About Me

Planning and Executing Construction and Contracting Projects: Tips for Consumers

Welcome to my blog. My name is Deborah. About 15 years ago, I bought an old home. We worked with several contractors to rehabilitate it, but ultimately, the foundation simply wasn't stable enough, and we had to tear it down. After that, we worked with a construction crew to build a home from the ground up. The experience was exciting and challenging, and I learned a lot through that process. I want to share construction and contracting facts and information with others so I decided to start this blog. I hope that you like the results, and I thank you for reading. Enjoy!

Planning and Executing Construction and Contracting Projects: Tips for Consumers

Making the most out of a bobcat hire for your pool excavation

by Samantha Russell

When building a pool for your home, there are a lot of things you need to think about. One of the most important things is how to perform the actual excavation itself. A good option to do this is to hire a bobcat that you operate yourself. A bobcat is ideal for these types of projects, as they are versatile and nimble enough to be working on small properties. However, in order to get the most out of your bobcat hire, there are a few things you need to think about.

The bobcat's condition

Make sure you get a statement from the rental company of what damages the bobcat might have from before. Pre-existing scratches and bulges should be documented, as you otherwise might be blamed for them and be forced to pay. You should also take a few minutes after you're done excavating to clean the machine, as dirt that is left on the machine might scratch it and make you responsible for it. You could also take some time and refuel it after you're done with it. Bobcat hire companies might charge you for the fuel you've been using, and usually it's more expensive than at the gas station. Filling it up afterwards might therefore also save you some money.

Make the most of the time

The terms and conditions vary for different companies, but most rental companies charge you with an hourly rate for your bobcat hire. This means that you need to use the time effectively in order to save money. Make sure you have done all the preparations for the pool excavation before you go get the bobcat. Have all measurements done and see to that you've marked all the borders for the excavation site before you get the bobcat. Also make sure that you've prepared yourself with extra fuel for the machine so that you don't have to take unnecessary breaks for going to the gas station for refuelling.

Safety equipment

You should also make sure that you have all necessary safety equipment available. The bobcat should be equipped with seat belts and rollover protection bars. You should have safety goggles on to protect your eyes against the dirt that will be flying around in the air around you as you're digging. You should also be wearing a hardhat to protect yourself from rocks that can fall on you as you're excavating. You should also have someone there with you that can keep an eye on the excavation from an outside perspective and warn you if you look like you're at risk for tipping over in the hole. 

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