How to Pick Out the Best Dumpster for Your Roofing Project

Roofing projects are most commonly done in the spring and summer months around Kansas City. That’s largely because the weather cooperates so well during this time of year. But roofing projects are also driven by another factor: the homeowner’s desire to freshen the place up for the coming outdoor season.

If you’re contemplating tackling a new roof installation on your own this year, you may want to rent a dumpster. Roofing projects create a lot of debris, and having a residential dumpster rental on-site for the project makes cleanup a whole lot easier.

If you’re not the handy type, hiring a local roofing contractor may allow you to get the job done more quickly. Professional roofing contractors appreciate having a small dumpster rental on the property during the roofing project, especially during the tear-off phase when the old roof is torn off to make way for the new one.

Small Haul Containers is the area’s roll-off dumpster rental headquarters. We have containers that vary in size from small dumpster rentals to larger dumpsters that hold up to two tons of trash — literally! It’s easy to rent a dumpster from Small Haul. Just visit our website to check the availability of our containers, and then schedule the size you need online. You’ll receive a confirmation right away and can then move on to focusing on the rest of your roofing project details.

Choosing a residential dumpster rental that’s too small may leave you with excess debris on the job site and no place to put it. You may need to rent a second dumpster, which adds cost to the project. But choosing one that’s too large doesn’t make financial sense, either, because you’re paying for more than you need. Before you lift a shingle, read on for more information on how to choose the right-sized dumpster for your roofing project.

Measure roofing materials by weight. If you check the website of nearly any dumpster rental company, you’ll find that roll-off dumpsters are typically measured in cubic yards. However, measuring roofing materials by cubic yards may get you in trouble. Roofing materials are often quite heavy, especially when taken in bulk quantities. For that reason, keep the weight of your load in mind when determining the size of the dumpster needed for a roofing project.

Another thing to consider is that the house may have more than one roof. It’s quite common for a new roof to be installed over an old one. If this is the case, it’s best to rip off all previous roofing materials and start fresh for the best results.

Know the size of the roof. Before you begin the project, you should estimate the size of the roof. You’ll need this measurement when you buy new roofing materials, but it’ll also be handy when estimating the size of the dumpster you’ll need. Multiply the size of the roof by the approximate weight of the materials you’re tearing off (see the next tip below) to get an idea of how much weight you’re dealing with. Then you can rent a dumpster accordingly.

Know the materials you’re working with. Some roofing materials weigh more than others. Many homes in the Kansas City area have asphalt or wood shake shingles. Asphalt shingles are heavy, especially architectural-style shingles, which are thicker and designed to give the roof a textured appearance. Three-tab asphalt shingles weigh less than architectural shingles. Wood shake shingles weigh the least of all.

Some homes have clay tile or slate roofs. These roofs last a very long time, but they do eventually wear out, and they’re very heavy. If you’re replacing a clay tile or slate roof, you’ll want to carefully calculate the estimated weight of the roof you’re tearing off so you don’t exceed the weight limit of the dumpster. You can calculate the weight for any roofing material by using a roofing weight calculator or referring to this weight of roofing chart.

Know what you’re tearing off. A roof is made of more than shingles. You’ll also have nails, underlayment (also known as felt or tar paper), and, occasionally, flashing that needs to be disposed of. Many homeowners also discover problems with the guttering system once they get into the roofing project. In this case, the old gutters have to go too. All this adds to the load. Make sure you allow for this when choosing a roll-off dumpster rental.

Small Haul Containers specializes in small dumpster rental. Our dumpsters come in various sizes. From our smallest at six cubic yards (holding up to one ton of trash) to our largest at twenty cubic yards (holding up to two tons), you’re sure to find the size you need for your roofing project.

Small Haul takes the work and worry out of waste disposal. When you reserve one of our small dumpster rentals online, we bring it out on the appointed day and set it in the driveway, taking care not to damage the driveway. Once your project is finished and the dumpster is full, give us a call. We’ll come out, pick it up, and haul it away so you can move on to other projects.

Still have questions about how to pick the right dumpster for your roofing project? Visit our website for more information, or pick up the phone and give us a call. We love helping our Kansas City-area neighbors with their home improvement projects — especially when they involve a big mess.

Let us help with the cleanup. You sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor. It’s a win-win for everyone!

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