Imagup General Magazine 2024
Skid steers are some of the most versatile and useful machinery that’s ever been invented. Homeowners are becoming more and more aware of the endless usefulness that skid steers can provide, and are investing in them for home improvement tasks much more commonly in 2024. Here are just eight important home improvement tasks that you can hypercharge by using a skid steer:
1. Re-grading Your Driveway
Driveway re-grading and maintenance tasks are some of the most common home improvement projects that use skid steers. Uneven driveways, potholes, and foundational issues are easily fixed using the proper skid steer attachments. If you need to add some new drainage capabilities to your driveway, a skid steer will prove especially useful. Just make sure you consult with a pro before trying to take on this complex project completely on your own (so that you ensure your work will actually remain effective for decades to come).
2. Adding a Fence to Your Yard
Fence work is commonly done using skid steers, specifically skid steers that have a skid steer post-driver attachment added to them. To make your fence strong, you’ll need to make sure every post is firmly placed deep into the ground (usually at a depth of at least two feet). While you can do so by hand, the process is absolutely exhausting and can take days if done by hand. For this reason, many people opt to rent skid steers with post-driver attachments to simplify the process, and to prevent themselves from hours of backbreaking labor.
3. Perfecting Your Garden Setup
If you dream of having an amazing, large-scale home garden, you’ll need to do plenty of complex prep work before you can truly get going. With a skid steer and the right attachments, you’ll be creating a foundation that will facilitate tons of gardening success. For those who want to grow corn stalks and other tall crops, using a skid steer to do the prep work is especially important (as it can make or break the strength of your garden’s foundation and soil quality).
4. Sodding and Landscaping
Skid steer attachments made specifically for landscaping, sodding, and other common large-scale home improvement tasks are common. Not only this, but they are some of the more affordable skid steer attachments on the market right now. The accessibility in this area has helped to convince more consumers to take the plunge and buy skid steer machinery in 2024. For those who’ve been interested, but hesitant to make the initial investment in a skid steer, your time to shine is now.
5. Demolition Projects
Demolition projects are not typically thought of when people ponder about what home improvement project they’ll tackle next. That being said, demolition work is often required to set down the foundation and pre-requisite work for large-scale home improvement projects. Trying to do this demo work by hand is a recipe for disaster, and is absolutely grueling work as well. To simplify the process, and create demo work that’s both efficient and done correctly, you’ll need a skid steer, and the proper attachments for the type of demo work that you’re undertaking.
6. Hypercharge Your Mowing
Did you know that many people are now using skid steers to mow their lawns? There are tons of nifty, customizable mowing attachments for skid steers these days, which allows skid steer owners to save big on mowing costs. Since they only need to buy mowing attachments, they can avoid the massive costs of investing in a full-on lawnmower. If you own a huge plot of land, the size, strength, and capabilities of a skid steer will make your mowing tasks easier than ever before.
7. Moving Heavy Objects and Materials
If you need to move heavy materials during a home improvement project, you’ll need the heavy machinery required to do so safely. Thankfully, skid steers allow you to handle all your different moving needs with one piece of equipment (and the relevant skid steer attachments, of course). That being said, if you’re dealing with delicate materials and heavy objects, it might be best to let a pro handle this particular home improvement-related task.
8. Debris Removal
Lastly, skid steers are often used to help remove debris, snow, and other unwanted material from your yard. If you’re cleaning up a scrap heap in hopes of setting up a new warehouse on your property, for example, a quality skid steer can help you get the job done with ease. For those that live in incredibly snowy climates, having a skid steer with a snow removal attachment will ensure that you’re never trapped in your home after a blizzard again!
Hiring a Skid Steer Operator or Renting a Skid Steer: Which Option is Best for You?
Hiring a skid steer operator can be a great option if you don’t have experience operating heavy machinery. A professional operator will have the skills and expertise to complete your project quickly and safely, and they will be able to make adjustments on the fly to ensure the best results. Additionally, they will be fully insured, so you won’t have to worry about any liability issues if something goes wrong.
Renting a skid steer, on the other hand, can be a good option if you have experience operating heavy machinery and want more control over your project. It allows you to work at your own pace and complete your project on your schedule. Additionally, you can save money by doing the work yourself, but you will need to factor in the cost of fuel, transportation, and any necessary attachments.
In summary, hiring a skid steer operator is the best option for those who lack experience or want to ensure the highest level of safety and quality. Renting a skid steer is a good choice for those who have experience, want more control over their project, and are willing to do the work themselves. Whatever option you choose, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable provider to ensure the best results.
