One of the easiest ways to rent a jackhammer for your project is to make a list of the closest rental stores or home building supply stores from your house. Check with the jackhammer rental blog to familiarize yourself with the various types of jackhammers to rent for the specific project you have. Not all stores will carry the same types of jackhammers, but may have comparable units to rent to accomplish the same task. Write down the square-footage of the area you need to break along with the thickness and type of the material. For example a 3′ x 20′ section of walkway will be 60 square feet of concrete at whatever your thickness is, let’s say three inches thick. Other materials may be: brick, asphalt, flagstone, Adobe, field stone, clay, or etc. If what you are needing to break apart is a stone porch, that has been tied together with a 2″ depth of concrete, then that is what you tell the store representative.
It will be easier for you to make your first inquiry by phone. Contact the closest jackhammer rental store from your house first. Ask to speak to someone knowledgeable in renting jackhammers . Tell them the specifics of your project and asked them what types of tools they have available to accomplish this task.
Remember most all jackhammers are rented by the hour and/or day, this means you have to be aware of the distance you have to travel in order to return your jackhammer to the place you rented it from. If it takes longer for you to accomplish your task before you have to return the jackhammer to the store you will be paying extra. Make a list of questions to ask each place you call, some of the questions you may consider to ask will be:
What types of units do you recommend for my job?
What are the rates for renting this type of jackhammer? Hourly or daily?
What are your store hours of operation?
What is the cost for going over time?
Is there a weekend rate for renting tools? (Some stores offer a special deal from Friday evening to Monday morning, check it out)
If they offer various types of jackhammers, write down the name, make, and model/ serial number of each unit. This way you can check out what they look like online before renting.
Be aware, the rental place may make more money renting certain units than others. That is why we suggest looking at the units online, and comparing prices. You also will have a chance to see the specific jackhammer up close and ask specific questions about its use before renting it, when you go to the store.
If you’re renting a unit for a larger project, you may need to have a vehicle with a trailer hitch. Some rental stores rent the jackhammer with compressor along with a vehicle to transport it, some do not.
In the case are renting a bobcat with a hydraulic jackhammer unit attached to it, the price usually includes rental of the trailer. Sometimes the vehicle to transport it will have different rates.
If your project requires breaking different material, ask about the cost for renting different bits. Some jackhammer rentals include a selection of different bits, whereas some charge extra.
Prices may vary widely, so get the basic information, the name of the person you talk to, and then call the next store. Remember, there are no dumb questions. Unfortunately women asking questions may receive a different response then men. It is not right that this happens, but sometimes it does. We would not be providing the best service if we did not mention this fact.
After you have received all of the above information, you can decide which store seems to have the best options for the jackhammer rental price to accomplish your project.
Remember, if you have no prior experience using the jackhammer you need to accomplish your task, a store associate can demonstrate its use before you sign the rental contract.
Please remember, as mentioned in the jackhammer rental blog, to pay attention to safety when operating your jackhammer. Operators of the jack hammer should wear protection gear prior to operating the instrument. A suggestive set of protective gear is:
- masks, to protect from air borne contaminants
- eye protection, in the form of glasses or a complete face shield
- ear muffs or a combination of both ear plugs and ear muffs
- stout and stuffed clothing, definitely long pants no shorts
- protective footwear, please don’t wear sandals
- anti fatigue or vibration gloves
Most stores renting Jackhammers also sell or rent protective equipment. However this equipment may be able to be purchased at your local discount store, at a significantly lower price.
Remember to compare the rental cost of time needed to accomplish your project versus purchasing a used or new jackhammer to complete your task . You can check this price online after you have chosen the make and model of jackhammer you need to accomplish your task. Some projects take longer than expected. It may be more cost-effective to purchase a used jackhammer, complete the task, when you have available time, and then resale the unit once your project is finished.
Hope this helps make your experience in renting a Jack Hammer both positive and successful. Look for further comments on the effective, efficient and safe use of completing your project with the jackhammer.