Once upon a time, building taller than a few stories was either an impossible or exceedingly expensive feat left only to Emperors or Kings. Nowadays though, it seems that anyone or any company with enough funds and the right reasons can erect a skyscraper with relative ease–and with crane rental rates such as ours, affordably too! This is largely due to the technology we have available today, and of course most importantly the cranes which allow us to move heavy loads to great heights with ease.
Without cranes, one might even go as far as to assume that it’s impossible to build tall buildings. Although there are countless tall buildings being built throughout the developing world which don’t utilize cranes, rather powered pulley systems which are inefficient and dangerous. A common question we get asked at our Bay Area crane rental office is how to rent a crane and how long you should rent a crane for.
Obviously this question depends on many factors, so let’s consider those below to give you an estimate of how long you should expect to rent a crane.
The Size of the Job Determines A Crane Rental Time
This will usually be the most determining factor in the time you’ll need a crane for in your project. Some smaller jobs, such as very basic renovations on a top floor may only require a crane for an afternoon or a few days. Whereas simply setting up a larger crane (200+ ton) may take a week in itself, with it being used for many months after. The aspects of the jobs size which will affect how long you’ll need a crane include:
- Whether you are doing demolition, construction, renovation, or all of them
- How high up you will be working, generally lower-level work will be more manageable than higher-level work
- External influences which may dictate when the work can be undertaken, for example in a busy urban center work may need to be undertaken during off-peak hours
Determining the size of your job can be difficult without advice from crane operators, feel free to contact us about our Bay Area crane rental services and to ask any questions you may have.
The Environmental Conditions of Work Being Done
Although this was briefly touched on under the size of the job, the environmental conditions will have a huge impact on the work being undertaken. One of the more important factors in even erecting a crane is having a solid foundation which can support the immense weight of both the crane and the load. While many cityscapes will mostly be concreted, there are still areas with soft ground, or areas where underground utilities need to be worked around.
This is where it’s important to be in contact with engineers who have experience in managing projects similar to yours. In some instances you may want to invest in reinforcing the ground to allow the use of a tower crane, whereas other situations may call for a more portable crane initially followed by the installation of a roof-top or tower crane.
The Weather During Project Length
The third part of the trifecta of what may affect your crane-related construction is the weather. While rain or shine may not affect the kind of work you’re undertaking, any amount of wind will seriously dampen certain efforts. If you’re only undertaking minor work, then finding a sweet spot in the local conditions can be relatively easy. Although if you are going to be construction for 3 to 6 months then you will need to consider seasons and annual changes in wind patterns.
It’s not uncommon for freak winds to appear suddenly and persist for some time, as we’ve heard from some of our Bay Area crane rental customers. As with other peninsulas, the Bay Area is prone to wind due to being surrounded by water on 3 sides. Examining meteorological reports and planning well in advance can help to avoid any wind-related delays.
Experience Levels of Your Team
A final determining factor in how long you may need a crane is the rate at which you and your team work. This is usually dependent on experience levels, as more experienced staff will be able to work more productively, as well as using their wisdom in solving common problems.
If this is one of your first jobs, or your first time working with cranes, you may wish to seek consultancy throughout the project to ensure everything is both up to code, and running efficiently. Any mistakes or accidents on-site can cause monumental delays which may see you holding on to a crane for longer than necessary.
Crane Rental Rates in the Bay Area
Talk to one of the most historic and trusted companies in the Bay Area of California! Sheedy Crane offers some of the best crane rental rates and knowledge on how to rent a crane along with NCCCO certified operators to aid you in completing your projects in a timely manner. Contact Sheedy Crane today for more information.