Roof Tear-Off Containers
Shingles are denser than almost anyone expects, and a lot of roofs in this county are carrying a second layer. Both facts decide the container.
(607) 247-9634Tell us the squares and the layersSquares, then layers
A roofing square is a hundred square feet of roof surface. Everything about sizing a tear-off container comes from two numbers: how many squares, and how many layers of shingle are on them.
| Roof | One layer | Two layers |
|---|---|---|
| Small house or garage, up to 15 squares | 10 yard | 15 yard |
| Average Jackson house, 20–25 squares | 15 yard | 20 yard |
| Larger house, 30–35 squares | 20 yard | 20 yard plus a swap |
| Complex or multi-section roof, 40+ squares | 20 yard plus a swap | Two containers |
Those are shingle-only numbers. If the decking is coming off too, add roughly a third. If there is cedar shake under the asphalt — which turns up on older houses in Jackson, Concord and Manchester — that is a different job again, and worth a phone call before you commit to a size.
You often do not know until the first square comes up
For decades it was normal practice in this part of Michigan to lay a new layer of shingle straight over the old one rather than tear off. It was faster, and the code allowed it. The result is that a meaningful share of the houses we deliver to are carrying two layers, and on a few, three.
You frequently cannot tell from the ground. The giveaway is a thick, slightly lumpy edge at the eaves and rake, and a roofline that looks heavier than it should. If you are unsure, assume two and tell us so — it is far easier for us to plan a swap you turn out not to need than to find you a container at two in the afternoon with the roof open and rain on the way.
That last point is the real one. A tear-off is the one job where you genuinely cannot stop halfway. Size for the layers you might find, not the layers you hope for.
Where to put it for a tear-off
- Tight against the eave you are working Every foot of distance is shingle carried by hand or thrown further than it should be. On a tear-off, placement is a labour decision.
- One side, then move On a multi-section roof it is usually worth a mid-job reposition rather than working the whole roof from one corner. Tell us if you want that planned.
- Protect what is underneath Boards under the container as standard, and think about the landscaping and the gutters in the throw line.
- Mind the overhead The container needs roughly 23 feet of clearance to come off the truck — and so does the loaded one coming back on. Branches over the drive are the usual obstacle.
- Keep the drive useable if you can A tear-off is a one or two day job but a blocked drive for two days is worth thinking about before the truck arrives.
Timing a tear-off here
The practical roofing window in Jackson County runs from roughly late April to mid-October, and the shoulders are genuinely risky. Asphalt shingle needs temperature to seal properly, and a roof opened in a Michigan November can stay unsealed for weeks.
That compresses everyone's season into the same five months, which is why tear-off containers are the hardest thing to get at short notice in August and September. If your job has a fixed date in that window, book the container when you book the crew, not the week before.
Storm work is the exception and we treat it as one. After a hail or wind event across the county the call volume goes vertical for about ten days. If you are dealing with storm damage, say so — it changes how we schedule.
What people ask when they call
How do I work out my squares?
Roof footprint area divided by a hundred, then add for pitch — a steep roof has more surface than its footprint. Your roofer will have the number; if you are doing it yourself, measure the footprint and tell us the pitch.
Can shingles go in with other debris?
They can, but it is usually better not to. Shingles are dense enough that mixing them with bulky material wastes the volume you were careful about when sizing.
What if there turns out to be a third layer?
Ring us the moment you know. A swap on the same day is often possible, and a tear-off is not a job you can leave half finished.
Does the old decking go in the same container?
Yes, and add roughly a third to the size if decking is coming off. Wet or rotten decking is much heavier than sound plywood.
Can you deliver before 7am for a crew start?
Ask. Early delivery is often workable if it is arranged in advance, and roofing crews here start early in summer for good reason.
There is cedar shake under my asphalt.
Then the volume roughly doubles and the material behaves differently. Call and describe it rather than working off the table above.
Tearing off a roof in Jackson County?
Squares and layers is all we need to size it. If you are not sure on layers, say so and we will plan for both.
(607) 247-9634Mon–Sat 7am–5pmWorth reading before you book
