If you’re in the building supply or construction industry, then you know that the equipment you use when roofing or carrying out another project can save you both time and money. When you’re in the market for roofing equipment, you might not know where to start. How do you know which equipment is best for your company? How do you know if it’s worth the investment?
If you aren’t sure, you may be stressed out. There are so many customers out there to do work for. According to Allied Market Research, the roofing industry market size in North America is expected to reach over $47,000 million by 2025? But you can’t make money without the right equipment.
That’s why we’ve put together this article. Once you know all about the different types of equipment you can use for your roofing projects, you can choose the right one for your company. Read on to learn more.
Boom Trucks
A boom truck is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment on the jobsite and can perform three important functions, when properly configured.
The boom truck’s primary use is for lifting. Often a boom truck can take advantage of long boom lengths with a full-power proportional extension system and offer more maneuverability to do the work of larger cranes, especially at high boom angles. A jib will enhance this feature offering even higher tip heights. Some models come equipped with an offsetable jib that is useful for lifting over obstacles.
Secondly, the boom truck can help with the delivery of materials. When axle ratings and spacing are chosen properly, the crane will be able to haul materials on its bed (stand-up configuration cranes, only). Additionally, some companies will trailer towing options with their trucks to haul additional material.
The third, and possibly most interesting use, is as a personnel platform. You should be aware of the requirements to properly set up and operate a crane as a personnel platform. But once configured, you have the option of running the crane from the operators’ station or with a radio remote control. Some boom tip mounted basket designs will allow you to reach a working height approximately six feet higher than the cranes maximum tip height.
Buying a stand-up style boom truck with a jib, man-basket, and remote-control package provides you the most flexible machine.
Load King cranes are available with maximum lift ratings from 10 to 80 US tons. Boom lengths range from 47 to 160 feet. Our experts can help you choose the right crane for your application. Give us a call and we can help narrow your search with a few simple questions.
Roofing Conveyor Trucks
Roofing conveyors are also essential roofing equipment. Once you’re already up on the roof doing construction, it’s difficult and time-consuming to go back down to the ground for material. This is where a roofing conveyor comes in handy.
It works like this. When you’re getting your construction site ready, you set up the roof conveyor against the home or commercial area the same way you would a ladder. Then, once all your workers are up on the roof, you can get the materials you need at a faster speed. This means, instead of spending hours loading everything up on the roof, it only takes 25 minutes or so to transport all your materials on the roofing conveyor. This speed is thanks to the hydraulic technology used in the equipment. It powers the belt upon which the items are placed.
Roofing conveyor trucks come in different sizes. Lengths can be anywhere from 31 feet to 43 feet, depending on your needs.
Drywall Loaders
A drywall loader is another type of crane often used in the building supply industry. This type of crane is especially useful for commercial roofing. It’s used to lift solid, large pieces of material. It can also lift palletized material. This palletized material might be glass, wallboard, brick, or similar materials.
Because this crane can lift large amounts of material, it’s ideal for commercial construction. Additionally, if you’re doing a residential job where you’re helping a customer build their dream home, a drywall loader can be useful for lifting up a large number of materials for building the roof.
Knuckle Booms
A knuckle boom is another type of crane. This is similar to other types of cranes, except for one small difference: the “knuckle” in the middle. This makes it possible for you to bend the crane back, changing direction if necessary.
If you’re working on a complex commercial roofing job, then a knuckle boom crane can be perfect for the job. If you have roofs that are laid out at different angles or in different areas, it will be much easier to maneuver with this piece of equipment.
Forklifts
If you’re lifting broader pieces of materials when working on a roofing project, a forklift can be perfect for the job. It’s also useful for lifting pallets of materials up to where your workers are completing the project.
Because a forklift can lift a huge amount of weight, it’s important to use all the right safety precautions while operating it. Take a look at the Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s guide on operating a forklift to learn more.
A forklift is primarily used for commercial construction projects since you are not likely to have such heavy materials for a residential construction project.
Piggyback Forklifts
A piggyback forklift works similarly to the forklift, except that there is more room for carrying materials on it. If you have multiple projects or multiple sites that use the same materials, then a piggyback forklift can be perfect for this situation.
This is because of the use of loading and unloading materials with a piggyback forklift. The best piggyback forklifts will be able to lift over 5,000 pounds of materials reach heights of over 100 feet.
Heavy Haul Tractors
If you have a large commercial roofing project coming up, then you may need a heavy haul tractor to transport all your materials. This is especially important if you’re working with a client who is having you build multiple roofs in different cities or states. This way, you can get your materials where they need to be, no matter how far away the construction site is.
Hotshot Trucks
A hotshot truck is perfect for commercial construction jobs. This is because it can carry a large amount of equipment, but not so much that it takes forever for the driver to arrive at the site. These are usually under CDL trucks.
Flatbed sizes range from 12 feet to 15 feet. However, you can also get a custom build. These trucks are perfect for transporting heavy objects, such as bricks, to the worksite.
Service Trucks
A service truck is another vehicle that’s perfect for commercial construction jobs. If you’re doing a roof repair, this is one of the most common uses for this type of equipment. This is because service trucks are perfect for carrying tools and other small types of equipment related to repairs.
Some service trucks are also equipped with cranes. This means that it will be easy for your workers to access any item they need when completing a roof repair.
This is also safer for them since they won’t have to constantly go up and down a ladder to get what they need.
Looking for Roofing Equipment?
Now that you know about the different types of equipment used for residential and commercial equipment, you might be looking for roofing equipment. If that’s the case, then you should look no further than what we offer at Custom Truck.