Oklahoma hail season keeps local roofers busy and homeowners on their insurance company’s hold music. If a new roof is in your future, here’s something nobody tells you up front: old shingles are heavy. Really heavy. Picking the right dumpster for a tear-off is less about space and more about weight.
Why roofing debris is different
Most cleanout junk is bulky but light. A couch takes up a lot of room but doesn’t weigh much. Asphalt shingles are the opposite: compact, dense, and heavier than they look. A pile of shingles can reach a dumpster’s weight allowance long before it reaches the top edge.
That’s why roofing jobs are one of the few times we’ll tell you not to fill the dumpster to the brim.
Which size dumpster for a roof?
- 15 yard dumpster (about 12′ x 5′ x 8′, 1 ton included, starting at $295): a good fit for many single-layer tear-offs on smaller homes, garages and outbuildings. It’s low and easy for a crew to toss shingles into from the roof edge.
- 20 yard dumpster (about 14′ x 6′ x 8′, 2 tons included, starting at $350): better for larger homes, steep or complicated roofs, or jobs with more than one layer of shingles.
The honest answer depends on your roof’s size, how many layers are coming off, and whether there’s rotten decking to replace. Give us a call with the square footage or the number of “squares” from your roofer’s estimate, and we’ll point you to the right size.
Tips for a smooth tear-off
- Place the dumpster close to the house. The shorter the throw, the faster the job, and the fewer shingles end up in your flower beds.
- Protect your driveway. Ask about placement. Plywood under the wheels or a spot on the grass might make sense for your property.
- Spread the load. Toss shingles evenly instead of piling everything in one corner.
- Keep it roofing-only if you can. Mixing in a garage cleanout on the same dumpster can push you over the weight allowance in a hurry.
- Run a magnet over the yard afterward. Roofing nails love to hide in the grass, and your tires (and bare feet) will notice.
What can go in with the shingles
- Asphalt shingles and underlayment
- Old flashing, drip edge and vents
- Damaged decking and plywood
- Gutters, if you’re replacing those too
What can’t go in: tar buckets with liquid in them, solvents, adhesives in liquid form, or anything else on our prohibited items list.
Contractors: let’s talk
If you’re a roofer running multiple jobs around Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Bixby, Jenks or Owasso, ask about our contractor rates. We’re fully insured, show up when we say we will, and won’t leave your customer staring at an empty driveway at 7 a.m.
Get a roofing dumpster on the schedule
Durco Dumpster Rentals is based in Broken Arrow and serves the whole Tulsa metro with up-front pricing and clean dumpsters. Call 918-508-8370 or book online, and we’ll get a dumpster in place before the crew climbs the ladder.
Not sure about size? Our dumpster sizes guide breaks it down, and this post on heavy debris explains weight limits.