Things You Never Knew You Could Rent From Lowe's
Sometimes renting tools and equipment is a better investment than purchasing them for a one-time job. According to Millionacres, you should do some simple math to decide whether buying or renting a tool or piece of equipment is the better choice. First, consider the cost of purchasing the item. Then, divide it by the estimated number of hours you think you'll need to use it. Next, multiply the number of hours by the total cost per hour or day to rent the item. From here, it's easier to compare the true costs of renting versus owning a particular piece of equipment.
If you want to rent, it's very easy to borrow items from your local Lowe's. According to Lowe's Tool Rental, all you have to do is check the store's website for the availability of the tool you want and submit your interest to borrow it via the online portal. You will then automatically get an email with the next steps for picking up the tool at your local Lowe's. Just make sure to bring a credit card and a valid form of I.D. A quick tip: There are so many Lowe's locations that if you are willing to drive a bit farther, your selection of items available for rent increases exponentially. If something is out at one store, you can simply go to another location to pick it up.
You can rent power tools for everyday jobs
If you're a casual DIYer or have a specific project coming up soon (like a child's science fair entry or backyard deck repairs), you can rent basic power tools from Lowe's. The store has drills, table saws, paint mixers, and even polishers available to rent.
The general tools available from Lowe's are some of the most popular ones used by professional contractors nationwide. A survey by Contractor Magazine reported that power tools with cords like power drills, circular drills, and rotary hammers were all used by at least 70% of respondents. In addition, a similar percentage of contractors used tools without cords like power drills and reciprocating saws. All of these are available to rent at the home improvement store. Because of this, even the most casual of repair people can be sure that they are using top-quality, beloved tools for all of their home DIY projects.
You can rent ladders to safely reach high places
If you live in an apartment building or don't often do outdoor projects around your house, it's possible that you might not own a ladder. If this sounds like you and you've run into a project that involves high-up spaces, there is no need to worry. This is because you can easily rent a ladder from Lowe's. Lowe's has ladders and scaffolding in many different heights and styles, whether you are hanging Christmas lights, repainting your living room, or even trimming your trees. You can get A-frame ladders for inside work and "leaning" ladders to assist you in getting up higher when you are outdoors.
However, it's important to keep your safety in mind when using a ladder. According to New Mexico State University, basic ladder safety rules are critical to follow. The basics of the rules start with ensuring that your weight doesn't exceed the ladder's weight limit when combined with the weight of any items you carry. This way, the ladder does not collapse. Next, you should always follow common-sense rules, like not climbing to great heights alone with no one nearby to assist in an emergency, or balancing the ladder in a precarious way–such as against a tree or another ladder.
You can rent lawn care items to mow your grass
There are many reasons why you might need to rent a lawnmower from Lowe's. Perhaps you live in an apartment and are mowing a friend or family member's lawn for them. Or maybe you want to cut the grass for your child's soccer team or a local non-profit, and your mower can't take on the job. Whatever the reason, it's easy enough to find exactly what you need at Lowe's in the lawn care section.
While you are mowing, Scotts recommends that the best time to mow your lawn is when it's completely dry. Wet grass can clog your lawnmower and cause an uneven cut, giving you a lumpy-looking yard. This means that you should avoid mowing after heavy rain, as well as first thing in the morning when there is dew on the ground. However, it can also be dangerous to cut during the heat of the day. Because of this, the best time to mow the grass is during the early evening. You should also not trim on schedule (like every second Saturday, for example) as your grass will grow at different rates during different times of the year. Therefore it needs different care depending on things like the weather, etc.
You can rent carts and dollies to help with your move
If you plan to move house, then your first stop should be Lowe's to check out the material handling section of their rental equipment. According to Hevi-Haul, it's a great idea to use carts and dollies when moving heavy objects because not only can these great tools save you tons of time, they can take a load off your back, too. There is also no shortage of things you can move with a dolly.
