Masonry Magazine March 2010 Page. 34
MIXERS
`Regarding the rental company, calling ahead of time to insure they have the equipment ready is important, but the expense still has to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to rent or purchase.
`Regarding large equipment, the purchase price is much more than the delivery charge so the delivery cost is less important. Plus, if the rental store is closer to the jobsite than your office, it may be cheaper to have the rental company deliver the equipment to the jobsite than it is to pay your driver to pick it up.
`Lately, rental rates for large equipment have dropped so low that it is difficult to justify a large equipment purchase. The rental amount is often much less than your monthly payment would be from a purchase. In the past, the monthly payment on a piece of purchased equipment was less than a monthly rental rate. Today, you can often rent for one-third to one-half of the payment on a piece of new equipment.
`The golden rule we use is this: If the large piece of equipment will be used more than 75 percent of the time, it is cheaper to purchase than rent. However, in today's market, another variable must be added to this dollar cost calculation. You must have a back log of work for the machine for at least one-half the time it will take to pay it off or a minimum of one year if you are paying cash.
`Convenience can be a major advantage of owning your equipment. Once you pay the machine off (if the machine outlasts the payment) you get to use it for free. That brings me back to the point: The machine must still be durable enough that it is not breaking down all the time.
`Times have changed. We have to look at things differently than we did even a few years ago. Manufacturers have to pay closer attention to what the customer needs. The customer has to pay closer attention to what actual costs are in choosing a disposable versus a high-quality piece of equipment. And, when deciding to buy or rent a piece of equipment, a contractor must do his homework upfront and consider what is most economical for his company. If he decides to purchase, he must consider that only 30 percent of the cost of a piece of equipment is incurred the day it is purchased, while 70 percent is incurred everyday during use. If the right equipment decisions are made upfront, a contractor can save a lot of headaches and money in the end. IMAS
Damian Lang is owner of Lang Masonry in southeastern Ohio.
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24 MASONRY
READER SERVICE #165
March 2010 www.masoncontractors.org
The New Improved Quikpoint Drill-Mate Mortar Gun.
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masonry joints
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Melvin Mancia (Mason Forman)
Job: The John Winthrop School, Dorchester, Ma.
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Phone: 978-371-3267 Fax: 978-371-2292 Toll Free USA: 800-368-2292
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READER SERVICE #165
The Voice of the Masonry Industry