If you deal with landscaping, excavation or construction, screening mulch, soil, rocks, and dirt, it has probably become a crucial part of your life. And to do the job properly, you need to have a high-quality topsoil screener.
However, choosing the right topsoil screener can be a pretty daunting task if you don’t know what to pay attention to. Whether you need topsoil screening equipment for business, gardening, or farming purposes, there are a few things you need to consider before investing in it.
Let’s take a closer look at the most important questions you need to ask yourself before purchasing a topsoil screener.
1. Why Do You Need a Topsoil Screener?
If there were only one topsoil screener model on the market, the answer would be straightforward. At EZ-Screen alone, the topsoil screening equipment and trommel line includes seven different machines. That’s why you need to have clear goals and know what you will use a topsoil screener for before you buy one.
For example, if you need a topsoil screener to maintain your home garden in good condition, then you should probably go for a smaller model with a few main features. Yet, if you’re a business working on a big landscaping or construction project, you’d need to opt for a larger and more powerful topsoil screener.
“It’s important to have a topsoil screener appropriately sized for the job. Home DIY garden projects don’t need the same screener as a golf course, and it would be ridiculous for a landscaping business to use a home garden setup. You should consider the equipment you’ll be using to put the dirt through the screen and make sure that they’re compatible with each other.”
Melanie Musson, Home Insurance Expert at US Insurance Agents
So, always outline your requirements when you talk to the manufacturer or distributor, and they’ll help you find a machine that would fit your topsoil screening needs.
2. How Much Are You Willing to Spend?
Whether you want it or not, your budget will play a significant role when it comes to buying topsoil screening equipment. But again, it doesn’t mean that you need to go for the most expensive model to get the job done.
The cost of your topsoil screener will depend mostly on its specifications, power, and ability to screen different types of soil and other materials. So, choose a machine that has all the features you need to avoid overpaying for something you’ll never have a chance to use.
3. What Are You Going to Screen With It?
Different types of topsoil screeners can handle different kinds of materials. Before buying a topsoil screener, ensure it can screen whatever you want it to work with.
For example, some topsoil screening plants can separate out soils, rocks, dirt, compost, gravel, sand, wood chips, garden debris, aggregates, mulch, compost, street sweepings. Some models can do it all, and some can do only a few of those.
- EZ-Screen 100 → Topsoil.
- EZ-Screen 1000XL → Topsoil, gravel, aggregate, wood chips, street sweepings.
- EZ-Screen 1200XLS → Topsoil, compost, or gravel.
- EZ-409 Trommel → Mulch, topsoil, and compost.
When buying a topsoil screener, first, decide what materials you need to screen, and only then opt for a specific model.
4. Do You Need a Screening Plant or a Screening Bucket Attachment?
Suppose you already own or have access to such excavating equipment as a skid steer, backhoe, bucket tractor, front loader, or other. In that case, you might want to consider going for a screening bucket instead of a larger topsoil screener.
For instance, screening buckets can offer you the ability to presort all kinds of materials quickly too. They let you use the materials onsite, eliminating costly trucking. Just scoop and spin, and your materials are sorted. But of course, whether you should buy one or not will depend on your specific topsoil screening needs.
5. How Compact and Portable Is It?
Topsoil screeners come in different sizes. It means before choosing one, you need to know whether you’re able to move it around and have enough space to store it. If you have access to a large garage or live on a farm, then you probably shouldn’t have any problems with this. But if you don’t have the answer to this question right now, you should spend some time figuring it out before buying a topsoil screener.
Don’t forget to consider this: will the seller deliver the topsoil screen to your door, or you need to haul it by yourself. If you have a truck or trail, it’s not that big of a deal. Bit if you don’t, then you should sort out the delivery process beforehand.
6. How Much Do You Expect to Use It Per Hour?
Before buying a topsoil screener, make sure you know its capacity. For example, will it be enough for you if the topsoil screener can screen only up to 50 cubic yards per hour, or do you need it to be more powerful and handle more?
This aspect will define the size and price of a topsoil screener you need. A manufacturer or an industry professional can help you choose a topsoil screener with the required kind of hourly production as well as calculate your approximate return on investment.
Benefits of Topsoil Screeners
“Using a topsoil screener is a fast and easy way to remove debris from your soil. One benefit of doing this is that the debris could interfere with nutrient absorption and root growth, so removing them gives your plants a bigger chance to thrive. A second benefit is that you can increase the quality of your soil by mixing your screened topsoil with organic matter, fertilizers, or mulch.
You may need a topsoil screener if you *notice that there is a lot of foreign debris in your soil that isn’t healthy for your plants*. By taking them out, you’re allowing the good nutrients in the soil to remain, and this will feed any plants you put them. Also, it helps make the topsoil richer.”
Jen Stark, Founder of Happy DIY Home
Takeaway
Choosing a topsoil screener isn’t easy, yet it becomes a much simpler task to accomplish if you know what to look for in it. As long as you know your budget, what you want to screen, and how big of a project your new screener should be able to handle, it shouldn’t take you long to make a final decision.
At EZ-Screen, we manufacture high-quality topsoil screeners to handle everything from topsoil, gravel, aggregate, and wood chips to street sweepings and more. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help choosing topsoil screening equipment or have any questions about our products.
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