BigRentz Equipment Rental Service Areas in South Carolina

Construction played a big role in South Carolina’s strong economy in 2016. This is, in part, thanks to the booming housing market. Cities like Spartanburg and Greenville saw sharp increases in residential permits issued — 37.8 percent and 12.9 percent respectively. If you’re planning to build homes in South Carolina, here’s what to keep in mind.

In South Carolina, the local city municipalities issue building permits. If you’re building in one of the unincorporated areas, the county office will issue a permit. You will need a permit for all new structures, to alter, add to, or renovate existing structures, and to demolish buildings. In most cases, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work also require a permit. To work on fences, decks, sheds, garages, roofing, and siding, find out if you need a permit from the local authority.

South Carolina is known for its heavy rains and flooding. If you’re building in a floodplain, you have to get an elevation certificate from FEMA. You need this certificate to apply for a building permit. In some areas, a FEMA certificate is not required, but certain minimum building requirements must be implemented to prevent flood damage.

Most contractors in South Carolina need a state license from the Contractor’s Licensing Board. To get a license, general and mechanical contractors need to: Pass two PSI exams: a trade exam and business management and law exam. Have two years of work experience within the last five years. Provide a financial statement covering a 12-month period. Contractors who install burglar alarms, fire alarms and fire sprinkler systems need to submit proof of liability insurance of at least $100,000. Note that each city or county may have additional registration or licensing requirements, so check with your local authority.

In South Carolina, you’ll find various types of soil like peat, loam, sand, silt, clay, and rock. The soil in the Piedmont region is rich in reddish clay while the Blue Ridge soils contain little clay. Along the coastal plains, the soil is made up of marine deposits containing sand, clay, and limestone. Clay is the most unstable type of soil because it expands when wet and contracts when dry. If you’re building on clay soil, you will need to stabilize the soil. A good way to do this is to add lime to the soil. Lime reduces the moisture level and binds the soil. A truck-mounted spreader is what you need to spread the lime across the site. Next, use a pulvimixer to mix the lime into the soil. Finally, you need to compact the soil using a sheepsfoot compactor followed by a smooth roller.

Finding the equipment you need to prepare your site is easy. Simply visit for both small and heavy-duty machinery. Any aerial and material handling equipment like forklifts, boom lifts, manlifts, and scissor lifts are also available for hire. Renting equipment is convenient and cost effective. The experts predict that South Carolina’s housing market and economic outlook will remain healthy in 2017. This means you can expect plenty of business over the next year. To be best placed to accept work, make sure you’re licensed and have the right permits and insurance in place.