Residential Landscaping Equipment Solutions; safety, laws, equipment, and their applications discussed.
Are you creating a backyard oasis? This short read will provide a clear choice for your home landscaping project regarding the implication of larger landscaping equipment. Whether you plan to operate the equipment, ask a friend, or hire a professional, you can glean points to smooth project completion.
There are advantages to hiring a company to be responsible for the work. Simplicity comes with significantly increased cost. If you possess some or all of the skills needed in any home project, there can be financial, quality, and effort implications in either direction. The #1 risk is the safety of people and property. Keep reading, and we will put order to the confusion.
Safety will be discussed in each phase of planning residential landscaping, the initial concerns are your utilities. Where does the electricity enter? What route does the water supply and waste follow under your property? Are you sure you know about everything under the ground in the area? Do not be shocked by the work included in this project type.
- General contractors are subject to other legal obligations. If you are taking on this position for your project; logistics and skilled operator scheduling is imperative. An expensive piece of equipment sitting on the trailer is burning money almost as fast as a licensed operator waiting for the equipment, materials, plan, spotter, etc.
- For equipment permitting and licensing; check local regulations but most have a size, weight, capacity, or function limitation for the requisite license. Examples would be scissor lifts under 10 meters or a mini-digger do not require a permit, but an excavator hire requires a license. Some companies may require a brief check-out on their vehicles. Most will walk you through an introduction and familiarization program to comply with insurance and peace of mind. They cover themselves legally, so cover yourself with skills and clarity.
- Hire a company to perform a sonar/radar of the areas of project concern. You should also contact your local water, gas, and power utilities to inform them of your plans and ask them to mark all related lines, trees, etc. This should be a free service. Your local municipality might offer a free program because they recognize the hazards and possible resultant damages.
- Other permits and licensing pertain to the equipment. Whoever operates must meet requirements or risk no accident insurance coverage from the equipment leasing company.
- Municipalities are a great place to start in the permitting office. There is a bit of a “chicken-or-the-egg” situation where you need permitting for the inspector to give you a subsurface inspection plan, and the city wants a plan for permitting. Hopefully, your local government experience is smooth and wonderful, but we all know to plan to wait.
Relax in performing your due diligence. Create confidence for the entire project with safety and planning. Examine each step of your plan and set order to the predecessors of all events.
You have already had the dream of conceptualization. Take measurements and stake out your ideas by attaching string between the stakes in the shape of your planned changes. When ideas meet the physical world, they change. Stay focused on the completed image in your head.