Everyone wants their home to be the best that it can possibly be. We want it to be functional, beautiful and valuable to ourselves and to others. The best way to make sure that your house stands out among the crowd this spring is to take matters into your own hands and take on some home improvement projects.
Update Your Outdoor Space With Home Renovations for Spring
One of the easiest and most beneficial projects you can take on this spring is updating your outdoor space. Staining your deck can give it new life and can help make it look as good as new. It can also help to seal it to help protect it from the weather and to ensure that it lasts for seasons to come. Another great update to your outdoor space is to add a new railing to your porch. Railings with fun architectural detail are easy and interesting and can make for such a fun new take on your porch that can really give your home a facelift.
These small changes are things you can do on your own that really have a great impact and that look fantastic. A new railing can make your home look updated, or you can go for a more classic style and make your home look like something out of a history book. Another great update that you can do on your own is to install a new mailbox. This is something that can be done in an afternoon but that really does update the look of a home.
Standout Home Renovations
If you are feeling a bit more ambitious and want a larger project to tackle, a fire pit in the backyard is an excellent renovation that is going to make your home truly stand out. A fire pit is a great way to utilize the outdoor space that you have and make sure that you are making the most of the yard that you have on hand. You can add the pit itself, some seating around the edges, and even great design details like rocks or stepping stones around the perimeter to clearly define the space.
Fire pits are a huge selling point for many people and can help to increase the value of your home as well as the usability of your backyard areas. It is also a way to make a space where you can entertain, where you can have a great time with friends and family, and where you can truly enjoy the outdoors with a few of the comforts of being inside. You may also want to update your garden or landscaping.
Spring is the perfect time to plant new flowers and to redesign your beds so that they are refreshed and look great, and so that they grow well also. No matter what project you choose to tackle, if you go into it with a positive outlook, you are sure to succeed and get a finished project that you love.
Although temperatures may be hovering at or below freezing, when it comes to construction, the show must go on. Projects that need to be completed before the weather warms up can sometimes present a quandary.
Can you pour concrete in the winter? Yes, you can—you’ll just need to take some additional steps and precautions. If you’ve ever slipped and fallen on frozen concrete, you know that the cold can make it feel that much harder, but cold-weather concrete pouring is sometimes unavoidable.
This article will touch on how to pour concrete in winter weather.
Come prepared
As always, when executing a construction project, proper preparation prevents poor performance. If you know you’re going to be pouring concrete in temperatures around or below 40℉, you’ll need to take the appropriate measures to ensure that your concrete pour goes smoothly.
This means packing extra tools and setting an itinerary for the day by blocking out estimates for how long certain processes are going to take. Also, be sure to check when the sun sets, as you’ll not only lose light when it does, but the air will get colder as well.
Don’t pour concrete on frozen ground
This is the first rule of cold-weather concrete pouring. You should never under any circumstances pour concrete onto frozen ground or ground that’s covered by ice or snow.
Doing this will substantially compromise its structural integrity and could potentially render any concrete you pour unusable. Use construction heaters or electric blankets on the ground before you pour your concrete to warm up the ground and prime it for pouring.
Don’t use cold tools
Can you pour concrete in the winter? Yes, but you’ll have to closely monitor its temperature as its setting. In addition to that, you’ll need to make sure that the tools you’re using aren’t too cold to handle the concrete.
Using cold tools or tarps on warm concrete defeats the purpose of warming up the ground and mixing hot water into your concrete. Your tools should be stored in a warm, dry place and should only be brought out once you’re ready to use them.
Use quick-set additives
One of the biggest issues in cold-weather concrete pouring is the time that it takes the concrete to set once it’s poured. There are various steps you can take to all but guarantee that your concrete sets properly in frigid temperatures.
You can use quick-set products (additives designed to speed up set time) and hot water and add extra cement to accelerate the time it takes for your concrete to set.
Minimize bleed water
In colder climates, you want to limit the amount of bleed water present when pouring concrete. To do this, you can use vacuums or squeegees to swiftly remove the bleed water.
