Once you have hired a dumpster rental service, it is a good idea to prepare the area where the truck will arrive to unload the dumpster. Being prepared beforehand can save you time and effort when the driver arrives at your destination, ensuring that the entire process is completed smoothly.
It is easy to prepare your location for a dumpster drop-off. The preparation process begins from the booking of the dumpster, which you can either perform online or by contacting the company via phone. When you are discussing the dumpster details with a customer representative of the company, ask them if your current placement location is feasible or not.
Here are some locations where you can’t place a dumpster:
- Don’t place the dumpster on any city street, unless you have secured a dumpster permit.
- Avoid sandy or soft surfaces. Often, dumpster trucks get stuck on these surfaces.
- You cannot lay down the dumpster on a steep hill or it will move or shift.
These examples should help you understand the significance of determining dumpster placements at the beginning of the process.
What Location Do You Need to Place a Dumpster?
For the best result, look for a hard and flat surface—it works the best. This may be an asphalt or concrete driveway, street, parking lot, or hard-packed dirt.
If you don’t have ideal conditions at your disposal, let your dumpster rental company know so that they can plan accordingly. You can place the dumpster on softer surfaces. All you need to do is to finish the relevant preparation on time. For instance, you may have to lay down plywood or other solutions on the ground. This method is used to provide compensation for the existing, undesirable placement conditions.
Free the Drop-Off Site from Unwanted Objects
In order to prepare for the dumpster company’s arrival, make sure to facilitate the truck driver by removing unwanted objects from their way. Get rid of your kids’ toys, your car, fences, etc., that may intercept the drop-off zone.
Also, make sure that there are no hanging objects, such as tree branches, and wires in the drop-off area. On average, a dumpster truck requires around 23 feet of vertical clearance, based on the container size.
In most cases, a dumpster rental company sends a roll-off truck. Such a truck requires some room to unload the dumpster. Therefore, it is necessary to clear off the drop-off location or the driveway.
Also, you must keep these factors in mind:
- Your placement location should be more than 10.5 feet wide.
- Dumpster trucks need 60 feet of room in a straight line.
- In case the truck is expected to cross over the property of your neighbor, you need to get their permission to avoid any mishap.
Manage Damage Done by the Dumpster Load
After clearing out all the unwanted objects, use cones or any similar object to highlight the drop-off location.
Another useful tip that can minimize the damage inflicted on the surface of the parking lot, street, or driveway, is to position boards under the contact points—where the dumpster will sit on the ground.
A lot of dumpster rental providers employ various methods to shield your residential or commercial property from damage. Therefore, ask about these techniques and methods when you contact a company for renting a dumpster.
You can set boards or plywood underneath the dumpster, which can reduce the likelihood of damage to your asphalt or concrete driveway. Generally, the weight of heavy load puts great strain on asphalt or concrete structures, resulting in damage. Hence, make sure that you place the plywood at the placement area for the dumpster, before the driver reaches your destination.
Keep in mind that by placing the plywood under the dumpster, you will be shifting the risk of damage from the concrete/asphalt to the plywood. The weight of the dumpster might crush the plywood. But, it can be overlooked since you will get to save your driveway from damage.
However, remember that in most cases, dumpsters don’t cause any damage to drop-off sites. You only need to exercise caution when you are handling a heavy load.
Be careful when loading roofing shingles, dirt, concrete, and other types of heavy debris. Pay special attention to the weight limit and keep it below the dumpster’s specified limit.
Wrap Up
In a nutshell, keep the following suggestions in mind:
- While renting a dumpster, provide details of your placement location to the dumpster rental company. A reliable company will inform you of restrictions and provide tips on how to prepare your drop-off location for a dumpster. If you have a heavy load, don’t forget to ask them if they will put boards beneath the dumpster.
- Take out all the obstructions from the drop-off area of the dumpster and clear out the path where the truck will maneuver to unload the dumpster on your property.
- If you are concerned regarding driveway damage, place plywood on soft surfaces. Although your dumpster rental provider may perform this step by themselves, it is better to be prepared in case they don’t extend such assistance.
Do you have a lot of debris? Are you looking to rent a dumpster for the first time? Get in touch with us if you plan to rent a dumpster in Michigan. Our experts will make sure that you can prepare your drop-off location with minimal effort. They will do most of the work for your convenience and complete the process in a jiffy!