If you need to move appliances like an oven, refrigerator, or even air conditioning unit, using a dolly is like having two to three other people helping you lift. It's the same with stacks of chairs or file boxes. At Lowe's, it's even possible to rent a dolly or cart specifically designed for the item you want to move. A quick tip: Never stack something so high you can't see over it. In the rare case that this is unavoidable, have a buddy with you to guide the way.
You can rent things to control your home's climate
Your local Lowe's has a pretty great selection of climate control tools available for rental. Whether you need a fogging machine to quickly sanitize the air in your home or business or a large fan or dehumidifier to keep things dry after a flooding event, Lowe's has you covered.
According to Carpet To Go, creating airflow around wet carpets is one of your first lines of defense for salvaging them. Sometimes, you can use fans to air out your carpets after a planned situation, like a deep cleaning. However, a burst pipe or outside flood water might also put you in a situation where you need to air things out. A quick tip: Remember that controlling your home's climate with fans and dehumidifiers is only effective after removing most of the water with carpet cleaning machines that use steam and deodorizers. Drying out your carpet is great, but you want it to be clean first.
You can rent concrete tools for your next DIY project
According to Acme Tools, working with concrete is a lot more challenging to do yourself than it might look. However, if you are interested in pouring your own back patio or repairing your driveway, you're still in luck because while it may be hard, it's not impossible. The best part is that you can easily rent all the tools you need to work with concrete from Lowe's.
A few quick tips are to ensure there are no bubbles in the concrete you pour, as these will turn into brittle craters. Next, you'll need to smooth off the surface. During this process, lots of water will appear to work its way up to the top of the material. Don't let this water evaporate from the job site, as doing so will also cause the concrete to become brittle and crack. Instead, work the water back into the material for a more finished look once it's all dry.
You can rent augers to bore deep holes
According to The Family Handyman, using an auger on a project requiring you to dig holes (such as installing a fence, planting trees, etc.) can save you plenty of time and effort. However, using the machine still doesn't make the process a complete walk in the park. This is because auger machines are still heavy and require quite a bit of strength to handle. Because they are sharp and move quickly, using them can easily turn dangerous if they were to get away from you.
If you were to purchase an auger, you could buy it based on your size plus the size of the hole you wish to dig. This is because once you dig, you'll need to lift the machine back out of the ground, which can be very heavy on your own. When renting an auger from Lowe's, you will also be able to choose between these two options at most of the store's locations.
You can rent trailers for debris removal and more
Whether you are moving house or simply need help hauling debris away from your construction site, you can rent trailers from Lowe's to help you successfully complete your task. Depending on the task at hand, the trailers come in two types: dump and non-dump. You might use a non-dump trailer to move other tools or building materials around, like lawn equipment, unmixed concrete bags, or wood planks. On the other hand, the dump trailers are better suited for dirt, sand, or even trash hauled away from the site.
According to Consumer Reports, there are a few important safety rules to follow when hooking up a trailer to your vehicle. The first is to check the trailer's tires to ensure they are in good shape. Because you are renting the trailer, Lowe's should be handling the maintenance, but it's still your safety on the line, so be sure to do a walkthrough with the Lowe's employee to check the item's condition. Other tips include ensuring the trailer's brake lights are working properly and that your personal vehicle's maintenance is also up to date.
You can rent carpet cleaners to remove that big stain
If you have a new puppy at home ruining your carpet, you might not have to purchase a rug cleaner yourself to clean things up, as it's easy enough to rent one from the Lowe's Floor Care department. The machines available come in a range of price points and sizes, from domestic to industrial. So, whether you just need to clean up after the puppy, tidy the carpet to get your rental deposit back, or are starting a carpet cleaning business, Lowe's has you covered.
According to Good Housekeeping, vacuum your carpet extensively before using a carpet cleaning machine. This way, most of the dirt and debris has been picked up already and won't simply become wet in the cleaning process, making things worse. You should also use a high-quality carpet shampoo or deodorizer instead of just water. This way, you can ensure the carpets come through the process looking and feeling cleaner and fluffier than they were before. If your home is mostly tile and doesn't have much carpet, there is no need to worry, as you can rent tile polishing tools from the same department at Lowe's.
