The Benefits of Hiring vs. Buying Construction Equipment In Adelaide
Statewide Hire Explores the Benefits of Hiring vs. Buying Construction Equipment In Adelaide
When working on a construction or civil project, one of the biggest decisions can be choosing to hire construction equipment rather than buy.
For many builders, contractors, and even DIYers in Adelaide, hiring construction equipment from a reputable company like Statewide Hire (based in Newton, SA) can offer major advantages.
Statewide Hire provides a broad range of construction hire equipment, including earthmoving machines, concrete gear, rollers, jackhammers, and more.
This blog will walk you through the key benefits of choosing to hire, rather than buy, construction equipment, especially when cost efficiency, flexibility, and risk management are factored in as top priorities.
What Construction Equipment Does Statewide Hire Offer?
Before diving into the benefits, it helps to understand the range of our fleet.
Here are some of the main categories of our plant and construction equipment you can hire from Statewide Hire:
Earthmoving & Excavation Equipment
- Mini-loaders / skid steers / Kanga / Dingo machines and more see here
- Excavators of various sizes (from small to large)
- Attachments for earthmoving, such as augers, rock-breakers, and grabs
Concrete Equipment
- Cement mixers (both electric and petrol) to suit different job scales.
- Trowelling machines for smoothing and finishing concrete.
- Vibrating / drive units for concrete finishing (electric and petrol) to remove air from pours.
Compaction / Roller Machines
- Rollers / compactors for ground work and compaction on construction sites.
Demolition & Breaker Equipment
- Jackhammers and concrete breakers, including electric and light demolition options
General & Access Equipment
- Scaffolding platforms (2.4 m to 4.4 m), acro props, ladders, and work platforms.
- Air compressors for powering smaller tools on-site.
- Generators, water pumps, and other support plant for construction sites.
Key Benefits of Hiring vs. Buying
Cost Effectiveness
Lower Upfront Costs: Buying heavy machinery like excavators or rollers requires a large capital outlay. Hiring lets you avoid that, instead paying only for the time you need the machine.
No Long Term Maintenance Costs: When you hire machinery, the maintenance responsibility often remains with the hire company. At Statewide Hire, our fleet is regularly maintained.
Avoid Storage Costs: Large plant equipment needs secure storage. By hiring, you don’t need to worry about space, insurance, or depreciation.
Flexible Hire Rates: Statewide Hire offers day or half day rates
Flexibility & Scalability
Scale to the Job: Whether you have a small residential job or a large civil project, you can scale what machines you hire to exactly what’s needed, you’re not stuck with underutilised equipment.
Access to Specialised Machinery: Instead of owning every type of plant, you can hire specialty gear (like trowellers or vibrating units) only when needed.
Short Term & Long Term Hire Options: Depending on your project timeline, you can hire for days, weeks, or longer, giving you flexibility that aligns with project cashflow.
Rapid Deployment: Statewide Hire offers delivery across metro Adelaide, the Hills and surrounding areas.
Risk Management & Reliability
Latest Equipment: Renting means you’re likely to get newer, well maintained machines, reducing downtime risk from breakdowns. Statewide Hire provides ongoing maintenance.
Reduced Financial Risk: If a project is delayed or cancelled, you’re not stuck with expensive, idle machinery, you simply return the hire.
Regulatory & Compliance Ease: Hire companies manage maintenance, safety checks, and certifications, that burden doesn’t fall entirely on you.
Insurance and Liability: With hire equipment, you often just need to insure for the hire period, rather than fully insure owned assets all the time.
Operational Efficiency
No Maintenance Downtime: Maintenance and repairs are handled by us, so your project workflow isn’t interrupted by machine servicing.
Access to Expert Advice: The Statewide Hire team has 26 years of experience in the industry. They can help you choose the right machine and provide safe operation tips.
Delivery & Collection: We can arrange transport of the equipment to your site, meaning less hassle for you.
Statewide Hire delivers across Adelaide.
When Buying Might Still Make Sense
While hiring offers many advantages, there are situations where buying construction equipment could make sense:
- Long Term Projects / Repeated Use: If you’re running a construction business and regularly need certain machines, owning could lower your cost per hour over years.
- Customisation: If you need a machine highly customised (e.g., with special attachments) or uniquely configured, buying might be more practical.
- Asset Building: Owned equipment becomes an asset on your balance sheet, which can be valuable for long term business growth and resale.
- Financing Advantages: If your business has access to favourable financing, purchasing may be financially viable.
How to Decide What’s Right for You
Here’s a simple decision framework:
Estimate The Duration & Frequency: How long will you need the equipment, and how often?
Assess The Project Scope: Is this a one off job or recurring work?
Consider Your Cash Flow: Would buying tie up your capital in a way that impacts your business or project?
Talk To The Experts: Consult the Statewide Hire team for our recommendations based on our fleet, and get a hire quote.
Check Your Logistics Requirements: Consider delivery, transport, and site access, will you need to move machines around?
Real World Example: Hiring vs Buying with Statewide Hire
Let’s say you’re building a new driveway or retaining wall:
- Hiring Option: Use a 3.5 CF petrol or electric cement mixer, plus a trowelling machine, for perhaps a week. You pay hire costs, get the job done, then return the machines.
- Buying Option: Buy your own mixer and troweller. While you have the assets, you also must pay upfront, insure them, maintain them, and worry about storage between projects.
In this scenario, for the majority of single or small recurring jobs, hiring from Statewide Hire will likely be cheaper, more convenient, and lower risk.
Hiring construction equipment from Statewide Hire offers significant advantages in cost effectiveness, flexibility, risk management, and project efficiency.
Whether you’re tackling an earthmoving job, concrete work, or demolition, hiring allows you to access high quality, well maintained machines without the burden of ownership.
If you’re planning a project in the Adelaide metro or Adelaide Hills area, contact Statewide Hire today on (08) 8336 9166 for a free quote and expert advice on the right plant hire solution for your job.
