Updated March 7, 2024
When it comes to return on investment (ROI) for home improvement projects, bathroom remodels are near the top of the list.
According to Zillow, a mid-range bathroom remodel averages a 70.1% ROI nationwide. This means that spending $10,000 on a new toilet, shower, floors, and fixtures can return $7,100 in value.
A key component of any type of remodeling project is making debris disposal arrangements before the work begins. Maintaining a clean work space is important to ensure safe working conditions for both the people performing the remodel and those living in the home while renovations take place.
In this guide, we'll discuss the different types of bathroom remodels that produce debris and the options available to manage it.
Jump to:
- Popular Bathroom Remodel Projects
- How to Manage Bathroom Remodel Debris
- Compare Debris Management Services
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Popular Bathroom Remodel Projects
While a complete bathroom demolition and renovation is the way to go if you want to start with a clean slate, it will also produce the most waste and cost the most upfront.
Small, relatively inexpensive updates can provide maximum ROI and a much smaller disposal solution.
Inexpensive Bathroom Remodel Projects:
- Install new tall, elongated toilet
- Upgrade lighting fixtures and bulbs
- Repair or replace bathroom fan as needed
- Caulk and seal around sinks, countertop, and shower
- Update the cabinet hardware, shower head, and handles
- Apply fresh paint to the walls and/or the cabinets
Getting rid of an old toilet or ceiling fan can usually be accomplished with curbside pickup from your weekly trash service, or the minimum fee for single-item removals by junk removal companies.
Spending more time and money to replace the flooring, upgrade the shower, or install a new vanity can also pay off in terms of ROI. Major upgrades have a lower ROI, though you will still likely get your money back.
Major updates would include tearing down wall(s) to expand the bathroom, rerouting the plumbing, and complete demolition/remodel.
A bathroom renovation is a phenomenal way to boost the value of your home and make it more functional and comfortable for you.
You really can’t go wrong when updating your bathroom. Whether spending a few hundred dollars or several thousand, you’re likely to get all that money—and then some—back in terms of value.
Larger renovations will require larger debris disposal solutions, and renting a dumpster or acquiring junk removal services are a great way to manage waste.
Keep reading:
- How to Dispose of Tile and Other Bathroom Debris
- 4 Tips You Should Know Before Starting Your Bathroom Remodel
- Get the Best Price for Renovation Debris Removal
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How to Manage Bathroom Remodel Debris
Managing the debris produced during a bathroom remodel project is key to maintaining a safe work site and a clean home, which is especially important if you're living in the home while the bathroom remodel takes place. Let's take a closer look at some of the most popular ways to manage debris...
Dumpster Rental
To contain the resulting debris of a bathroom remodel project, we recommend utilizing a dumpster.
Dumpsters are relatively inexpensive and allow you to keep your site clean as you go.
Choosing the right size dumpster for a bathroom renovation project comes down to two main factors:
- Materials being disposed
- Size of bathroom
For an average-size bathroom remodel, a 10 or 20 yard dumpster makes the most sense.
A 10 yard dumpster will likely be adequate for small projects that involve toilet removal, vanity removal, flooring demo, and fixture removal, and cost around $250-$450 on average for a 5 or 7-day rental period. 10 yard dumpsters can typically contain around 3 truckloads worth of debris and have an average weight limit of 4,000-6,000 lbs.
A 20 yard dumpster may be necessary for larger bathroom demolitions that include wall removal, disposal of large shower units, or removal of large two-sink vanities, and cost around $350-$550 on average for a 5 or 7-day rental period. 20 yard dumpsters can typically contain around 6 truckloads worth of debris and have an average weight limit of 6,000-10,000 lbs.
Keep in mind that these are average costs throughout the U.S. and the exact price you'll pay for a similar size container will depend on where you're located, the cost of living in your area, landfill fees near you, the amount of waste you have, the type of waste you have, how long you rent the dumpster, who you hire, and more.
