10 Things To Know When Using A Crane At Your House

By Author: Cole Arendt
Total Articles: 6
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So you're gearing up to have a crane company deliver a swim spa, a hot tub, or a shed into your back yard. Maybe some tree removal? What is that operator going to be watching out for when they give you a quote!? Here are 10 things that we keep an eye out for on residential work.

1. Concrete Driveways

Your driveway is tough. It can hold multiple vehicles. The kids are beating on it all the time with their toys and balls and whatnot. However, a crane is a totally different beast. Driveways are not made to handle the type of weight that a crane brings to bear, so we try to stay off of driveways unless we are using a very lightweight crane!

2. Powerlines

Ever touched a power line? No? Us either. And we don't intend to start. Power lines are conveniently located way out of the average persons reach... and smack in the middle of our lift plan.

We pay careful attention to these "shocking" obstacles to ensure that we are safely away from danger.

3. Trees

It goes without saying that trees are an important vertical obstacle. They can have a big impact on where we set up and how accessible ...
... a location is. It's also worth noting that lots of folks see cranes involved in tree removal.

If you are trying to get a tree removed from your property, you want to call a qualified tree company. Tree weights are highly variable, and there are many complex variables involved in removal. A crane is occasionally used, but it is always at the discretion of a qualified tree removal company.

4. Tree Limbs

Tree limbs don't stretch high into the sky like a skyscraper... but they can still be a wrinkle in any lifting plan. Whether they're sticking out over the deck, gazebo, driveway, house, or yard, they can obstruct our boom or our lift path.

We pay careful attention to tree limbs and keep them in mind as we build a plan for your job!

5. Septic Tanks

Septic tanks are tough because you can't see them! As we mentioned above with driveways, cranes are _HEAVY_. Falling through a driveway is bad enough... what about falling through a septic tank?

That's a really stinky proposition.

We also have to worry about crushing your septic field lines! Needless to say, we are very careful before we put any weight on parts of your lawn if you are on a septic tank!

6. Underground Utilities

For certain jobs, we also need to be careful of the underground utilities. You can call 411 at any time and request that underground utilities get marked. The weight of a crane, the complexities of setup, and even the placement of your item can all be affected by where the underground utilities are located around your property.

7. Tight Spaces

Every residential job is a tight job. It turns out your neighborhood just wasn't built with our big ol' cranes in mind! Go figure.

This is one reason it is quite important to hire a good company and ensure you have a quality operator. It's also a reason that some bigger companies and lower quality operators stay away from residential work. You have to be skilled to work in the tight spaces that a residential job represents.

8. Roof Lines

Did you know that it's no big deal to lift something over your house? Your house isn't so tall. Usually 30-50 feet. We regularly lift things over 100 feet into the air.

However, the boom angle, obstacle placement, and item weight mean that we have to be careful about where your roof is at and our lift plan. Safety is our first priority! And in the unlikely scenario that something unforeseeable happens, we are fully insured to cover any issues.

Be careful who you hire! You don't want to get stuck with a bad company and unnecessary risks to your home!

9. Overhangs and Gazebos

Lots of folks like to build a roof or overhang for their hot tub or swim spa. Whatever it is, these vertical obstructions can make things tricky for a crane operator. We keep an eye on these things when we are evaluating your job, and are very careful to build a plan that avoids all obstacles.

This is definitely an important item to keep in mind, though!

10. Beware of Dog

We're not so different from the mailman. Roscoe the guard dog can still keep us off your lawn.

Just kidding. This is usually not a problem. But we do make sure to take care of your property and schedule our arrival so that it fits into your day! We can even help with delivery!

Customer service is a big part of residential work, and its an area where we excel!

Let's Chat!

Does any of this seem complicated? You don't pay any extra for our expertise doing residential work! Give us a call and work with a team of operators who know all of these challenges and more!

We are experienced in quality, safety, and customer service. It would be an honor to get your lift done!

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