Is it cheaper to rent or buy temporary fences? This is a recurring question for many persons. Many people think that hiring is more expensive than buying. However, in many cases it is a better option to hire temporary fences than to buy them. On this page you can read which factors play a role in determining the total price of hiring versus buying temporary fencing.
Duration of the construction or infrastructure project
One of the misconceptions about hiring temporary fences is that it is only advantageous to rent for a period shorter than one year. This is an incorrect assumption. In general, the turning point is 2.5 years. This means that after 2.5 years, hiring Heras temporary fencing becomes more expensive than purchasing the fence. Are you looking for fencing for 1.5 years? Then hiring is the best solution. Do you need fencing for longer than 2.5 years? Then it is best to buy the temporary fences you need.
Price-quality ratio
When comparing the price of hiring versus buying temporary fencing, the price-quality ratio should be comparable. Above all, consider the quality of the fence.
On average, a good-quality temporary fence will last about 5 years. A lightweight temporary fence of lower quality will usually last less than 2 years. If the construction project takes longer than the lifespan of the temporary fence, a new fence has to be purchased and ‘cheap’ becomes ‘expensive’. In that case, hiring a high-quality temporary fence is a better and cheaper solution.
Usage damage of temporary fence hire
The idea that when hiring temporary fences you have to pay a lot of money for any damage is a persistent misunderstanding! Only damage caused by the renter is charged for. When renting a temporary fence, you will not be charged for wear & tear resulting from normal use. In addition, maintenance of the temporary fencing is included in the rental price.
For those who are very careful with their fencing, hiring Heras temporary fences is probably less interesting. However, in practice it turns out that considerably more fence panels decay during a construction project than is generally estimated. Therefore, hiring temporary fences may be a cheaper solution.
Multiple construction projects - Hire of additional temporary fences
Buying additional fences that are only needed temporarily is a wasted investment. When there is an overlap between the end of one construction project and the start of a new one, more temporary fence panels may be needed temporarily. In that case, hiring can then be a convenient and inexpensive solution for the additional required fencing.
Occupancy rate
What is the occupancy rate of the current rental park? When the majority of the construction project requires fewer temporary fences, it is a shame to buy fences only to keep them in storage for months. So it is interesting to rent additional site fences at peak times in order to achieve a healthy occupancy rate (70% - 80%).
Storage, transport and handling
The storage, transport and handling costs of the fences are often forgotten when calculating the costs of purchasing temporary fence panels. When hiring, these costs are already included in the price, so hiring temporary fences is often cheaper at the end of the day. In addition, the transport, storage and handling of the fences is taken care of by the rental company. So none of your valuable manpower is wasted on these tasks.
Spread the costs
Buying site fencing can be a big investment and it is not always equally feasible. In that case it is better to spread the costs. Hiring temporary fences is a good solution. In this way, you pay in instalments and only for the fences that you actually use (i.e. rent). If your project is set to last longer than 2.5 years, buying is a more interesting option.
