If you are an amateur house builder like me, sometimes you need to call in the big guns to help you with your construction project. If you need to excavate a large hole, dig a trench or to drill boreholes on your property, you will probably need to hire some heavy equipment. I will be posting lots of useful tips on this blog which I hope will help you to get the best deal when it comes to hiring heavy construction gear. I will review the best types of kit for different jobs, transporting the gear to your site, and providing you with information which will help you to keep your workforce safe.
If you own commercial premises and standalone homes, then paved surfaces are something you encounter quite often. The beauty and convenience that come with a concrete surface are unmatched, and the prevailing weather conditions barely hinder people from driving over them. However, a challenge arises when you need to disturb the usual flow of traffic on your paved road or surface. You might need to carry out some maintenance work, add a few road features or lay utility cables, which will force you to redirect your traffic. Road plates offer the relief you need in such cases. Here is a look at some of the crucial things you need to know about steel and plastics road plates:
The Purpose of Using Road Plates
Road plats are large, flat panels made from steel or plastic. They have significant value in the construction industry with utility and infrastructure firms resorting to these plates when they need to manage traffic congestion during road works. The plates enable vehicular access over excavated and other areas when you need to close a certain road. Some of the significant benefits of road plates include the following:
- Improved safety on the site as you direct people and vehicles away from the construction zone.
- Fast and cost-friendly installation that allows traffic to flow without having to build a new alternative road surface altogether.
Steel Road Plates
Steel has renowned strength and sturdiness. Undoubtedly, it makes for excellent material when you want to install a road plate. The process of installation has to be meticulous and precise. If you do not do it properly, steel road plates can be a danger in two ways. First, the plates can shift positions and jeopardise the safety of the road users. Secondly, the steel plates can damage or jolt low-profile tyres when you don't recess them appropriately.
If you must use steel road plates, then make sure you have the right hoisting equipment at hand. Steel road plates can weight in excess of five hundred kilogrammes, and you can only move them around using cranes or trailers.
Plastic Road Plates
Plastics road plates are also popular for those working on paved surfaces. They are made from composite and recycled materials with adequate reinforcement to withstand the weight of vehicles and pedestrian traffic. The top benefits of plastics road plates include the following:
- Easy to Transport and Install – plastic road plates are light compared to steel rood plates. Two people can quickly move the plate, which makes it easy to stack them when you don't need them.
- Flexibility – plastic road plates can interlock in several configurations due to their modular designs.
- User Friendly – plastic road plates are quieter because of the noise dampeners they have on their edges.
For more information, reach out to a company such as GSS Hire.