What comes off a house
A siding tear-off removes more than the siding itself. Expect:
- The siding: vinyl, wood clapboard or shingles, aluminum, steel, fiber cement or older asbestos-cement shingles.
- Trim and accessories: corner posts, J-channel, soffit and fascia if they are replaced too.
- House wrap or old sheathing paper underneath.
- Damaged sheathing: rotted boards or panels discovered once the siding is off.
- Fasteners: nails and staples, often in large numbers.
Siding is sold in “squares” of 100 square feet, like roofing. Your contractor’s estimate lists the number of squares, which is the best starting point for sizing the container.
How each type behaves in a dumpster
Vinyl
Light but bulky. Long panels take up a lot of space unless they are cut or folded. Weight is rarely the limit.
Wood
Heavier than vinyl and full of nails. Old painted wood siding may carry lead-based paint (see below).
Aluminum and steel
Light and valuable as scrap. Many homeowners and contractors take metal siding to a scrap recycler instead of filling the container with it.
Fiber cement
Heavy and dusty when cut or broken. Fiber cement fills a container’s weight allowance faster than vinyl or wood.
Asbestos-cement shingles
Many homes built from the 1920s through the 1970s have asbestos-cement siding shingles – brittle, flat panels, often with a textured surface. These must not be broken up casually or thrown in a regular dumpster (see below).
Which dumpster size?
- Vinyl or wood on a small house (about 15 squares): a 10 to 15 yard container.
- Vinyl or wood on a typical two-story house (about 20–30 squares): a 20 yard container.
- Fiber cement or several layers: size by weight; a 20 yard container with a higher allowance or two hauls.
- Siding plus roof at the same time: 30 yards or separate containers — roofing is heavy. See roof tear-off.
More help: What size dumpster do I need?
Asbestos: test older siding first
If your home has old cement-type shingles or you are unsure what the siding is made of, have it tested before removal. The EPA advises that asbestos-containing material in good condition is best left alone and that suspect material should be sampled and handled by trained, accredited professionals if it will be disturbed. Asbestos siding removal follows specific handling and disposal rules and does not go in a regular roll-off. In some cases, new siding can be installed over intact asbestos-cement siding instead – ask your contractor and check local rules.
Lead-based paint on wood siding
Painted wood siding on homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Under the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, contractors who disturb painted surfaces on pre-1978 homes must be certified and follow lead-safe work practices, including containing paint chips and dust with plastic sheeting on the ground and cleaning up thoroughly. Don’t sand or power-wash old painted siding before removal without lead-safe precautions.
Placement and protection
- Put the container as close to the house as the truck can safely reach, so crews can carry panels a short distance.
- Protect landscaping, AC units and windows with tarps and plywood.
- Use boards under the rails on the driveway. See how to protect your driveway.
- Walk the yard with a magnet sweeper every evening – siding jobs scatter nails.
Timeline
A siding replacement on a typical house often takes one to two weeks. Most debris comes off in the first days as crews strip one side of the house at a time; some contractors strip and re-side section by section to keep the house protected from weather. Ask how the crew works so the container is there when tear-off starts, and plan extra days if damaged sheathing needs repair.
Estimating your siding area
If you don’t have a contractor’s estimate yet, you can make a rough one: measure the length of each wall and multiply by its height, add the triangular gable areas, and subtract large openings like garage doors. Divide by 100 to get squares. A typical two-story house often lands somewhere between 20 and 30 squares, but porches, dormers and complex rooflines change that. Give the provider your estimate and the siding type; they will recommend a size.
Budget checklist
- Container rental and weight allowance, especially for fiber cement.
- Testing of suspect siding in older homes, and professional removal if it contains asbestos.
- Repairs to sheathing, trim and flashing discovered during tear-off.
- Scrap value of aluminum or steel siding, which can offset part of the cost.
- Extra days if weather delays the work.
Who provides the dumpster?
Most siding contractors include tear-off and disposal in their price and bring their own container. Check the contract. If you are ordering the container yourself, coordinate the delivery with the crew’s start date and agree on where it will stand.
Damaged sheathing and hidden rot
Once old siding comes off, crews often find problems that were hidden: rotted sheathing around windows and doors, water damage at the bottom of walls, missing flashing, insect damage or gaps in insulation. Budget time and money for repairs, and expect extra debris – damaged sheathing panels and boards go into the same container. A contractor will usually document and discuss these repairs before closing up the wall.
Common mistakes
- Skipping the asbestos test on old cement-type shingles.
- Ordering by volume only when the siding is fiber cement or there are several layers.
- Putting the container too far away: long carries slow the crew down.
- Forgetting the nails: siding jobs leave nails in lawns and driveways; sweep daily.
- Ignoring neighbors: tear-off debris can blow into neighboring yards on windy days; bag small pieces and load promptly.
Combining siding with other exterior work
Many homeowners replace siding together with windows, gutters or the roof. Combining projects can save on container rental and labor, but the debris adds up quickly: roofing is heavy, and old windows are bulky. Talk to the provider about a larger container, two separate containers, or planned swaps.
Recycling
- Aluminum and steel siding: scrap metal recyclers.
- Vinyl: some areas have vinyl recycling programs for clean offcuts; tear-off vinyl is usually landfilled.
- Clean wood: may be recyclable where C&D recycling facilities exist – not painted or treated wood.
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 the number of squares and the siding type, and they will recommend a container.