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The US construction industry is expected to be worth a staggering $1.819 trillion by 2024. With the unprecedented growth in commercial and residential properties, it’s easy to see why such a huge figure is attainable in a very short time.
If you’ve ever set foot on a construction site, then you’ve probably come across heavy construction equipment. These behemoths of machines are a staple for any construction company worth its name.
Heavy construction machinery can be quite intimidating to the average person, but they are an everyday sight to a construction worker. Operating these towering machines is all in a day’s work for a plant operator.
It’s a good idea to get acquainted with the various types of heavy construction equipment and their functions if you plan on building your new home. That way, you can have more control over the construction process for a perfect job.
In this post, we’ll be looking at some of the most common heavy equipment for home construction.
Articulated Trucks
It’s hard to miss at least one articulated truck when you visit any construction site. Construction workers use these massive trucks to navigate through rough terrain or any terrain, for that matter.
An articulated truck consists of two parts the cab where the driver and co-driver sit and the trailer that carries the load. There’s a pivot that connects the cab to the trailer that makes it easier for the driver to steer the truck.
Milling Machines (Cold Planers)
Cold planers or milling machines are special equipment for ejecting pavement and concrete from a surface. The machine consists of a huge rotating drum and cutters. The cutters cut the concrete or pavement and feed it to the drum for grinding.
A conveyor belt attaches to the rotating drum and transports the loose pavement elsewhere. The rotating drum produces a lot of heat and dust when grinding the pavement. That’s why you need to spray the drum with water to reduce the dust and heat.
Dozers
It’s easy to spot a dozer from a mile away because of the huge blade at its front. Dozers are used to shove massive quantities of soil or other materials to make way or dump it somewhere else—cut and fill purposes.
You may encounter two types of dozers, and they are:
Track dozers– Track dozers have tracks for locomotion. They are ideal for soft ground because the tracks evenly distribute the dozer’s weight making it lighter. Because they are lighter, they don’t sink on soft ground.
Wheel dozers– Wheel dozers have massive wheels instead of tracks. They are much heavier than track dozers and hence unsuitable for soft ground. However, because they have large wheels, they can travel up to three times faster than track dozers.
The type of dozer a contractor settles for depends on the ground density beneath and the materials the dozer will move. All in all, both track and wheel dozers achieve the same purpose.
Backhoe Loaders
Backhoe loaders are a marvel of modern mechanical engineering because they are incredibly versatile. They combine both a tractor, a backhoe, and a loader in one vehicle.
The tractor moves the entire vehicle around the site. The backhoe loader digs through hard surfaces, including compact surfaces. You can also use the backhoe to lift heavy objects and place them elsewhere.
The loader removes and carries small quantities of soil and other materials and transports them to their destination. Sometimes the backhoe loader may have stabilizing legs to keep it steady during operation.
Compactors
Like the name suggests, compactors compact or reduce the size of soil or any material it runs over. They are large machines with heavy rollers to achieve maximum compaction. There are many types of compactors.
The type of compactor one settles for depends on the material to be compacted. For instance, a landfill compactor is ideal for compacting waste in junkyards. A soil compactor is best for compacting soil, and a tandem vibratory compactor will is excellent for compacting tough asphalt.
Forklifts
Forklifts move items over short distances, mostly around a worksite or a warehouse. There are many types of forklifts, each suited for a particular purpose.
Some common types of forklifts you’re likely to encounter include:
- Pallet jacks– Pallet jacks are small forklifts mostly used to lift pallets. They are easy to operate but can’t handle heavy objects
- Counterweight forklifts– Counterweight forklifts have an in-built counterweight system that helps keep the vehicles steady when lifting heavy loads. The counterweight system makes the forklift retain balance when transporting goods to and fro.
- Warehouse forklifts– As the name suggests, warehouse forklifts are found in warehouses. They move small supplies within the warehouse.
- Side loaders– Side loaders are for moving items within cramped spaces. The forklift can pick items off the rack and place them elsewhere with ease.
Although forklifts seem like small vehicles, they are very costly machines. However, if you’re strapped for cash, you could rent a forklift instead of buying one. It’s the best option, especially if you’re going to use it for a short period.
Multi-Terrain Loaders
Multi-terrain loaders are rugged machines that you use to move soil, debris, and dirt from points A to B. Some of these loaders may have a rubber track undercarriage. This undercarriage makes it easier for the loader to navigate rugged terrain even with heavy loads.
Heavy Construction Equipment for Seamless Construction
These heavy construction equipment above are pivotal for smooth home construction. Whatever your project involves, we hope this guide points you in the right direction in deciding the equipment you need.
Choose the right equipment for the job to improve productivity and lower costs.
For more informative content on exterior home improvement, read our other posts on the website.
