Setting your own kitchen island.
A 600 to 800 lb granite or quartz slab into a custom kitchen.
Smartlift rental for owner-builders and serious DIY.
Building your own house. Replacing your own oversized impact windows. Setting your own granite island. The Smartlift turns a four-person job into a one-person job. We rent to owner-builders and serious DIY pros across Florida. Read the gate below before you book.
[PHOTO COMING: An owner-builder running the Smartlift remote while a slab or window pane hangs mid-set on a residential build.]
Read this first.
This is for you if:
- You've run a forklift, pallet jack, or bobcat before. You know how heavy equipment moves.
- You're an owner-builder or general contractor doing your own self-perform work.
- You're an experienced renovator setting your own glass, stone, or windows on a custom build.
- You can read the SL609 specs and tell us the load you're lifting (weight, surface, dimensions).
- You'll take the on-delivery walkthrough and run the unit safely. Sober. Trained. With a spotter when conditions ask for one.
This is NOT for you if:
- This is your first time around heavy lift equipment.
- You're hoping the Smartlift will let you skip a permit or a licensed installer.
- You want to lift a single window without prior experience and don't want to spend $625+ on a single-day rental.
- You're not 18+ and physically able to operate the unit.
If the second list describes you, call us before you book. Sometimes the answer is "hire a glazier or stone installer who already has a Smartlift," not "rent one." We're not in the business of getting anyone in over their head.
Real DIY picks.
Replacing oversized impact windows.
A 200 to 600 lb residential pane the manufacturer says is a four-person install.
Setting a frameless shower glass.
Heavy oversized panels for a master bath.
Installing porcelain or stone wall cladding.
Fireplace surrounds, accent walls, exterior cladding.
Owner-builder envelope work.
Storefront-grade glass on a custom-design home or studio.
What you actually pay.
A single-day Smartlift rental for a one-shot DIY install isn't always the cheapest move. Read the math honestly before you book.
| Your situation | Honest read |
|---|---|
| One slab, one day, one install | Day rental $625, plus 15% insurance, plus per-direction delivery (Zone 1 = $300 round-trip in Tampa Bay). All-in around $1,000. If the slab is $1,500 retail and you'd otherwise hire a $400 install crew, the math is tight. The win is safety and not having to coordinate three other people. |
| A weekend of work, multiple installs | Day rate covers as many picks as you can fit. If you have four installs across two days, the day rate becomes a clear win. |
| A multi-week owner-build project | Week rate $1,625 (or month rate $5,200) is where the math gets honest for a self-perform builder. Set every heavy pick on the project for one rental price. |
The unit you'll get. Smartlift SL609 HLE RT.
- Capacity 1,320 lb (600 kg) with the arm in. 330 lb at full extension.
- Battery-electric. Indoor-safe, no fumes.
- Rough-terrain wheels. Stable on a residential jobsite.
- Remote tilt, rotate, side-shift. Simple control panel.
- Walkthrough included. Our delivery driver runs your crew through the controls on drop-off. About twenty minutes. If you can drive a pallet jack, you can run a Smartlift.
Owner-builders and DIY FAQ.
Do I need a license to operate the Smartlift?
Florida doesn't require a specialty license to run a vacuum lifter on private property. Be 18+, sober, and trained on the walkthrough. Don't operate if you're impaired or if conditions don't feel safe.
Can my neighbor or buddy help?
Sure. Most installs go better with a spotter. Just don't put an untrained person on the controls.
What if I damage the unit?
The 15% insurance line covers normal-use incidents. Operator-error scratches, dings, accidental drops within rated capacity. Gross negligence (operating outside spec, leaving it unsecured overnight, intentional misuse) is on the customer. We walk through the rental agreement before delivery.
What if I damage my own property with it?
The Smartlift insurance covers the equipment, not your property. If you scratch your own floor or wall, that's on you. We can talk through how to stage the work to avoid it.
Can you operate it for me instead?
Yes. Ask about an operator add-on. We'll send a Smartlift-trained operator from our team. Quoted as a separate line. Often the right call for a single critical pick on a one-time DIY project.
What's the smallest rental period?
One day. We don't do half-days.