Guides and answers
19 ARTICLES
We write about the things people ask before they call: how much it costs, which machine is needed, how long it takes and how to do it properly. No advertising — if the answer is that you do not need us, we say so.
Metal fabrications: how the price is formed and what to send for a quote
How the price of a metal fabrication is built up: the kilograms of steel, the workshop time, the anti-corrosion finish, the installation and the transport. What to send so that the quotes you receive are comparable.
Read →What scissor lift height do you need: the calculation before you call
How to work out which scissor lift you need: the difference between platform height and working height, what actually stops you besides height — the ground, the access and the load — and what to check before you order.
Read →Asphalt, concrete or block paving: what to choose for your yard
A comparison of asphalt, concrete and block paving for a yard or a path: construction time, cost, durability, repairs and the situation in which each option is the right one.
Read →Ballast, crushed stone or crushed concrete: what to put under a path
The difference between ballast, crushed stone and crushed concrete, how thick a layer a path or platform needs and why compacting in layers matters more than the material you choose.
Read →Demolishing a small building: permits, machinery, debris removal
What demolishing a small building involves: the demolition permit, disconnecting the utilities, the machinery used, removing the debris and what affects the cost.
Read →Rent the machine or hand over the job as a turnkey project?
A comparison between renting a machine with operator and handing over the complete job: who carries the risk, how the cost is kept under control and what happens when surprises come up on site.
Read →Excavator or backhoe loader: how to choose for your job
The difference between an excavator and a backhoe loader: what each does better, which jobs each one suits, how they compare on cost and what to choose for a house foundation.
Read →Preparing the ground before asphalt paving
What goes under the asphalt and why it matters more than the surface itself: topsoil stripping, the foundation, compaction, a fall that drains the water away, and priming.
Read →How long does it take to excavate a house foundation
What the duration of a foundation excavation depends on, how the volume of soil is calculated, what slows the work down and how to prepare the site so the machine does not stand idle.
Read →How much does a dump truck carry, and how to work out how many loads you need
How to work out how many loads you need for ballast, sand or debris: the difference between cubic metres and tonnes, the bulking of excavated soil and the usual estimating mistakes.
Read →How much does it cost to asphalt a yard
The price per square metre for asphalting a yard, what it includes and what it does not, why quotes differ so much and how to spot a quote that hides the ground preparation.
Read →How much does it cost to rent a backhoe loader
How the rate for renting a backhoe loader is calculated: by the hour, by the day or per job, what the price includes and what extra costs come up. How rates work on the Romanian market.
Read →How to compact a platform properly
How to compact a platform properly: layer thickness, which machine to use in each situation, how many passes are needed and the mistakes that cause settlement.
Read →Compactor roller or plate compactor: which to use
The difference between a compactor roller, a single-drum vibratory roller, a plate compactor and a trench rammer: which surfaces each one works on, what layer thickness it compacts and where mistakes are made.
Read →Scissor lift or scaffolding: what to choose for work at height
A comparison between scissor lifts and scaffolding: cost, set-up time, safety and the situations in which each is the right choice. The difference between diesel and electric scissor lifts.
Read →What to check before you dig: underground utilities
How to avoid breaking a gas pipe, a power cable or a water main when digging: who is responsible, which clearances are needed, how routes are identified and what to do when a utility is uncovered.
Read →What equipment rental with operator means, and why it works out cheaper
The difference between renting a machine with and without an operator: who is responsible for damage, who pays for fuel, what qualifications are needed and why the option with operator usually works out cheaper.
Read →Which machine fits into a small yard
How to choose the machine for a narrow yard: access dimensions, what each machine can do in a limited space and what to check before ordering, so the machine does not make the trip for nothing.
Read →Which machine to use for levelling ground
Bulldozer, motor grader, wheel loader or skid steer loader: which machine levels best, depending on the area, the precision required and the amount of soil to be moved.
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