Dumpsters for Water, Fire and Storm Restoration
Restoration jobs move on the insurer's clock and the material is heavier than it looks. Tell us the deadline when you call, and we size the box to the weight.
We run out of Lemont, our own trucks, and the people who answer the phone are the people who dispatch them.
The short answer
Water-damaged drywall, carpet, flooring and insulation are heavy for their volume, so a restoration load is a tonnage question first: 3 tons in the 12 yard, 4 in the 16 and 20. Most tear-outs after a flood or a fire land on the 12 to 20 yard, and a whole-floor job is often two containers or a switch-out. We run our own trucks from our own yard, so the delivery date is decided on the phone by the person who dispatches them.
Wet material weighs more
Dry drywall and carpet are volume; the same material soaked is weight. That is why a restoration crew that sizes by the pile ends up over the limit. Tell us what is coming out and roughly how much of it is wet, and we size against the tonnage rather than the floor area. Concrete, brick and dirt still go in the 6 yard and only the 6 yard.
Fast delivery, more than one box
Same day delivery is possible when the route allows, and two containers on a job or a switch-out when the first fills are both routine. Call for the switch-out when the box is about three quarters full so the fresh one is there before the crew stops.
What goes in
Drywall, carpet, flooring, insulation, cabinets, trim and household contents all go in the same container, wet or dry. Not accepted: free liquids, hazardous or flammable material including oil, gasoline and paint that has not fully hardened, tires, and food waste. Contractor sizing, weight limits and the concrete rule are on the contractor page.
Container sizes and what each one carries
| Size | Dimensions | Weight limit | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 yard | 12' x 5' x 3' | filled level full | The only container rated for concrete, brick or dirt. Fits one driveway lane. |
| 10 yard | 12' x 7' x 3.5' | 2 tons | Single-room remodels, garage clean outs, small tear-offs. Same driveway footprint as the 12 yard with a lower wall. |
| 12 yard | 12' x 7' x 4' | 3 tons | Bathroom remodels, garage and basement cleanouts, deck tear-offs. |
| 16 yard | 14' x 7' x 5' | 4 tons | Large household cleanouts with bulky furniture, bigger remodels. |
| 20 yard | 18' x 8' x 4.5' | 4 tons | New construction, full-home cleanouts, larger commercial jobs. |
| 30 yard | 18' x 8' x 6.5' | 5 tons | New builds and commercial jobs with high-volume, lighter debris. |
Answer four questions and you will have a size in about a minute.
Dumpsters for Water, Fire and Storm Restoration: common questions
What size dumpster do I need for a water damage tear-out?
Most water and fire tear-outs land on the 12 to 20 yard, sized to the weight: 3 tons in the 12 yard, 4 in the 16 and 20. Wet drywall and carpet are heavy, so tell us how much is wet and we size it on that call.
How fast can you deliver to a restoration job?
Same day is possible when the route allows. Call with the address and the deadline and you get a yes or no on that call from the person who dispatches the trucks.
Can wet drywall and carpet go in the dumpster?
Yes. Drywall, carpet, flooring and insulation are accepted wet or dry. Free liquids are not, so nothing is pumped or poured into the container.
Can I get a second container or a switch-out?
Yes. Two containers on the job from the start, or a switch-out when the first fills, both at the rate for that container. Call when the box is about three quarters full.
How much does a restoration dumpster cost?
We quote every job on the phone, because the price depends on the size, the town and what you are throwing away. How the price is built: one flat rate however long you keep it, a week plus a three day grace period, ten days maximum, and the same rate whether you fill it the first afternoon or keep it the full ten days. Weight is included up to the container's limit, 3 tons in the 12 yard, 4 tons in the 16 and 20, 5 tons in the 30. The 6 yard is rated to be filled level full, which is what makes it the container for concrete, brick and dirt. Mattresses are $25 each. Tell us the town, what is going in it, roughly how big the job is and the date you need it, and we will price it on that call.
