Yards of Advice : Home improvement: Rental yards offer do-it-yourself homeowners tools they may be unaware of and tips on how to use them.
Bob Glickman knew there had to be a better way.
The Santa Ana homeowner recently took on a formidable home improvement project--removing old linoleum tile to lay down a wood floor in the kitchen--and realized he was getting nowhere.
Working with chisels, putty knives and solvent, prying up the tiles was incredibly difficult work. After four hours Glickman had only removed about 10 square feet. On the advice of a neighbor, he ventured into a local rental yard.
“They showed me an electric stripper that would do the job in a fraction of the time,” Glickman said. “It cost me $50 to rent it for the day, but it was worth every penny. I was close to giving up on the job and hiring someone to finish it, which would have cost even more.”
The local rental yard is perhaps one of the most underused resources for do-it-yourself homeowners. A 1990 Gallup study showed that fewer than one-third of homeowners have ever rented equipment, and most are unaware of the range of tools available and what they can do.
“I always have people coming in looking to rent a truck or buy propane, and they’re amazed at all the other things they can get,” said Pat Cable of Doug’s U-Rent in Woodland Hills. “Many have driven by us for years, and that’s the first time they stopped in.”
According to the American Rental Assn., the most common tools and equipment rented by homeowners include rug cleaning and treatment machines, rototillers, chain saws, compressors, plumbing snakes and ladders.
Traditionally a hangout for contractors seeking extra equipment for a job, rental yards offer the average homeowner the ability to cheaply use a unique tool or piece of equipment that would be too expensive to buy, as well as advice on how to complete the job.
“At a good rental yard, the entire staff knows how to use the equipment as well as a contractor (does),” Cable said. “People will often come in planning to re-landscape and they’ll want a rototiller. But I always ask them if they’ve watered their soil down for four days and let it dry out for three. Without the right preparation, they’ll have a hard time tilling the soil; so part of what we do is education.”
“Giving advice is part of the business,” said Brett Turley of GKN Rentals, which has 20 outlets throughout Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties. “If we can help the customer do the job right, he or she won’t abuse the equipment, they’ll finish quickly and we’ll be able to turn it around and rent it out again.”
Finding a good rental yard may mean asking for recommendations from neighbors or just dropping by and visiting one. “Take a look at the equipment to see what condition it’s in,” said Russ Meek of Economy Rentals in East Los Angeles. “And see how helpful the employees are. If everything is dirty and rusty or if no one seems interested in giving you hand, check somewhere else.”
For the uninitiated, a visit to a rental yard can seem a little daunting. “It could be intimidating,” Cable said. “Especially if you’re attempting a big project for the first time and you’re not sure what you’re in for.”
Unfortunately, some people don’t take advantage of the knowledge of the rental-yard staff. “We’ll always get someone who acts like they know what they’re doing, although they may not feel comfortable asking how a tool works; then they’ll call later and say the equipment’s not working,” Cable said.
According to the experts, the best way to use a rental yard is to forget about trying to tally up the equipment you’ll have to get for a home improvement project. Take a good look at what you’ll be trying to do and consult with the yard staff to figure out what you’ll need.
“Get a good idea of what your project is going to be,” Meek said. “If you’re going to be putting up new kitchen cabinets, will you be removing the old wallpaper around them? If you’re looking to rent a compressor and some air tools, will you be needing extension cords? We always have a supply of scratch paper at the desk where customers can sketch out their projects.”
Because of the popularity of plumbing snakes that are used to open clogged drain pipes, Meek has charts of common household drainage systems to help customers identify the kind of snake they’ll need for their clog.
“When someone says they want a particular tool, we always ask about their job,” Meek said. “A customer may ask for a chain saw, then we learn that he’s planning on removing stumps. For safety reasons, you shouldn’t use a chain saw close to the ground, you’ll need a stump grinder, which does a better job. So we try to give them the tool and the guidance.”
For a project that’s hard to describe, it may be wise to pull out a camera in order to take pictures to the yard. “When a customer brings a photograph of what they’re attempting to do, that’s a big help,” Cable said. “I can point out exactly what tools they’ll need, how to use them and how much time the job will take.”
When you learn what you’ll need and examine the tools and equipment, taking notes will help you do the job right. “As you’re shown step by step how to start the motor, how to hold the tool, write down the instructions,” Cable suggested. “Ask the employee to start the equipment, and make sure you can use it before you leave.”
Although anyone can rent a large or exotic construction tool, you may not be able to take home that backhoe as planned. “If the customer has never operated a sophisticated piece of equipment, we’re not going to let them just jump on and take it away,” Turley said. “If they don’t have the strength or knowledge to use the tool, we’ll help them find other ways to complete their project.”
Depending on the tool, rentals can be arranged by the hour, day, week or month. When you describe your project, the staff should be able to help you estimate how long you’ll need the tools.
Many rental yards offer a delivery service that will bring large pieces of equipment directly to a job site. At most yards, you must leave a credit card or cash deposit before renting and sign a rental agreement that states that you’ll pay if you damage the equipment.
“That’s why it’s important to look it over and see that it works,” Cable said.
Besides renting tools and giving advice for a project, many yard managers find they’re also trying to sell some confidence. “If I can help a homeowner tackle a project successfully by himself, he’ll visit me again,” Meek said. “That’s why I want to give him all the help I can.”
Types of Equipment for Rent
Here is a range of rental equipment rates available in the Los Angeles area:
10-inch tile saw: $50-$64 per day. 16-inch chain saw: $9-$12 per hour, $35-$45 per day. 24-foot extension ladder: $19-$25 per day. 30-foot electric snake: $5-$10 per hour, $27-$35 per day. 50-foot extension cord: $5-$10 per day. Electric door planer: $19-$25 per day. Electric tile stripper: $10-$15 per hour, $48-$60 per day. Lawn aerator: $10-$15 per hour, $40-$55 per day. Lawn mower: $5-$10 per hour, $25-$40 per day. Portable gas-powered compressors: $70-$110 per day. Rototiller: $45-$105 per day. Staple gun: $7-$12 per day.