Most dumpster rental companies include 5 or 7-day rental periods in their price, but some companies offer single-day rentals, 3-day rentals, or even extended rental periods of multiple weeks for large, ongoing projects.
When renting a dumpster for a bathroom renovation, be sure to measure shower units and vanities (length, width, and height) to ensure they will fit inside your chosen dumpster size.
We recommend getting at least 2-3 quotes from different dumpster rental providers in your area to ensure you get the best price for the dumpster size you need, when you need it.
Learn more:
- DIY Debris Removal vs. Professional Services: Making the Right Choice
- How to Manage Remodel Debris and Dust
- Dumpster Rental vs Junk Removal for Construction Debris Cleanups
Get free dumpster rental quotes from local companies
Junk Removal Services
Let's face it: Time is money, and the best way to save time during a bathroom renovation is to hire a locally-owned junk removal company to remove the fixtures or clean up the debris for you.
Junk removal services are flexible and allow you to choose the amount of labor the hired crew will do. You can choose whether or not to have the junk removal team come into your home and remove your remodeling debris directly from the job-site, or you can opt for contactless service where you pile up everything at the end of your driveway and have them quickly swing by your property to load and haul your waste.
Either way, junk removal services are fairly fast and can be done within 1-2 hours for average size bathroom remodels.
Junk removal services almost always cost more due to labor costs, but many would argue that the convenience is well worth it.
For reference, a 10 yard dumpster costs $250-$450 on average for a 7-day rental, while a junk removal clean-up of the same size costs $700-$1,200 on average.
Common Factors That Affect the Cost of Junk Removal:
- Volume of junk or debris
- How easy it is to access the site/debris
- Whether or not demolition/disassembly is required
- Overall complexity of the job
Many junk removal companies offer prices starting at $75-$125 for single-item removals (like a toilet or cabinet) and go up from there based on the factors above.
If you have any hazardous waste, like drywall covered in asbestos or lead paint, be sure to communicate that before hiring a junk removal crew. This will often require specialized disposal that a junk removal company may not offer.
Place the demolition debris in the driveway or at the curb for pick-up to make their job as easy and fast as possible.
Get estimates from at least 2-3 junk removal providers in your area to ensure you don't overpay.
Find out more:
- Junk Removal Cost Calculator
- DIY vs. Professional Junk Removal: Which Option Is Right for You?
- The Top 10 Benefits of Professional Junk Removal Services
Find construction debris removal near me
Compare Debris Management Services
As we touched on earlier, the most obvious "pro" of going with junk removal services is the convenience it provides. The manual labor of loading a dumpster on your own can be eliminated when you hire a junk removal crew to do the grunt work for you.
With this benefit comes a higher price point, and cost can certainly be a determining factor for many when deciding between the two debris disposal options.
We'll touch on more of the pros and cons of both waste services below...
Dumpster Rental
| Pros | Cons |
| 3-7 day rentals on average so you can work at your own pace | Requires you to do the heavy lifting and loading |
| Lower cost compared to junk removal | May require a permit |
| You don't have to be present for pick-up/drop-off | Can be more expensive when you have small amounts of waste |
| Can provide a surplus of space that you can utilize for other waste you'd like to part with | Can make your driveway inaccessible for the duration of your rental |
Junk Removal
| Pros | Cons |
| Work is done quickly, typically within an hour or two | More expensive than renting a dumpster for large amounts of waste |
| No manual labor required by you | You may have to be on-site throughout the service |
| Environmentally-friendly disposal methods (junk removal companies tend to recycle as often as they can) | |
| Option for contactless service |
There are plenty of things to consider when choosing the best debris disposal method for your bathroom remodel. Luckily, Hometown can help you gather free quotes from both types of services in your area so that you can make the best, most informed decision.
Save time by filling out our single quote request form and send it to multiple local providers in your area so you can compare cost, customer service, and availability.