You can also use a concrete mix that contains a water-reducer to mitigate the longer bleeding times that occur when the temperatures are low.
Call for your equipment rental today
As you can see, you can pour concrete in the winter as long as you take the proper safety measures. If you need heavy equipment for a concrete construction project, call us at Ram Rent-All, Inc., where we have a vast array of heavy equipment available to rent, all at competitive prices.
Construction doesn’t stop completely when the frigid winter weather sets in. Because of this, you’ll need to make sure that your equipment can run smoothly in less-than-ideal conditions. Winter equipment usage may be rare, but knowing how to successfully navigate it could allow you to complete the project you’re working on in the time allotted for it.
Understanding how to run heavy equipment in the cold can give you a leg up on the competition and make your project a fruitful and potentially lucrative one.
This article will cover a few pointers that you can use to ensure that your heavy equipment works as intended this winter.
Conduct preventative maintenance
The best way to avoid problems with your equipment in the winter is to head them off at the pass. Performing detailed inspections and taking preventative maintenance measures before you use your equipment in frigid temperatures can help you avoid winter-related issues. Some steps you can take include checking tire pressure, swapping out fluids and putting in an engine block heater.
Check the manufacturer’s instructions
Each piece of equipment comes with a manual, and you should read through it thoroughly to ensure that you’re taking the best possible care of your equipment. Often, the manufacturer will provide specific instructions detailing how to combat the cold, and you should take note of these measures and put them into practice. Examples of manufacturer’s recommendations include fluid types, how to warm up the machine and which type of fuel to use.
Take care of the battery
When learning how to run heavy equipment in the cold, you’ll need to monitor the battery. This is because cold temperatures can reduce the battery’s cranking capacity by as much as 35 percent. In addition to that, cold weather can make your machines more difficult to start.
As such, you’ll need to monitor the battery and take great pains to ensure that it’s working properly. You should check it regularly to establish that it’s not corroded and that the terminals and connections are sound. Cleaning the battery with a wire brush and spraying it with terminal protectant should keep it running smoothly.
Clean the equipment
A key component to responsible winter equipment usage is making sure that it’s clean. Over time, dirt and mud can become caked on your equipment. When temperatures plunge, that mud can freeze and potentially cause significant damage.
There’s also the issue of salt being used on roads to prevent freezing that you’ll have to deal with. If your equipment is clean, it will run better and you should be able to reduce the number of winter-related issues you run into.
Store equipment and fluids inside if possible
The best way to protect your equipment from the cold is to limit its exposure to the frosty air. If you can, you should try to store your equipment indoors, as this will largely limit the amount of cold-related damage that it will incur. The exception to this is if you must leave your equipment idling overnight. In that case, do not store your machines indoors.
Call for your equipment rental today
Now that you know how to run heavy equipment in the cold and some winter equipment usage tips, call us at Ram Rent-All, Inc. We’ve been offering high-quality equipment rentals at reasonable rates for over 30 years, so call us about your equipment rental today.
When it comes to getting a demolition job done fast, a standard sledgehammer doesn’t always do the trick. Instead, you need to bring in some heavier machinery like a jackhammer or a paving breaker. These powerful tools can blast through any surface, saving you from hours of tough manual labor.
This jackhammer guide will teach you what you need to know about paving breakers and jackhammers.
What is a paving breaker?
Let’s start with the basics before we get too deep into anything else: What is a paving breaker? You can think of a paving breaker as a more heavy-duty version of a jackhammer. As its name suggests, its main job is to break up concrete. They operate perpendicular to the ground and can be powered hydraulically, pneumatically or electrically.
Paving breakers weigh anywhere from 30 to 90 pounds, depending on their job. Paving breakers weighing 30 to 50 pounds are typically used to remove concrete before pavement repair. These tools are just heavy enough to break up a few inches of concrete without damaging the entire paving surface. Paving breakers 60 pounds or more are ideal for medium-to-heavy projects that require total demolition of a concrete surface.