You can rent generators to keep the lights on
There are plenty of reasons you might need to rent a generator from Lowe's. Maybe you are doing a small DIY project around the house and need better lighting to finish work at night, when it's cooler and easier to work outside. Maybe you are going on a camping trip with your family and want a straightforward way to power up your living quarters for the weekend. Or perhaps there is a big storm predicted, and you want to make sure your family has access to the power they need.
Whatever the reason, The Family Handyman recommends that you operate the machinery at a safe distance from where you are working or sleeping, as the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning is high. You should also never operate the generator in an enclosed space for this same risk. Finally, let the machine cool down completely before refilling it to avoid burning yourself, and keep plenty of extra fuel on hand to keep it running as long as you need it.
You can rent pressure washers to clean your house
At some point or another, we all get that dreaded letter from our homeowner's association. You know the one: A note that says your driveway looks dingy or there is mold on your home's siding. The letter says you have to clean it off ... or else. And usually, HOAs mean business. You need a solution fast! And while you can occasionally borrow a pressure washer from a friend to clear things off, it's just as easy to borrow one from Lowe's. The store has a large selection of makes and models, so depending on the scope of your project, you'll be able to find the perfect match.
However, using one of these machines can be very dangerous, especially if you are not properly trained. According to Pressure Washr, it's important to follow all safety instructions. This is to avoid serious injury and in some cases, even death due to the high speed and concentrated nature of liquid ejected by the pressure washer. Before beginning, think through the task from start to finish and reduce the hazards you will face. Always wear protective clothing and never forget to read the instruction manual, even if you have used a similar machine before.
You can rent trenchers to lay pipes and other subterranean items
According to The CAT Rental Store, there are many reasons you might want to rent a trencher on your job site. Perhaps you are installing an irrigation system for a residential or commercial building. In addition, you might also be installing utilities for a building and are either creating the trench for the initial equipment to go into, or are digging up the ground to reach previous pipes or wires for maintenance. Trenchers are very efficient because they can cut through all sorts of ground conditions, even if the soil is rocky. In some cases, they can even help you cut through the pavement.
There are different kinds of trenchers for different difficulty levels. Some trenchers you can ride, others you walk behind and push. At Lowe's, they typically only rent the ones you can push. However, the store's trenchers category still offers a great selection on sizes of the machine. So no matter if you are digging a commercial trench or simply cutting roots in your backyard, there will be a machine for you at Lowe's that can do the job.
You can rent safety tools to get your contracting business started
When you are just starting as a contractor, you might not have the funds to purchase all the necessary tools and equipment. This is especially true if your initial jobs range in scale and you don't need the more specialized equipment for each project. So, instead of spending more on supplies than you'll even earn on the job, you can rent equipment from Lowe's General Construction section instead. You can borrow things like a giant magnet or metal detector to assist in site clean-up once the job is over, a safety barricade for on-site protection, and even an aluminum bending brake to clean up tight corners.
According to The National Association for the Self Employed, when using this equipment (or any rented equipment, really), it's important to keep overall safety in mind. Always be sure to wear the correct personal protection equipment (like safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, or steel-toed boots) while on the job site, and thoroughly train each person using the equipment.
You can rent arborist equipment to care for trees
Most professional arborists would agree that, due to the inherently dangerous task of working high up in trees with power tools, an arborist's work is best left to those who are licensed and insured. In fact, according to Rock N Rescue, there are a number of rules that those who work in the field must follow before going to work. The most important is never to work alone, as you need someone to keep an eye on you and call for help in an emergency. Other rules are to conduct a thorough assessment of the tree before beginning any work on it. This is to make sure that you don't step on a weak or rotten branch and there aren't any local nests (like birds, bees, or even small mammals) that you might disturb.
When following all relevant safety measures, the next thing is to consider what sort of equipment you might need from Lowe's. In its Tree Care section, the store has stump grinders, chain saws, and even wood chippers available for rental. Luckily, most of these items are meant to be used safely on the ground.