Turn standard roll-off container into a Debris Monster!
Every day demolition contractors endure filthy work conditions. They clean up and haul away heavy construction debris, so construction crews can build beautiful structures.
Demolition contractors are always trying to find equipment that can handle heavy pieces of steel, concrete and dirt material without breaking. A super-solid, heavy-duty roll-off container built to last is one of the most primary pieces of equipment a demolition company relies on. Every piece of debris goes in and out of a roll-off container when it’s moved from the jobsite to the landfill or recycling station.
Where do you get a demolition roll-off container? What features should you look for to identify a roll-off container built to take what a demolition contractor dishes out?
You should start by being familiar with standard roll-off container specifications. Most roll-off manufacturers build roll-off containers strong enough to handle what the majority of their customers need to haul. So the standard specifications fit these type customers. Demolition contractors will need stronger specifications. Here is a list of roll-off container specifications a demolition company should consider changing:
1. Buy a rectangle style of roll-off container: Rectangles are structurally stronger than a Tub-Style container because they are square, but also because they usually have ridges in the sides and they have reinforcing structural uprights to keep it’s shape.
2. Increase the steel thickness on the sides and floors from 12 or 10 gauge to 7 gauge (3/16” Plate is very similar in steel thickness to 7 gauge steel. Terminology is sometimes used interchangeably, although technically different): If you are dropping large, heavy pieces of concrete and metal material into a container, you will need thicker steel so you roll-off container doesn’t become pitted or pierced.
3. Decrease the amount of space in between the structural uprights. Instead of 24” on center, make it 18”): This will help maintain the roll-off container’s shape when it’s filled with heavy material.
4. Make sure tubing is used on the top banding and not channel: The top of a demolition roll-off container takes a lot of abuse from material being dropped into it. Stronger “tubing,” prevents damage from construction material or even heavy equipment dropping buckets on top of the container’s edges.
5. Put a triangular piece of steel along to top of the container (also known as a Dirt Shredder): Buy adding a triangular piece of steel to the top tubing of your demolition roll-off container, you are sort of adding a steel bumper to the top edges and this will prevent dirt from accumulating on the top edges of the container. Hence the name (dirt shredder).
So by making these changes to the standard specifications of your typical roll-off container, you can create a “Debris Monster.” Most of a roll-off container’s costs is in the steel and the labor. Increasing steel thickness only really increases the steel costs and not the labor, so as you will likely see only a small increase in price over a standard container.
Hambicki’s specializes in building roll-off containers to handle construction and demolition debris. In addition to demolition companies buying their containers from Hambicki’s, roofing and concrete contractors also buy heavy-duty roll-off containers.