Two different jobs
“Basement project” can mean two things, and they produce different debris:
- A cleanout: boxes, old furniture, holiday decorations, tools, paint cans, exercise equipment and everything else that ended up downstairs over the years. Bulky, mostly light, with some items that need special disposal.
- A finishing or remodel project: old paneling, carpet and pad, drop ceilings, framing, drywall, sometimes a bathroom or bar. Moderate weight, and in older homes, materials that need testing first.
Many projects are both: clear the basement, then finish it. Planning the containers for each phase saves money.
Which dumpster size?
- Cleanout of a small or partly used basement: a 10 yard container, or junk removal for a few items.
- Cleanout of a full basement: 15 to 20 yards.
- Tear-out before finishing (paneling, carpet, ceiling tiles, some framing): 10 to 15 yards.
- Full gut including a bathroom and concrete work: 20 yards plus a small container for concrete.
More help: What size dumpster do I need?
Step 1: sort before you haul
- Keep: anything with sentimental or real value – check boxes of papers and photos carefully.
- Sell or donate: furniture, tools, exercise equipment and appliances in working order. Habitat for Humanity ReStores accept furniture, appliances and building materials, and many offer pickup.
- Special disposal: paint, solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, propane tanks, batteries and old electronics. See What can’t you put in a dumpster?
- Container: broken furniture, old carpet, moldy boxes and everything else.
Wet basements and mold
Basements are where water problems show up. If items or materials are wet from a leak, flood or sewer backup:
- The EPA advises drying wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.
- Porous materials that were soaked – carpet pad, upholstered furniture, cardboard, drywall and insulation – are hard to dry and often have to go.
- Wear gloves, eye protection and an N95 respirator when handling moldy materials, and ventilate the space.
- Water from a sewer backup is contaminated; consider professional cleanup.
- Photograph damage before removal for your insurer.
Wet debris is much heavier than dry debris. Tell the provider so the weight allowance fits.
Finishing a basement: what comes out
- Wood paneling: bulky, light; stack flat.
- Carpet and pad: cut into strips and roll. See flooring removal.
- Drop ceilings: ceiling tiles are light but bulky; the metal grid can be recycled.
- Old framing and drywall: moderate weight. See drywall disposal and recycling.
- Old floor tiles: 9-by-9-inch tiles and black mastic in older homes may contain asbestos – test first.
Old materials in older basements
Basements in older homes can hold materials that must not be disturbed without testing: asbestos in old floor tiles, pipe and boiler insulation or duct wrap, and lead-based paint on older walls and trim. The EPA recommends leaving asbestos-containing material in good condition alone and having suspect material tested before a remodel disturbs it. Asbestos waste never goes into a regular dumpster.
Getting debris out of the basement
- Plan the path: basement stairs are often steep and narrow. Protect walls and floors along the route, and remove the door if needed.
- Use a walkout or window well if you have one – a direct exit saves many trips through the house.
- Break down large items: disassemble furniture and cut paneling and carpet into manageable pieces.
- Bag small debris: contractor bags or buckets are easier to carry up stairs.
- Place the container close to the exit you use, with boards under the rails on the driveway.
Radon and moisture before finishing
Before investing in a finished basement, many homeowners test for radon and fix moisture problems – both are easier to address before new walls and floors go in. The debris from waterproofing work, such as concrete from an interior drain trench, is heavy and belongs in a small container.
Dumpster, junk removal or city pickup?
For a few pieces of old furniture, city bulk pickup or junk removal is often enough – in Minneapolis, for example, crews take up to two large items a week with regular garbage, and Kansas City, Missouri offers bulky item appointments. For a packed basement, especially with stairs and many trips, a container in the driveway is usually cheaper and faster, because you load at your own pace. Many people combine both: a container for the bulk, and a junk crew for a piano, a sleeper sofa or a safe that is too heavy to carry safely. Compare the options in dumpster vs. junk removal.
Hauling a finished-basement tear-out in phases
If you clear the basement and then finish it, plan two phases: a container for contents and old finishes, then a second, often smaller container during construction for drywall offcuts, packaging and framing scraps. Your contractor may include the second phase. Keeping the phases separate avoids paying for a container that sits half-empty for weeks.
A weekend plan for a full basement cleanout
- Friday evening: walk through the basement with the family; mark keep, donate, special disposal and container items with colored tape.
- Saturday morning: container delivered; start with the largest, easiest items – broken furniture, old carpet, damaged boxes.
- Saturday afternoon: sort boxes of papers and memorabilia in a well-lit room upstairs, not in the basement.
- Sunday: finish loading, load donations for pickup or drop-off, and collect paint and chemicals for the next household hazardous waste collection.
- Monday: container pickup; sweep and vacuum, and check for signs of moisture now that the walls are visible.
Common mistakes
- Ordering too small: basements usually hold more than people expect. If unsure, ask about the next size up.
- Carrying wet materials through the house: bag them, and use the shortest route out.
- Throwing out papers unchecked: old boxes can contain important documents, photos or valuables.
- Putting paint and chemicals in the container: they need special disposal.
- Ignoring the cause of moisture: if things were wet, fix the water problem before finishing the space.
How our service fits in
Local Dumpster Network is a free referral service. When you call, you are connected with an independent, local dumpster provider that serves your ZIP code. Tell them whether it is a cleanout, a tear-out or both, and whether anything is wet, and they will recommend a size.