For home renovation projects involving earthmoving tasks, several types of machinery can be useful, depending on the scope and nature of the work. Here are some common earthmoving machinery options for home renovation and building projects:
Mini excavator: Mini excavators are versatile and compact machines suitable for various tasks, including digging trenches, removing debris, and excavating small areas. They are often ideal for residential projects due to their manoeuvrability and relatively low impact on surrounding areas. As they are on tracks, the weight of the machine is spread over a larger area, therefore they are good for muddy areas, or steeper slopes. Note that they will chew up existing grass when manoeuvring. Larger excavators can be used for demolition and clearing larger volumes of materials.
Skid steer loader: Skid steer loaders are compact, manoeuvrable machines equipped with a bucket attachment at the front. They can be used for tasks such as grading, levelling, excavating, and moving materials around the job site. Skid steers are especially useful in tight spaces where larger machinery may not fit. Skid steer loaders run on wheels, and have multiple attachments that they can fit to the front arms.
Off-road forklift: While you mostly see forklift trucks in a warehouse, off-road forklifts are used on building sites to move pallets of goods around. Frequently these will be a portable unit that is carried on the back of a truck and set down to deliver things like pallets of bricks (sometimes called a ‘Moffat’ after one of the popular makes). However, some worksites may have one there for a while if there are multiple deliveries of palletised goods. It’s important to have a forklift licence if you are operating one.
Backhoe loader: Backhoe loaders are versatile machines that combine the capabilities of a loader at the front and a backhoe bucket at the rear. They are suitable for a wide range of tasks, including digging, trenching, loading, and lifting. Backhoe loaders are commonly used in residential construction and renovation projects. They are essentially similar to an agricultural tractor with front and rear hydraulic arms and buckets to scoop and dig.
Compact track loader: Compact track loaders are similar to skid steer loaders but feature tracks instead of wheels, providing enhanced traction and stability, especially in challenging terrain or adverse weather conditions. They can perform tasks such as grading, excavation, and material handling.
Compact utility tractor with loader: Compact utility tractors equipped with loader attachments are versatile machines that can be used for various earthmoving tasks, including grading, excavation, and lifting. They are often used in landscaping and small-scale construction projects. It is a smaller version of a wheel loader, or similar to a backhoe without the rear boom and bucket.
Dump truck or tipper truck: Tipper trucks are used for transporting and dumping materials such as soil, gravel, sand, and debris. They are essential for clearing the site and hauling materials to and from the job site during renovation projects. These come in various sizes from small tracked vehicles that are similar in size to a large wheelbarrow, to roadgoing trucks with a tipper bin on the back. As these trucks are only required to deliver materials or take away spoil from the building site, they are not used much for residential work. It’s best to hire a tipper truck or trailer when you need it.
Truck loader crane: a truck loader crane is an option frequently used for delivering roofing and framing materials. It consists of a flat deck truck with a knuckle boom or telescopic crane either immediately behind the cab or at the rear of the deck. This is used to lift the materials off the truck and place them with reasonable accuracy where it’s best for your project. For roofing materials, they can often be placed on the roof itself. Knuckle boom cranes can also reach over walls and through windows.
Trencher: Trenchers are specialized machines designed for digging trenches quickly and efficiently. They are commonly used for installing utilities such as water lines, sewer lines, and electrical conduits during home renovation projects.
Before selecting earthmoving machinery for your home renovation project, assess the job’s specific requirements, including the type of terrain, the depth and size of the excavation, and any space constraints. Ensure operators are trained and experienced in operating the chosen machinery safely and effectively. Some work may need to be registered with your local health and safety agency (e.g. working near high-voltage lines) or with utility companies (e.g. for digging near services such as high-pressure gas lines).
