Will A Dumpster Damage My Driveway? (Find Out Now!)
Dumpsters are a major part of almost any major home renovation project. This is doubly true in demolition when dumpsters become the final home of shreds of your house. Of course, you don’t want the dumpster to demolish the driveway you have too. So, is that a concern that’s warranted?
When properly placed with protective material, a dumpster will not damage your driveway. However, dumpsters do have steel wheels that can scratch or even crack weaker driveways. To ensure that damage doesn’t occur, add padding underneath the dumpster.
In many cases, a single session with a dumpster can be enough to break a driveway…or at least cause repairs to be done. We can help reduce the chances of that happening by offering up a little info.
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How Likely Is It That My Dumpster Will Harm My Driveway?
It depends on a lot of factors, but the basic gist is that you should treat it as a very real possibility. While it is not certain that you will have damage, a lot of homeowners who don’t take proper precautions end up with some kind of notable damage.
How Bad Can Driveway Damage Get From A Dumpster?
Most of the time, it scratches, dings, or impressions that get pressed into the driveway permanently. Driveway repairs can cost anywhere from $200 to $1,500, so it’s important to prevent damage from happening if at all possible.
What Factors Make Dumpster-Related Damage More Common?
There are several indicators that suggest that your dumpster may damage your home’s driveway. These, in particular, are the most common warning signs:
- Your driveway is already cracked or has proven to be scratch-prone. This is a common issue with older driveways, sadly.
- The driveway is asphalt and it’s hot outside. Hot weather makes the asphalt soften up, increasing the risk of permanent dents. This is especially problematic if you recently laid down asphalt, since you may need to take time to let it settle.
- You recently patched your driveway in the past month. Give it a single month (at least) to settle.
- Your dumpster is heavily slanted in one direction. The area that bears more weight might be at risk of cracking.
- The dumpster in question is very heavy. The heavier the dumpster, the higher the chance of driveway damage will be. It’s just physics. More weight, more pressure.
How To Protect Your Driveway During A Dumpster Rental
A dumpster rental (or just keeping a dumpster on a parking lot) can make a huge difference in the safety of your driveway. These tips will help you make the most of your rental prep.
- Place your dumpster on the most level part of your driveway. If you are on a hill, then you may want to park it on the street if it’s possible. It’s not always doable, but it’s always worth asking. If you can’t put it perfectly level, add extra wood at the bottom since it can help balance out the weight.
- Book your rental during a colder day. Once again, it’s not always possible to do this, but if you can, do it. If you find that your rental has to be on a hot summer day, the best thing you can do is place your dumpster in the shade. Every bit of cold helps.
- Place some thick wooden boards underneath each corner of the dumpster. Some companies actually go so far as to sell or rent out dumpster mats too. The concept behind this is pretty easy to understand. By placing it on top of a board, you make it easier to evenly distribute weight.
What Should You Do If Your Dumpster Harmed Your Driveway?
Honestly, this is something that you should document as soon as you can. Photograph it, and if you can, get witnesses. Once you have the documentation, you can either reach out to the company that placed the dumpster on your property or you can file a claim with your homeowner’s insurance.
In most cases, your homeowner’s insurance company is going to act as your closest ally here. Along with giving you money to fix your driveway, they are often going to be the most effective group for getting the rental company to pay up. As avid advocates for your home, a good insurer can work wonders.
Related Guide: Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Driveway Damage?
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Related Questions
How do I protect my lawn from heavy machinery?
The best way to make sure that your lawn stays intact when heavy machinery is on it is to put pads over the lawn while you place the machinery there. With that said, even pads alone are probably not going to be enough to completely salvage your lawn. It’s best to prep your lawn for laying a new layer of sod after the machinery is gone.
Can you use a car ramp to keep your driveway safe from heavy machinery?
Potentially, you could. However, this is not always a good idea. If you use it, you might end up having uneven distribution of weight from the machinery or dumpster that’s on your driveway. The best thing that you can do is to place plywood underneath the car ramp, if you choose to use this at all.Most people, though, tend to find it easier and safer to stick to plywood. This doesn’t just do better than car ramps for protection. It also happens to be the fastest way to ensure that heavy stuff doesn’t dent your driveway.
How much weight can I safely put on a driveway?
While this can vary from driveway to driveway, it’s safe to say that you should expect to be able to put at least 8,000 pounds on a driveway meant for a single car. As long as the weight is evenly distributed, you should be able to do so without too much of a problem.Though 8,000 pounds is the bare minimum, the truth is that many driveways can hold quite a bit more. Heavy duty driveways can easily hold as much as 10,000 pounds or even more on a single car space.
Ossiana Tepfenhart is an expert writer, focusing on interior design and general home tips. Writing is her life, and it's what she does best. Her interests include art and real estate investments.
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