Site Preparation and Junk Removal Services and Why You Need Them

When you move, you may actually generate a lot of trash that will surprise you. You'll pick through your things and decide what to keep and what to toss, and the previous owners of your new home may have also left some things behind. Even if you are buying a vacant lot, you may need some debris removed before building. 

A building site needs to be prepared before you can build that dream home or business venture. It's always a wise idea to hire a professional to do this for you since it will probably be easier and faster, not to mention safer. 

Why Hire Someone For Junk Removal? 

DIY teamwork can be fun, but junk removal is a job best left to the pros.

Even in a small garden, you risk injury from things you may dig up, whether it be old tin cans, glass of all sorts, sharp rocks, old asbestos flooring material, and so on. Now imagine this on a large scale, and the challenges of doing site preparation yourself quickly become apparent. 

It's not good to risk your own safety by trying to clear everything yourself, especially if you don’t have the right protective gear or heavy equipment. Inadequate site preparation or incomplete junk removal can lead to construction delays, injuries, and cost overruns, so this is one place where it’s best not to spare any expense.  

A Job For Pros

While it is perfectly possible to do site preparation with a rented pickup and a few friends, this can take a long time and might even cost you more in the long run. Doing this task yourself can take days, if not weeks, depending on the size of the lot that needs to be cleared. 

In addition to clearing everything yourself, it is required that all debris be properly disposed of so they can be recycled into sustainable construction materials. This means you will have to transport all your junk to the right place. You can imagine that means many long trips back and forth between the landfill and the recycling plant. Therefore, a professional is recommended for this type of work.

Site preparation contractors can dispose of junk easily and sustainably.

This also means you will have to do a lot of sorting, as there could be a variety of different trash and debris in the way. It is not at all unusual for a building site to be filled with things such as broken glass, rusty metal, plastic waste, and sharp objects. An old building site will often also have lots of old building materials such as cement blocks, bricks, stone, steel rebar, and possibly even discarded batteries or other chemical hazards. 

Believe it or not, some unsuspecting homeowners have even discovered discarded empty oil tanks in their backyards from the days when homes were heated by oil furnaces. Stuff like that can be costly to remove, but it’s definitely something that you want a group of seasoned professionals to deal with.     

What Site preparation and Junk Removal Experts Can Do

A qualified team knows what to look for and has the safety equipment and heavy-duty tools to get rid of your junk.

When preparing your lot, a professional service can offer you a wide range of very useful services. For instance, some sites may still have old structures on them that will need to be removed. This can quickly turn into a big headache if you try to do things yourself, but hiring some qualified pros will keep things safe and straightforward. 

Even if there is no structure to remove you can still have other obstructions that may be difficult to remove without help. Junk removal services are super helpful for removing any debris from a stripped home, or even from digging. You will of course need to dig holes for foundations, plumbing, and the like. Since all of that debris needs to be removed, site preparation specialists are very useful and take a load off your hands. 

Nature can often also get in the way, and this will require thorough clearing so that weeds, brush, and small trees are not an obstruction. Site preparation specialists are the perfect option for this service because they are trained to be quite thorough. This ensures that all the stuff nature throws your way will be well clear of construction workers and vehicles. 

How Much Do Junk Removal Services Cost? 

Junk removal services typically charge by the truckload, so expect to pay more for bigger loads.

The final cost you pay when everything is said and done the will of course vary depending on where you live, how big your building site is, and how much junk needs to be removed. A good rule of thumb is that a high tonnage of junk to be removed and hauled can significantly increase the cost of junk removal services. 

The national average for junk removal services is around $210 for a single-family-home-sized construction site, and the per foot cubed cost is about $1.50. Junk removal companies typically charge by truckload, although practices vary between companies. Some junk removal services can offer you an onsite upfront quote, while others will only offer an estimate and present the total cost when the job is done. 

Costs can vary a lot, especially if you are dealing with hazardous materials or e-waste.

How The Cost Breaks Down

A heavy-duty vehicle carrying a construction dumpster has an average maximum load of about 450 cubic feet. To give you an idea of how big that is, it’s about four times what a pickup truck can hold in its bed. This translates to an average cost of about $550 per load. If your load is very small, you can expect to pay far less, sometimes as little as $70. It should also be noted that your costs can vary depending on what exact services you need. 

For example, if you need to remove something like e-waste, you will need to find a company that is able to safely handle it. Prices for such specialized services vary widely and, as such, there isn’t a reliable average. It is also worth noting that some trash can of course be removed by your regular municipal garbage service. 

Your garbage collector typically will not collect large items such as refrigerators, stoves, sofas, or air conditioners, although some may offer free junk removal services on specific days. We recommend doing some research on this since you can save a bit of money by getting rid of some trash this way. 

Hiring a Site Preparation Contractor

A general contractor can help you to coordinate junk removal and site preparation.

Before you actually hire a professional building site preparation contractor, be sure to ask them some important questions so you can make the most informed choice. 

Questions to Ask

The best way to determine if the site preparation contractor you are considering is right for you is to ask what kind of waste they can clear. Specifically, can they clear the debris and waste that you need to be cleared? If, for example, you have hazardous materials, you will need a team that offers hazmat removal services. 

You should also ask about their procedures for finding and removing junk as you want pros who are going to be thorough in clearing things out. A good way to determine this is also to ask for references. Previous clients can give you a good idea of what to expect and this can help you to determine if this company is right for you. 

Payment and Contracts

Feel free to also ask for references about safety procedures since this is a pretty important detail. As with other professional services, it’s important to ask about insurance and licensing. Legitimate site preparation contractors must be licensed according to state requirements and must also be insured. A good practice is also to ask for an upfront price if possible. 

When drawing up contracts, keep in mind that you will be responsible for the nitty gritty if you are hiring site preparation contractors yourself. However, it’s worth noting that you don’t have to go it alone if you aren’t comfortable with that. A general contractor can also help out on this front, which is a good reason to have one involved in your site prep construction project. With all these important points in mind, you are equipped with the knowledge that will help you find the best site preparation experts for your needs.