Does your construction project have some heavy digging that needs to be done?
Maybe this job has gotten a little too big for you to do yourself.
Whatever your needs, this easy checklist will take the load off. Take a look and get things done right!
Hiring a Professional Backhoe Service
Backhoes are incredibly versatile. They have been used through the years in industrial, commercial, and residential projects.
Before you start looking for a machine operator, let’s talk about why you might need one.
What is a Backhoe and What is it For?
Backhoes are heavy machines that have a mechanical arm with a bucket on the end used for digging.
The arm bends in the middle to allow the arm to scoop or push material.
With its bucket it can dig down into the earth, scooping out great amounts of dirt with each pass.
There are many different attachments that can be attached replacing the bucket and allowing additional excavation tasks to be completed.
Some backhoes even come with a wheel loader on the front making it an all-in-one excavation machine.
This will help save you a lot of time, effort, and money for your projects that may need the following services:
- Excavation
- Transporting materials
- Demolition
- Landscaping
- Lifting and positioning cables
- Paving roads
- Foundation digging
- Trenching
- Trenching for utilities
- Trenches for drainage
Now that you know all the uses and benefits of this piece of machinery, here’s our easy checklist on how to hire a professional backhoe service!
5 Steps for Hiring the Best Backhoe Service
1. Make Sure Your Project is Well-Planned
Save yourself time and money by planning all of the excavation services in advance that you will need.
Heavy equipment services charge by the hour, day, week, or month depending on the job.
If you plan well, you won’t have to pay extra for wasted time.
You can coordinate with other services like a utility company so they are on-site at the same time, to allow work to be completed efficiently.
2. Find the Right Backhoe
Now that you have a plan, it’s time to determine which machine size will fit your workload.
Backhoes range in size. For digging and lifting heavier materials, a larger machine is needed. Generally, the bigger the machine, the heavier the load it can lift.
Another factor to consider is how much access there is to your property. For a new construction site, there will usually be easy access for larger machinery.
If you are working at your home site in the back yard, for example, large heavy machinery may not fit.
One the other hand one of the smaller backhoes might be just what you need to access your site and perform the work.
3. Determine the Drive of the Machinery.
It’s time to consider the terrain of your site.
Backhoes are available with different drive configurations. The three most common drives are 2×4, 4×4, or tracked.
These types of drives allow backhoes to maneuver in different types of soil.
2×4 backhoes are best suited for easy-to-access lots with surfaces that are already fairly even.
4×4 backhoes, on the other hand, are capable of maneuvering difficult terrain and uneven surfaces on your site.
Backhoes equipped with a track can go up and down steep hills making them even more capable.
4. Choose Your Attachments
Extra attachments make backhoes more versatile allowing you to do different tasks all with the same machine, reducing the amount of equipment needed on the job.
Here are some examples of attachments and their uses:
- The jackhammer attachment is perfect for demolition such as breaking up concrete.
- The sweeper attachment can clean up dirt, debris, or even remove snow.
- A compaction wheel is used to ensure soil is compacted after filling in a hole or trench.
- “Thumbs” are added to a bucket attachment to give the operator a firm grip on whatever is being scooped.
5. Hire a Professional Backhoe Excavation Service
Leave running the heavy-duty machinery to the professionals. We recommend hiring a professional service to run your backhoe.
Here’s why:
- Experience
- Pro backhoe operators have years of experience to prevent accidents or accidental damage during a job.
- Expertise
- Hiring professionals will save you money in the long run because they know what they are doing and they can get it done in a reasonable time.
- Insurance
- Operating heavy machinery is dangerous and there are many safety concerns to consider. The reality is: accidents happen. Professional services carry insurance to protect everyone when they perform their work.
Professional operators are the only way to go when you are in need of backhoe services.
Join the Conversation
What is your experience with professional backhoes? Have a question about a specific job?
Leave a comment below. We love to hear from you!