How to choose a jackhammer or paving breaker
Don’t just grab the first tool you see on the shelf if you’re renting one of these tools for a project. Here are a few things to consider:
Job type: First things first: What are you trying to do with your jackhammer or paving breaker? If you’re trying to tear up a thick concrete foundation, you may need to go with a paving breaker. If you’re fixing a pothole outside, a jackhammer could be perfect.
Tool weight: We touched on this above, but the more a tool weighs, the heavier the job it can take on. Essentially, that 30-pound jackhammer can do about one-third of the work of a 90-pound paving breaker. Just be sure your tool isn’t too heavy for you to use.
Brand: It’s always a good idea to go with a name brand instead of a company you’ve never heard of. Models made by DEWALT, Bosch, Makita or Xtreme Power are sure to last for years without failing you. Plus, some models even carry a warranty as a testament to the product’s quality.
Why rent instead of buy?
Unless you think you’ll use it frequently, there’s no reason to buy a jackhammer or paving breaker. Instead, rent one from Ram Rent-All, Inc. Here are a few reasons to consider rental:
Get the latest gear: When you rent your power tools, you can trust that you’re always getting the latest and greatest models. At Ram Rent-All, Inc., we only carry top-of-the-line tools made by the best manufacturers.
Save money: A new jackhammer or paving breaker will set you back hundreds of dollars. Instead of paying a ton of money for a tool you’ll only use a few times, just rent one. Our rental prices are affordable on any budget.
Now that you’ve read through our jackhammer guide, rent yours from Ram Rent-All, Inc. Contact us today to learn about our inventory or to get a quote for your tool rental.
Professional contractors in a wide range of industries, from agriculture to construction and plumbing to landscaping, can benefit from equipment rental rather than buying. Whether you’re a contractor working solo or you’re a bigger company looking to expand your business, there are many advantages of renting over buying.
Read on to get to know why flexible access to heavy equipment and machinery can keep your business lean while letting you win new projects.
Avoid significant up-front investments
It’s no secret that equipment is expensive, especially large machines like excavators, tracked dozers, telehandlers and more. Paying out for a new or used machine ties your money up until you sell it. Rather than tying up your capital by outright buying the machinery you need for your jobs, free up your funds, and rent equipment instead.
Avoid maintenance costs
Like cars and other machinery, heavy equipment is prone to breakdowns without routine maintenance. Some companies have entire maintenance teams devoted to keeping up equipment by checking fluids and hydraulics, changing parts and even upgrading technology. While you can accurately gauge rental fees, you can’t do the same with maintenance—it’s too unpredictable. Save yourself money and hassle by renting equipment and leaving the maintenance concerns to someone else.
Simplify storage and logistics
Heavy equipment shouldn’t be exposed to the elements, which means you need a long-term storage solution for it. No matter where you live, space is expensive—equipment rental helps you avoid that expense.
In addition, rental saves you from potential logistics headaches. Renting equipment is easy since you can have even heavy machinery delivered to your worksite and picked up when you’re done. You won’t have to worry about transporting unwieldy machinery from site to site, saving you time and money in both the short and long terms.
Maintain borrowing power
As mentioned above, renting equipment means you won’t have your money tied up in significant expenses. Banks won’t look at equipment rental as a liability on your balance sheet, helping your business maintain strong borrowing power. With extra borrowing power, you can take advantage of favorable interest rates whenever they’re available, allowing you to expand your business when the time is right.
Open up new business opportunities
Want to take on a new project, but don’t have the right equipment to tackle the job efficiently? Equipment rental gives you easy access to specialty equipment you might only use for one-off projects. For example, maybe you’re bidding on a project that involves digging or grading or precision dirt work that can only be completed with the right machine. Your local equipment rental company has options that cater to almost any need, allowing you to take on new projects that can grow your business.
When it comes to equipment like heavy machinery, contractors from a wide range of industries can enjoy the advantages of renting over buying. Get the equipment you need—on your terms—from Ram Rent-All, Inc. We make it easy for you to get the job done, whether you’re sprucing up your landscaping, breaking ground on a project or anything else.
