It’s a simple fact of life that every home improvement project requires tools of some sort. As a result, just about every homeowner has a toolbox — or at least a kitchen drawer — with a decent assortment of hand tools. But what happens when your project requires a jackhammer, an airless paint sprayer or perhaps even a tractor?

Rather than shell out the money to buy a tool or a piece of equipment that you’ll probably use only once, you’re better off turning to your local rental yard instead. The typical rental yard has a pretty astounding assortment of tools and equipment available, and because they don’t make any money if their tools are in the repair shop, you will generally find late-model equipment in very good working order.

WHAT TOOLS DO YOU NEED?

The first step in dealing with a rental yard is deciding exactly what you need to rent. That may sound pretty obvious, but if this is a tool that you’ve never used before, you may not know exactly what it’s called or what variations of it might be available. For example, you may know that you need to drill some holes in concrete, but you may not know if you need a small hammer drill, a larger rotary hammer, or perhaps even some diamond-tipped, core-boring equipment. Don’t despair and don’t feel embarrassed. Rental yard personnel are well acquainted with the tools they have available, and exactly what they can and can’t do. Simply explain what your project is, and they can steer you to the right tool to do the job.

HOW LONG SHOULD YOU RENT FOR?

Some equipment can be rented by the hour, often with a two-hour-or-longer minimum. Other choices typically include a per-day rate (24 hours) and a per-week rate (seven days), and sometimes you’ll find half-day and monthly rates available as well. The longer the rental term is, the cheaper the rate will be; for example, a tool might rent for $10 per hour, but be just $75 for a full day, and perhaps drop down to $350 for an entire week.

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As to operation, the rental yard staff will show you the basics of what you need to know. They’ll show you how to start and stop the tool or equipment correctly, all the safety features, how to change bits or blades, how to clean it, and other pertinent information.

CLEANING AND DAMAGE

When you rent a tool from a rental yard, there is the practical and legal expectation that you will return it clean and in the same working order as when they gave it to you. That doesn’t mean that the tool or piece of equipment needs to be absolutely spotless — the yard will clean, check and service it before it goes out again — but if you return it in a condition that will require extra cleaning or servicing time, you’re likely to be charged for it. This is especially true for painting equipment, concrete tools, and other items can be hard to clean if you allow material to harden on or inside the tool.

Another thing you will be asked when you rent is whether you want a damage waiver, which is available for an extra cost. With most types of equipment — especially complex or expensive items, or tools you’re not familiar with — this small charge is well worth the peace of mind it brings.

Always ask what the yard’s expectations are for cleaning, and what the damage waiver covers. Remember, when you rent a piece of equipment you are signing a legal contract, so be sure you’re comfortable with what it says.

Remodeling and repair questions? E-mail Paul at paulbianchina@inman.com.

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What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor. To contact the writer, click the byline at the top of the story.

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