Protecting Your Driveway
There are multiple questions you may have to ask yourself if you are thinking about renting a roll off dumpster. One important question that often gets overlooked is where a good place is to place a dumpster. Most people think they can place dumpsters anywhere, but they do not understand that these dumpsters are built heavy. They use four corners to hold up the dumpster, just like a table, but those four corners take on a lot of weight, and you do not want that weight to damage any of your property. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that your property will not be damaged by a roll off dumpster.
Find the Right Size.
Before you rent a dumpster, you want to make sure you can find the right size dumpster for your project. The most popular dumpster sizes are 15, 20, 30 and 40 yard dumpsters. Each one will vary in length and hold a certain volume and weight limit. Also, you want to make sure you have enough dumpster for your project. If you fill up your dumpster prematurely, you may need another dumpster, which will be significantly more expensive than just getting a larger dumpster from the start.
Not only do you have to keep in mind how big dumpsters are, you also have to plan out where you are placing them. The area you should be looking for is an area that is somewhat level, some dumpsters can fit into a driveway, while others may be too big. It is important that if you are placing a dumpster on concrete, you have to make sure the concrete is older, and not something that was done recently. It takes a long time for concrete to fully cure, so if it is not fully cured, the concrete may crack, or indent.
Find a Safe Spot.
Additionally, it is important you make sure you are not blocking sidewalks, cars, or even your own garage, just in case you need something. You may have some upset people, or the city knocking on your door. Most cities will not allow you to place a dumpster on the street without securing a permit. So, it is important you talk to the company you are renting from to see if you will need any permits if you are placing the dumpster on private property.
If you decide to place the dumpster on grass or on dirt, chances are it will destroy the grass under it, as well as cause indents into the ground. So if you decide to place it in a grassy or an area full of dirt, make sure it is something that would be okay to do so.
Prevent Damage.
If you are trying to prevent damage from the roll off dumpster, plywood is the cheapest and effective solution. Before the dumpster drop off, it may be wise to head to a home improvement store to pick up some wood to lay down to where the dumpster will go. This will help distribute the pressure of the dumper while it is being loaded, preventing any significant damage to what it is laying on. You want to ensure when you are loading the dumpster, you are loading it in an even manner. If the load is only placed in on side, all the weight will be on one side, and it will push down and may end up breaking the wood. So, when loading your dumpster, try to disburse the weight evenly.
Know your Dumpsters Limits.
It is important you make sure you do not overfill your dumpster. There are weight limits each company has, to ensure your safety, as well as their workers. If the dumpster gets over filled with heavy debris, it may do damage to what it is sitting on. You can avoid this, by understanding the weight limitations on your dumpster.
Additional Tips.
Also, you can use the planks of plywood to lay on the floor to create a path to the dumpster. This will help especially if you are on soft grass, sand, or dirt, and you are pushing or pulling something to the dumpster.
If you are able to fill the dumpster with liquid, which may be rare, you want to make sure the liquid is able to stay within the dumpster. You want to avoid any leaks, because any leaks may stain or damage your driveway or grass. Keep liquids in their containers, and ensure they are not leaking. Even water will rust the dumpster, weakening its structure. If you are concerned about any leaks, you can place a tarp onto your driveway to prevent any stains.
If you have light debris in your dumpster it may easily fly out with a gust of wind. If you do not wish to have trash flying around onto your property, you can use tarps to ensure that any debris stay within the dumpster. It not a good feeling when you wake up in the morning to see all your debris scattered on your property.
Renting dumpsters may seem like a difficult process, but it can be a good experience if you know what to expect and if you are prepared. It is important to prepare before a dumpster arrives, so that you can reduce the chances of any damage, and any repair after the dumpster has been hauled away.