Generally, the popular notion is that an excavator is mainly used for large construction projects which for the most part, an absolutely true fact, but few realise that these machines are also used extensively for smaller projects including home improvement projects. At the turn of the century, leading heavy machine manufacturers such as Caterpillar, Kubota, Komatsu, Hitachi and others within the same league ramped up advancements of excavators, especially mini excavators in terms of power, size and hydraulics as the excavator for hire market segment started growing exponentially.
The growth observed during that time was directly attributed to the then new business model that was being adopted by construction companies at that time which in essence revolved around cost effectiveness which resulted in construction companies renting heavy equipment instead of purchasing and owning them. Basically, construction companies detached their business from the growing cost of owning heavy machines and most construction companies established business relationships with companies that provided heavy machines such as excavators for hire.
The technological advancement of excavators has been exponential to say the least. The newest excavator models are equipped with a wide variety of practical features that are ‘state of the art’. From grading assistance which allow even inexperienced operators to grade like a pro, to loading sensors, 360-degree cameras, enhanced operator comfort, remote operation and even GPS systems that are essential features for just about any project, including home improvement projects.
Home improvement projects generally require a lot of digging, clearing, drilling, demolishing, grading, and compacting and all of these tasks can be handled by a single mini excavator as these latest models can be fitted with a range of hydraulic tools via hydraulic coupling links. A single mini excavator taken for hire would reduce the amount of raw labour needed significantly and this leads directly to cost savings.
For example, a single mini excavator would be able to dig up and clear an area for a swimming pool quickly and effectively within a day or two at most. In contrast, it would take a dozen workers 4 to 5 days to do the same amount of work at triple the cost.
A mini excavator can be hired easily from construction equipment rental companies that normally provide a host of value-added services that include drop off and pick up services of these heavy machines and even provide experienced operators upon request. The cost of the mini excavator and an operator as a package for hire would cost on average about 75 AUD an hour (dependent on the type of home improvement project) which is only a fraction of the cost of hiring half a dozen workers for an hour.
In the event that the home owner is a competent excavator operator, the daily rate for a Kubota U25-3S mini excavator for instance not including the operator would be about AUD 280. The amount of work that a single excavator such as the Kubota U25-3S mini excavator is able to complete in a single day is equivalent to the same amount of work that would take four workers a week to complete especially if it involves digging, demolishing and clearing work.
