A roof tear-off or a remodel needs a dumpster sized for weight as well as space, set where debris can drop or be wheeled straight into it. In a home built before 1978, lead paint and asbestos are worth checking before demolition starts, because both change how the debris is handled.
Shingles are heavier than they look
Old asphalt shingles come off in layers, and a roof with two or three layers makes a surprising amount of heavy debris. Shingles, along with plaster, tile, drywall and dirt, are dense, so a container reaches its weight limit long before it looks full. Greenville County's residential rate sheet groups shingles with sheetrock and dirt as dense construction debris for that reason. Tell the hauler how many layers are coming off and roughly how big the roof is, so the container matches the job. Ordinary town trash is no help here: Tryon's regular pickup, for one, excludes shingles.
Put the container where the debris falls
For a roof, the container goes as close to the eave as the truck can place it, so crews can drop shingles straight in or slide them down a chute. Tarp the beds and shrubs between the wall and the container. Shingle nails go everywhere, so plan a rolling magnet sweep of the lawn and drive afterwards. For an interior remodel, pick the spot nearest the door you will carry through, with a clear, level path for a wheelbarrow or hand truck. A spot that suits the truck but is around the far side of the house costs hours of carrying.
Older homes: lead paint
The EPA's renovation rule covers homes, child care facilities and preschools built before 1978. Anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in those buildings has to hold EPA lead-safe certification, and that includes small firms and sole operators. Homeowners working on their own home are generally not covered, unless the home is rented out, used for child care or being flipped. Either way, scraping, sanding or tearing out old painted trim and siding makes lead dust. EPA's advice to do-it-yourselfers is to use lead-safe work practices: contain the area, keep dust down and clean up thoroughly.
Older homes: asbestos
The EPA says to have a home inspected by a trained asbestos professional before a remodel that may disturb building materials, because you cannot tell whether something contains asbestos by looking at it, unless it is labeled. EPA also warns never to use a power stripper on flooring that may contain asbestos. Old floor tile, pipe and furnace insulation and some ceiling and wall materials are the usual questions. If testing finds asbestos, removal is a job for trained professionals and the material is handled under its own rules, not tossed into the roll-off with everything else.
Keep the load to what belongs in it
A remodel container is for building debris: drywall, trim, cabinets, flooring, tile, fixtures, lumber, roofing and the packaging new materials arrive in. Paint cans with paint still in them, solvents, adhesives and caulk tubes in quantity, and anything that leaks belong elsewhere. So do old appliances, which need their refrigerant recovered; see what you can put in a dumpster. Scrap metal such as old ductwork, flashing and copper is worth keeping separate if you want to recycle it. In North Carolina, none of it can be burned on site, since the state's air quality rules forbid burning construction materials.
Time the delivery to the work
Have the container in place before tear-off or demolition day, not after the pile is already on the lawn. A roof usually goes in one push, so one container may be enough, while a remodel produces debris in waves: demolition first, then offcuts and packaging as the new work goes in. If the first container fills during demolition, plan the swap for before the next big day. Keep a tarp over the load in rain, because wet drywall and insulation get heavier, and keep the container covered at night if wind can lift loose paper and insulation out of it.
Common Questions
Can roofing shingles go in a roll-off dumpster?
Usually yes, but tell the hauler first and say how many layers. Shingles are dense, so a container reaches its weight limit quickly, and some counties send shingles to particular sites. Greenville County, for example, says shingles must be disposed of at its Twin Chimneys Landfill.
Do I need to test for lead paint before a remodel?
If the house was built before 1978 and the work will disturb paint, it is wise. Contractors paid for that work need EPA lead-safe certification and must follow lead-safe practices. Homeowners working on their own home are generally exempt, but EPA still urges lead-safe practices to protect the family.
Where should the dumpster go for a roof tear-off?
As close under the eave as the truck can place it, on a firm, level surface with open air above, so shingles drop straight in. Tarp plants along the wall, keep it off the septic area, and plan a magnet sweep for nails when the job is done.
What to Do Next
Roof or remodel coming up? Tell Jordan the size of the job and what is coming out, with your town, and he will say how to set up the roll-off. Call (828) 574-4474. Getting the spot ready is covered in how to get ready for a dumpster delivery.