When most people plan to get a new roof, they don't realize that most roofers won't handle the disposal of their current roof. The contractor will rip off the old shingles to prep the roof for new materials, but you'll have to get rid of those shingles yourself.
You can try loading it all up into a truck and making a few trips to the dump, but renting a dumpster instead will be much easier; shingle weight will be real tough on your vehicle if you run the shingles to the landfill yourself. You'll need to estimate the weight of the old shingles so you can get a dumpster that's the right size.
The best way to estimate the weight of your old shingles is by figuring out how many bundles were laid onto your roof. You can calculate the bundle amount by using your roof's square footage. Each bundle is 33 square feet; if your roof is 1200 square feet, that means you have 36 bundles of shingles. The weight of each bundle depends on the type of shingles that you have. Here's a breakdown of some common roofing materials:
Perhaps you don't know how many square feet your roof is. If your current roof uses an uncommon roofing material or you would like to be as specific as possible, you may need to ask the roofer who initially completed your roofing project or have your current contractor perform an estimate. Speaking to your contractor will help get an understanding of how many square feet you're looking to work with. Some shingles, such as asphalt, are often laid in layers to add additional resistance to the wind and rain, so make sure you count each layer when calculating the weight of your old tiles.
Of course, online you can find a shingle weight calculator that are super helpful!
A roofing square is 100 square feet. For those asking themselves, "how many shingles do I need?", typically there are 3 bundles of shingles in a square. When you purchase enough shingles to cover a square, you'll need 3 bundles of shingles.
A bundle of shingles covers 33 square feet of roof.
You may often hear contractors or reno veterans speaking of “shingles in a square”. This just means the total number of shingles that are required to fill a square which is 100 square feet. One square is usually three roofing shingles, which means your entire roof will be taking many shingles. You’ll be able to use this information to figure out how many bundles you’ll need (roughly 15-29 shingles per bundle).
You’ll be able to find them at your local home hardware store such as The Home Depot. You’ll even be able to purchase hip and ridge shingles, which are the ones that lie on top of the roofs horizontal lines between two sloping planes.
Once you know how many square feet your roof is and the weight of its materials, you should contact a local company to secure a dumpster rental for shingle disposal. Part of what makes renting a dumpster a convenient option is that the company will deliver the bin at a scheduled day and time, place it close to the home to make disposing of the shingles easy, and pick it up when scheduled to allow the roofing crew to start work on your new roof with minimal disruptions. Designed to carry heavy loads (such as old couches), you can be sure the heavy shingles can be hauled away.
Because you've already calculated your roof's square footage, you'll use that to calculate the size of the dumpster you'll need. You won't need to put your shingles in a bundle, you can just drop them right in. Dumpsters are designed to hold specific tonnages, so you should give your dumpster provider the estimated weight to get a bin that can safely handle the weight of your shingles.
For years, Bin There Dump That has helped homeowners and roofing contractors safely and conveniently dispose of many bundles of shingles, construction materials, and more with our reliable dumpster rental services. With locally-owned and operated locations across the country, we offer each customer friendly, reliable service and a quick rental process that lets you get your rental dumpster within 24 hours and sometimes that same day. To schedule a dumpster rental for your next project, find an operator in your area today.
Friendly, professional customer service, plus fair pricing, equals value.
