I recently bought an old house that has plaster and wood lath walls and ceilings. I am planning on gutting a few rooms at a time. How do you estimate what size dumpster I should get for all the demolition? Thanks!
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
There are a number of ways to achieve a level foundation and mudsill.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
Imagine how big of a pile all the stuff that it takes to build the size house you're dealing with would be. Then double that and add 30%.
http://grantlogan.net
Who got Bo Diddley's money?
If you are working alone & have never done this before (I assume, or you wouldn't be asking?) get the smallest one & see how you're feeling by the time it's full.
How close to the house can you get the dumpster, 2 story, full time or nights and week ends ?
Keep it locked or you'll be meeting the new neighbors the wrong way.
Joe H
I did this to my home about 2 yrs ago. I found a formula in a book at the time to give an idea of the dumpster size for the sq. ft. of plaster,but I can't find it now.
Just to give you a bit of an idea,I have an 1100 sq ft house,3 bdrm,1 1/2 bath,liv. rm, din. rm,kit. ,8 ft ceilings. I got a 30 yd dumpster and it was more than enough.
In case you've never done it before, put a bunch of cheap box fans in the windows,get a respirator (not paper mask),cover the floors well. After it's all down,separate the plaster from the lath,load the plaster in the dumpster first in an even layer,then neatly stack the lath on top.If you just toss the lath in any old way it'll take up a ton of room opposed to stacking it orderly.
I also covered the dumpster with a blue tarp to help keep the dust in and the rain out. (you're paying for the weight whether it's plaster or rain water) Also used a sono tube as a chute from the second floor which made things easier.
Wish I could find that formula to be more specific . Have fun!
Sizing a Dumpster
tapemeasure and some math....
allow for community dumping...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
You are likely paying the same fee to deliver and pick up a 10 yd, 15, 20 or 30 yd can. Also, actual disposal cost will be based on weight. If this is the case, get the biggest can you can fit on the site. If it goes offsite with air in it, you are not likely paying any more than if you send a full, but smaller unit. Just check with your hauler for the cost details. With rising transportation costs, you may wind up paying more if you undersize and have to have another empty brought onsite.
I have seen the plaster used to put on a rock driveway. Then all you have to dispose of is the lath and nails.
How long ago did you see this? I'd have to imagine the EPA would go ape about all the lead paint on that old plaster.
Its been a few years ago. It was also rural. He burned the wood lath.
The first house we did was right across from city hall in Ferndale. My cheap bus. partner didnt want to waste the dumpster space so he tried to burn the lath.
What a buch of smoke. It took about 5 minutes for the inspector to come over and make him stop. Of course he persisted until they came back again.
Man, I cant believe I ever worked with this guy.
I would get the largest you can for the best price because honestly, every neighbor around is going to bring the trash they have had in the garage for the last 6 months and drop it in when you are not on site.
And yes, I am serious, its gonna happen.
Last job I did had two mattresses show up, an old fish tank and a host of 5 gallon buckets from someone's old paint. At least I pulled the buckets out and used them for mixing stuff on my job. The mattresses were a pain as the hauler charged me a surcharge for them. Damn neighbors!
Dumpster design varies from place to place. In Reno, I would recommend the 20 yard variety, simply because it's the only one with sides low enough to lift things into with any easy.
I'd rather have them empty a dumpster several times, than try to do it all at once. First of all, a 'fear of calling' leads to over-filling ... and that's really expensive. Secondly, the bigger the dumpster, the more likely you'll awake to find every old sofa in town has appeared in it.
I guess it depends on your cost of getting dumpsters, we usually order the largest size available for a job of any decent size. The cost is about the same here as getting a smaller one and paying for an extra change out.
By time you factor in the neighbors putting there trash in it etc. it's just easier to have the larger size available. Worst case senerio we drop trash from other projects before the final pick up.
last time I got a dumpster-over 10 years ago---an ENGINE BLOCK showed up in it overnight.
stephen
We typically use our dump truck and not dumpsters, on plaster and lath guts we typically order a dumpster. The last time we had rolls of carpet show up.
Our dumper is parked at the shop right next to a police station, it still gets extra trash though minimial. I think the cops do a little dumping of there own but I don't think I'll call them out on it unless I explicity catch them ;)
Ya might have a casual conversation with the Chief about the dumpster. Most Chiefs will be helpful. The dumpster problem can get out of hand. You might tell the chief that if someone wants to put a little trash in it you would want them to ask first. Always don't complain. The best way to phrase it is to ASK HIM TO HELP YOU. Don't complain or demand. <G> And tell him disposal costs are very high and his help would be very appreciated.
It's always been very minor and not worth messing with.
Usually something like a TV box will show up, or an old chair etc.
You are lucky. Some dumpster abuse is out of hand. If that is the case a casual meeting wif the Chief would be not a good idea.
Hey! The Cardinals and the Royals are gonna have their series starting this week. There will be a lot of traffic on I-70.
Edited 6/17/2008 1:19 pm ET by larryscabnuts
70 always has a lot of traffic, I'd be rooting for the Cards, spent more time in St Louis then i have in Kansas. Plus the Royals just flat stink
Edited 6/17/2008 6:27 pm ET by CAGIV
Yoooo! Go Cards! I have been a Cardinal fan all my life. I grew up in Central Illinois. Now I live 35 minutes south of Busch Stadium in Missourah.
Edited 6/17/2008 6:57 pm ET by larryscabnuts
i've had some hot face-to-face with people using my dumpster...made them take the stuff out
it's called theft of servicesMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
i've had some hot face-to-face with people using my dumpster...
Do you make anybody you catch taking stuff out put it back in?http://grantlogan.net
Who got Bo Diddley's money?
You got people taking stuff out??'Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it' ~ Chinese proverb
You got people taking stuff out??
I do it all the time. I can't stand to see a clean 5 gal bucket being thrown away. And where do you think I found Mrs. seeyou? I've tried to put her back several times, but she won't stay still 'til the truck comes.http://grantlogan.net
Who got Bo Diddley's money?
one of my older friends was fishing for bass off Kettle Bottom .... hooked into a Block Island girlcut the webs from between her toes... and she's stayed with him ever sinceMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
I got into it with a guy last year in California. Had a 30 yard ($400) in front of my mothers house.
Guy thought he had a right to use it, didn't want to hear "No!" Caught him twice, aholes everywhere out there.
Joe H
I had carpet layers fill my dumpster up. I called the carpet co and they asked me to unload it for them. I politely told them no and they said then they wouldn't pick up the carpet. So I told them I would send them a bill and needed the dumpster unloaded because they were delaying me. And I would send them a bill for any delays. I had me and two workers idle. They were out within the hour to get the old carpet.
Butt holes!
Why are you gutting rooms? Removing a superior product (plaster) and replacing it with an inferior product (drywall)???
Jeff