Nothing generates debris faster than demo day on a kitchen. A room that took twenty years to fill empties into a dumpster in one Saturday, and the pile is always bigger than the kitchen looked. If you've got a remodel coming this summer, here's how to set up the dumpster side of it so demo day goes clean.
Two Kinds of Debris, One Can
Kitchen demo makes two different piles at once. The bulky pile: cabinets, countertops, the pantry shelving, maybe an island. And the dense pile: tile, backer board, plaster if the house is older, flooring layers going back decades. The bulky stuff eats space; the dense stuff eats your weight allowance.
That split is exactly the 15-versus-20-yard decision. Both include 3 tons. The 15 at $440 is right when the demo is mostly heavy material in a smaller kitchen. The 20-yard at $469 buys another foot of wall height, and for a full kitchen gut with cabinets and counters, that extra volume is usually worth the $29. When a job sits between sizes, take the bigger one; running out of room on demo day costs more than the difference.
Time the Can to the Swing of the Hammer
Remodels run on the 14-day rental more than any other length. Demo fills most of the can the first weekend, then the rest trickles in for two weeks as the old sink finally comes out and the surprise subfloor patch happens. The 14-day rate on a 20-yard is $555, and it saves the mid-project scramble of extending a short rental twice.
Have the can arrive the day before demo, not the morning of. You'll want it sitting there when the first cabinet comes off the wall, and delivery timing is easiest when it isn't racing your crew.
Stage the Driveway Like You Mean It
The can will live with you for two weeks, so place it thoughtfully. Favor one side of the driveway so a car still clears. Ask for boards under the rails if the concrete matters to you. And load through the swing door for the heavy first wave, walking debris in flat instead of heaving it over the wall. Your back will notice the difference by noon.
Appliances deserve their own plan: the old range and fridge go beside the can, not in it, and we haul them for $25 each on a separate truck. Tile note for older Greenwood houses: mortar-bed tile runs shockingly heavy, so if your kitchen floor is original, mention it when you call (864) 871-4290 and we'll do the weight math before you order.
Demo day is the most satisfying day of a remodel when the logistics are set, and the most chaotic when they're not. One can, placed right, sized honestly. That's the whole trick.