Tools & equipment on hire
Concrete & Compaction
Site, workshop and facility equipment. Hire period and rate basis are confirmed in the written quotation.
Overview
What this equipment does
Applications
Typical jobs
- Batching concrete and mortar on site
- Consolidating sub-base before paving or flooring
- Removing air voids from placed concrete
- Compacting trench backfill
- Finishing larger floor pours
Comparison
How the options differ
| Plate compactor | Rammer | |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Vibrating plate across the surface | Impact stamping in one spot |
| Commonly used on | Granular fill, sand, paving base | Cohesive soil, narrow trenches |
| Coverage | Wider per pass | Narrow, more concentrated |
| Typical use | Driveways, paving, open areas | Trench backfill, confined spaces |
| Handling | Heavier but guided | Lighter to move, harder to control |
Power & site
Power and site considerations
Mixers and compaction equipment are frequently petrol or diesel, precisely because sites often have no supply in the early stages. Needle vibrators are usually electric.
Where a machine is fuelled, the fuel basis is confirmed in the written quotation — stated at booking and confirmed with the quotation, with the difference charged.
With the machine
Accessories and consumables
Normally required
- Vibrator needles and flexible shafts
- Mixer drum and paddles
- Transport wheels
- Fuel container where petrol or diesel
- Eye, ear and dust protection
Consumables
- Fuel
- Engine oil on longer hires
- Vibrator needle wear on abrasive mixes
Safety
Operator and site safety
- Petrol and diesel machines run outdoors and ventilated, never in an enclosed space
- Compaction equipment vibrates heavily — check for buried services before starting
- Wet concrete is caustic; gloves and eye protection matter
- Power trowels demand operator experience and are not a machine to learn on
Add it
Add to your hire list
Add this to your hire list
Category level is fine. A suitable machine is confirmed against your job and current availability.
Availability is confirmed at booking, not at enquiry.
Hire period
What affects hire duration
You set the dates. We do not estimate how long a job should take — that depends on the material, the machine, the operator, access, site conditions and how many hours a day the site actually works.
Availability
What affects availability
- What is already out on hire on your dates
- Hire duration requested
- Quantity of the same item
- Delivery distance and vehicle availability
- Whether operator support is required, and whether it can be arranged
- Accessory availability
- Site access constraints
Price
What affects hire price
- Equipment type and class
- Hire duration
- Quantity
- Delivery and collection
- Operator support, where required and available
- Accessories
- Consumables
- Fuel basis
- Deposit and terms
- Site and logistics requirements
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- What you are pouring or compacting, and the area
- Ground type for compaction work
- Whether the site has power, or needs fuelled machines
- Vehicle access for delivery
- Planned dates
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Choosing between a plate compactor and a rammer without considering material, layer depth and manufacturer guidance
- Running a fuelled machine in an enclosed space
- Not checking for buried services
- Booking a power trowel without an experienced operator
Questions
Frequently asked
Plate compactor or rammer?
Plate compactors are commonly used on larger, relatively open areas and are often associated with granular materials. Rammers are commonly considered where the area is narrow or confined. Final choice depends on material, layer depth, site access, machine model and manufacturer guidance.
What size concrete mixer do I need?
It follows from the pour and how quickly you need to place it. Tell us roughly what volume and over how long, and we will identify suitable options.
Is fuel included in the hire?
The fuel basis is stated at booking and confirmed with the quotation.