If you are starting out in the construction business, it is vitally important to understand your target market for clients and the niche that you will be operating from in the broader construction industry. Having a clear understanding of these factors will allow you to position your firm in the marketplace and bid for specific building contract work. In the early years of your business, you may need to buy some essential pieces of equipment to ensure that the jobs you undertake can be completed to the highest standards and in a timely manner and safely. However, in the construction industry, some items of heavy machinery can be extremely expensive, and it may be more economical in the short term to hire specific equipment. In this article, three of the most essential pieces of equipment that are used within the construction industry will be described.
1. Heat gun
When undertaking a range of building jobs, it is likely that there will be a need to weld materials together. This can be in the process of making internal structures that provide the strength that holds the building together and is often achieved by welding metals. However, in many smaller construction projects there is a need to invest in a heat gun, such as those that can be found at heatgun.com. These hand-held devices have a wide range of applications, from bonding plastics together to removing paint from doors and walls and heating frozen pipes. Heat guns are relatively inexpensive when compared to other essential construction equipment. A small building firm may have more than one of these devices to allow construction staff to undertake a range of heating and plastic welding jobs at the same time while working on a project.
2. Safety equipment
One of the most important types of equipment in any construction firm is the safety equipment that is worn by the workforce. It is important to recognize that the construction sector can be an exceptionally hazardous business to work in and accidents at work can cause serious injury or even death. Recent statistics indicate that the construction sector has the sixth-highest rate of all recordable cases of injury and illness in the workplace. It is therefore vital that staff are fully trained in health and safety protocols whilst working on-site and wear suitable safety equipment. Hard hats should be mandatory on any construction site as these can be lifesaving in the event of a fall from height or if a tool or object is dropped and hits another worker. In addition, steel toe-capped boots should be worn to prevent crushing injuries to the feet.
3. Excavators
For medium-sized and larger-scale construction projects, excavators play a vital role in preparing the foundations of a site. When new homes or commercial properties are built, an excavator will be required to dig out the top layers of soil to create the space for foundations. In a small construction business, it is likely that excavators will be used on a hired basis rather than being owned by the firm. The least expensive new excavators tend to cost in the region of $75K, which represents a significant financial outlay for many smaller firms. Generally, these will be rented from a construction supplier on a daily or weekly basis, depending on the needs of the firm.