Deck and fence demolition: sizing the dumpster for the haul

Pulling out a tired deck or a leaning fence is one of those weekend jobs that looks small until the pile hits the driveway. Wood takes up more room than people expect, and pressure-treated lumber soaked from an Alabama summer weighs a lot more than the dry boards you bought years ago. Get the size right up front and you load once, haul once, and move on. Here is how we think about it after hauling a lot of these loads around Huntsville, Madison, and the Shoals.

What deck and fence debris actually weighs

Deck and fence demo is mostly wood, so it fills volume fast but it is not as heavy per cubic yard as roofing or tile. That is the good news. The catch is that most of this lumber is pressure-treated, and pressure-treated wood holds moisture. A deck that has sat through a few North Alabama rainy seasons can weigh noticeably more than the same boards would fresh from the yard.

A few things add up quick on these jobs:

• Deck boards, joists, and beams. The framing lumber under the deck surface is heavier than the decking itself.
• Fence pickets, rails, and posts. Old cedar and pine dry out and stay light, but wet posts add weight.
• Nails, screws, and hardware still in the wood. Fine to leave in, just watch for exposed points when you load.
• Concrete footings if you dig them out. This is the big one, and we cover it below.

If you want a feel for what a full load looks like before you book, we broke it down in what a ton of debris actually looks like in a 15-yard dumpster. Wood is bulky, so you will usually run out of room before you run out of weight, unless concrete is in the mix.

Picking a size for your project

For most residential deck and fence tear-outs, our 15-yard dump trailer is the sweet spot. It comes with 7 days and 1 ton included, and it drops right in a normal driveway so you can throw boards in as you pull them. A standard backyard fence run or a small to mid-size deck fits comfortably in a 15.

Step up to the 20-yard roll-off when the job is bigger. It includes 1.5 tons, with any weight over that billed per ton. Think about the 20 if you are dealing with any of these:

• A large multi-level deck, or a deck plus the railing, stairs, and lattice skirting.
• A long fence line, like a full backyard perimeter or a shared property line on a big lot.
• Deck demo combined with another task, like clearing brush or old landscaping at the same time.
• Concrete footings coming out with the wood, which pushes both volume and weight up.

Not sure which way to go? Our Huntsville project size guide walks through more scenarios, and if you are weighing a trailer against a roll-off, this comparison explains where each one shines. When you are truly on the fence between two sizes, size up. Paying for a little extra room beats paying for a second haul.

Concrete footings and other weight traps

The single biggest thing that changes your dumpster math is concrete. Deck posts and many fence posts are set in concrete footings, and those footings are dense. A handful of them can eat up your included weight fast. If you are digging out footings, plan for the extra tonnage or plan to keep them out of the load.

A couple of practical calls we see homeowners make:

• Leave the footings in the ground if you are not rebuilding on the same spot. Cut the post at grade and cover it with soil.
• If you must remove them, keep concrete separate so you know it is driving your weight, not surprising you at the end.
• Ask us before loading a lot of concrete. Sometimes a separate plan for the heavy stuff is cheaper than one overloaded load.

Also keep an eye out for anything that does not belong in the mix. Old paint cans, deck stain, and treated-wood chemicals are common in this kind of cleanup. Our guide on what can and cannot go in a dumpster covers the items we cannot take so nothing holds up your pickup.

Loading tips that save you a haul

Wood is awkward and it traps air, so how you load it matters as much as what you load. A little effort here can be the difference between one load and two.

• Cut long boards down. Full-length deck boards and fence rails stacked whole leave big gaps. Cutting them to a few feet lets them lay flat and pack tight.
• Break down panels. Do not throw in whole fence sections. Knock them apart so they nest instead of tenting up.
• Load flat, layer by layer. Stack boards level rather than tossing them in crisscrossed, and you will fit far more.
• Save the bulky junk for last. Fill the dense wood first, then top off with railing, lattice, and lighter odds and ends.

Since these trailers sit in your driveway for the duration, take a minute to protect the surface. We put together a quick rundown on prepping your driveway for delivery so you avoid scuffs and cracks. With 7 days on the 15-yard, most folks have plenty of time to demo, load, and clean up without rushing.

Booking your deck or fence haul

We serve Huntsville, Madison, Madison County, Decatur, Athens, and the Shoals, and deck and fence demo is one of the most common jobs we drop for. Tell us roughly how big the deck is or how long the fence run is, whether concrete footings are coming out, and we will point you to the right size.

For current rates, check the pricing page, and when you are ready you can lock in a delivery date on the booking page. If you are still comparing options, the pricing page lays out both sizes so you can match the trailer to your haul.

Frequently asked questions