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How to Get Rid of Old Shingles After a Roof Tear-Off
The simplest way to get rid of old shingles is a roll-off dumpster set in the driveway before the tear-off. If your bundles weigh 80 lb, one square of shingles weighs 240 lb, so a 25-square, one-layer roof is about 3 tons, which fits the 3 tons included with a 20-yard.
Why can't shingles go out with the trash?
Shingles are too heavy and too many for residential curbside service. A 25-square roof produces about 6,000 lb of shingles alone, plus felt and nails. Curbside programs limit bulk items by size and count, so roofers and homeowners use a dumpster.
- City-wide trash collection in Pearland is contracted to Frontier Waste Solutions. Source
- FRANCHISE ALERT: Frontier Waste Solutions replaced Waste Management effective Oct 1, 2021 under a city-wide franchise covering all solid waste hauling within city limits, which the city describes as 'trash, recycling, and roll-offs'. Frontier's prices include a 15% franchise fee. Independent roll-off haulers should confirm with the city (Environmental Services 281-652-1900) before serving addresses inside city limits. Source
How big a dumpster for my shingles?
Count squares, then layers. One layer up to about 25 squares fits a 20-yard. Up to about 15 squares fits a 15-yard. Two layers double the weight, so a two-layer roof of 16 squares needs the 30-yard with 4 tons. Check your bundle weight on the wrapper.
Full table: roofing dumpster sizes by squares.
How do I keep shingles off the lawn?
Set the dumpster as close to the roof edge as the driveway allows and run a tarp from the eave into the box. Our drivers lay boards under the rails, and nobody needs to be home when it arrives. Above 20 ft drops, OSHA requires an enclosed chute.
Rule: OSHA 29 CFR 1926.252(a).
How long does a roofing dumpster stay?
A roofing dumpster stays 7 days, which covers most tear-offs with time to spare. If rain pushes the job back, each extra day is $25. When the roof needs a second load, call for a swap so the crew never runs out of room.
Compare sizes on the 20-yard dumpster and 30-yard dumpster pages.
What else goes in with the shingles?
Felt underlayment, nails, flashing, drip edge and old decking all go in the same roofing dumpster. They add weight, so leave a margin under the included tons. Tar buckets with wet product, solvents and batteries do not go in.
Full list: what you can put in a dumpster. Weight rules: how dumpster weight is billed.
Next step: Roofing dumpster rental by roof size.