A rooftop unit lift in Wilmington
Most Wilmington rooftop swaps need a boom truck or a 40-ton crane for a couple of hours. Where the truck can park, how far the boom reaches and whether a downtown street has to close decide the price.
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What is the crane bill for a Wilmington rooftop unit swap?
On one posted sheet, a 22-ton boom truck is $265 an hour with a 1-hour minimum and a 40-ton crane is $285 an hour with a 2-hour minimum, so a typical rooftop swap lands around $530 to $855. If the truck works from a city street or sidewalk, add the Right-of-Way General permit, listed at $30 for a sidewalk closure or crane lift.
- Reach from the truck to the roof curb decides between the boom truck and a crane.
- Crane lifts in the city right-of-way need a permit that takes about 72 hours.
- On time-restricted roads, no closures from 6 to 9 a.m., 4 to 7 p.m. or on weekends.
- Downtown lifts need 72 hours notice to affected property owners.
Boom truck or a bigger crane on the roof job
Weight matters, but distance matters more. A crane loses capacity quickly as the boom extends, so the operator measures from the roof curb to the nearest spot where the outriggers can go down.
- Low roof, truck close. A condenser or small package unit on a house or a one-story shop: the 22-ton boom truck usually covers it.
- Deep on a flat roof. A unit 40 to 60 feet back on a church, school or strip center along Oleander Drive or College Road: often the 40-ton.
- Downtown. Older buildings on Front, 2nd and 3rd streets sit right on the sidewalk, so the truck usually works from the street.
Send the model number, where the curb is and a photo of the spot where a truck could park.
Using the street or sidewalk
Once the truck sits in the public right-of-way, which typically reaches 10 to 12 feet past the curb, the city wants a permit:
- Right-of-Way General permit. It covers crane lifts and takes about 72 hours to process. The city lists a sidewalk closure or crane lift at $30 and a road closure at $80.
- Traffic control. A plan to MUTCD Part 6 or NCDOT Division 11 standards, plus a truck route.
- Timing. Normal work hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. On time-restricted roads, no closures from 6 to 9 a.m. or 4 to 7 p.m., and none on weekends.
- Downtown notice. In the central business district, affected property owners get 72 hours notice. Metered spaces are coordinated with Park Wilmington.
Lines, the airport and the weather
North Carolina’s High-Voltage Line Act keeps equipment at least 10 feet from lines over 600 volts unless the line owner makes safety arrangements first. Point out every line near the building.
Wilmington International Airport sits about 3 miles northeast of downtown. A tall boom near it can need FAA notice.
Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms off the ocean, and wind stops a lift fast. An early start helps.
Typical rooftop tickets
| Job | Machine | Rough ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Condenser on a low roof | 22-ton boom truck, 2 hours | $530 |
| Package unit on a strip center | 40-ton, 3 hours | $855 |
| Heavy unit with a long reach | 75-ton, 4 hours | $1,400 |
These come from the posted prices. Travel, riggers and permits are extra.
Other questions
Who pulls the right-of-way permit?
Usually the mechanical contractor or the crane company. The application needs a traffic control plan to MUTCD Part 6 or NCDOT Division 11 standards and a truck route. If the road is maintained by NCDOT, the permit comes from NCDOT instead.
Can the lift happen on a Saturday?
On a private lot, often yes. In the street, time-restricted roads allow no weekend closures, and no lane closures on city holidays or the days before and after. Ask the city about the specific street.
Does salt air change anything?
Not the lift itself, but rooftop units near the water corrode faster, so swaps come up more often. Rusted curbs and bolts can add time on the roof, which counts against the crane clock.
Wilmington sources
- City of Wilmington, right-of-way permits
- City of Wilmington, typical permits and key points
- N.C. G.S. 95-229.6, High-Voltage Line Act
- Dependable Crane, posted crane pricing
Get this Wilmington lift priced
Rough numbers are fine.
Keep reading
-
Wilmington crane prices by the hourA posted sheet from a 22-ton boom truck to a 115-ton crane, minimums from 1 to 8 hours and the counterweight trailer.
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Setting roof trusses with a crane around WilmingtonA crane for a truss set on a new Wilmington-area home: boom truck sizing, sandy lots, how long a set takes, delivery timing and posted hourly crane prices.
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Crane work in Leland and northern Brunswick CountyA crane in Leland, Belville or Navassa: town encroachment permits, NCDOT roads, East Lake and the new hospital, the river crossing and posted crane prices.