Planning timeline
- Planning: Scope the demo honestly: rooms, materials, and heavy stuff
- 1 week out: Book delivery for demo-day morning — not before
- Demo weekend: Dense debris first and level; bulky material on top
- Mid-project: Extend by phone if the weekends stretch — $10/day
- Wrap: Pickup call; garage stays a garage, not a debris barn
Safety reminders
- Score-and-snap drywall beats sledgehammer chaos
- Check for wiring and plumbing before opening any wall
- Pre-1980 house? Test suspect materials before disturbing them
- Respirator for demo dust — the cheap masks don't cut it
Dumpster sizing
One-room DIY projects fit a 15; kitchen-scale or multi-room work runs a 20. Both share the 16-foot driveway footprint, so the can and your truck coexist. Not sure? Take the 60-second size quiz or see the full comparison chart.
Tips from the pros
- Demo everything first, then load once — touch debris one time
- The rear swing doors turn heavy carries into dolly rolls
- Tile, plaster, and mortar are the weight traps — mention them at booking
- Renting Friday-to-Monday matches the 3-day window perfectly
Recycling suggestions
- Doors, trim, and fixtures: restore stores buy renovation salvage
- Copper and metal: the scrap pile pays for pizza night
- Leftover new materials: return them — receipts are money
Common mistakes to avoid
- Storing demo debris in the garage for a can 'next month'
- Overfilling above the rail and failing the tarp check
- Underestimating tile weight (everyone does, once)
- Booking the can for a week the project isn't ready