going to love man lifts.
Do you have to pour concrete in the back of a house or up a hill? Imagine how hard it is to try to push a wheelbarrow filled with heavy concrete up even a slight grade. Why not rent a power buggy? These are powerful motorized tiny dump trucks. CLICK HERE to watch a power buggy in action. They come in different sizes but a popular one is just over four feet wide and can transport 2,200 pounds of concrete each trip. It has tracks like a bulldozer or tank so it can go just about anywhere. You can use one to transport and dump, gravel, sand, stones, brick, etc. One power buggy can easily replace up to eight men on certain jobs.
Do you need to do plumbing work and you don’t trust your soldering skills? Forget about soldering and use press fittings. You can rent a tool that crimps the exterior of slide-on fittings that create a permanent seal with a rubber O-ring. In the past, you may have taken three minutes to clean, prep, and solder a fitting on copper tubing. That same fitting can now be installed in less than ten seconds using the press tool.
Pipe scaffolding is by no means new. Masons have used it for decades to lay brick and stone on the outside of homes and commercial buildings. It’s caveman simple to assemble. You can get a wide variety of accessories such as staircases, guardrails, leveling feet, wheels for hard smooth surfaces, and working platforms.
I’ve used pipe scaffolding to paint houses as well as new and re-roofing. They allow you to work safely at the lower edge of the roof. These amazing monkey bars work well when it’s time to do rough carpentry. I’ve set up the scaffolding to install ridge beams and roof rafters. I love the stability of pipe scaffolding and it’s very inexpensive to rent a month at a time.
Do you have to break up a worn-out concrete driveway, patio, or sidewalk? Rent an electric jackhammer. These have been around for decades but you may not have known about them. They just need a normal 15-amp 120-volt circuit. These powerful tools can break up thick concrete if that’s what you need to do.
If you need to dig a trench or a hole, you can rent tiny excavators. With just a few minutes of practice using the joystick controls, you’ll be able to dig a trench with fluid movements. Skid-steer loaders have been around for at least five decades. These allow you to move vast amounts of sand and gravel and dig holes in sandy or clay soils. They’re perfect for jobs where you can’t fit a big backhoe or loader.
You can rent miniature stand-behind excavators and loaders too. These can fit in very small backyards and will allow you to dig shallow holes for new patios, sidewalks, or a driveway if need be.
As crazy as this seems, you might want to visit a tool-rental shop or surf their website to see all the tools they have for rent. You may see the perfect tool that will inspire you to become a serious DIY warrior. And remember, I’m a phone call away should you get stuck.
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