Skip Hire Costs Explained
If you’re doing any sort of large project on your home, then you probably need a skip. They come in all shapes and sizes, ok they’re pretty all much the same shape but different sizes at least! In this article, I’m going to cover the different sizes, what you can actually fit in them, and how much they cost (including whether you need a permit or not).
Depending on the project you’re doing you will likely have a lot of waste if you’re here then you already are planning a fairly big project or at least a good clearout!
The local disposals usually have restrictions, and they may refuse to take the trash which is why you’re probably looking at a skip, or it’s just a lot easier to get a skip, be careful you don’t just assume they will take everything make sure you check beforehand.
There are many skip hire companies from which to choose, so usually, it’s pretty safe you’re getting a competitive price.
However, there are other ways of managing your waste management that would enable you to get the best prices as you don’t want to spend too much on the garbage disposal. Understanding what you need is the most critical step in ensuring that you get what you need. This guide gives you everything you need to know when hiring a skip and how to ensure that your bills are lower.
What Size of Skip Do You Need? – Skip Hire Prices Below
Many people end up paying too much since they are unable to approximate which size of skip is most suitable for their needs, and if you have a skip on the street for too long, chances are your neighbours might sneak stuff in. At the same time, getting something too small is pointless, you’ll have to get it emptied more than once or just be a massive pain for no real gain. However, when you manage to get the right size, it is possible only to need one trip, especially if your project doesn’t have too much waste. Here are the most common sizes, along with what you can typically expect to use for each project:
Mini – 4 Yard Skip Hire Cost
This is the smallest size you will find and is most suitable for little gardening or DIY projects that don’t have too much waste. It can hold approximately 45 bags of garbage effectively, so it is still quite large. It measures about 1.3meters in length and width with a height of roughly 0.8 meters.
Hiring this will cost you between £85 and £130. It may cost you at least £50 in London.
Medium – 8 Yard Skip Cost
Most people will hire this skip, and that is because it holds up to 80 bags of waste at a go. If you have any medium to significant renovation or construction project, this will most likely handle the garbage for a week adequately. It measures about 3.7meters in length by 1.7meters width against a 1.3meters height.
The cost of this type of skip is no less than £250 in most parts of the UK, and about £30 more around London.
Large – 12 Yard Skip Cost
While it is not the largest, this is one of the more suitable sizes if you have a relatively large project on going that will yield up to 140 bags of waste. It is efficient in most cases, so you won’t need it emptied until the end of the week, which is what you want. The skip measures 3.8meters length, 1.8 meters in width, and 1.9 meters in height. The average cost for this is about £350 with it costing about £25 more in London.
While these are the most commonly used skips for home construction and renovations, you can get larger ones in 16, 20, and up to 30 yards if you anticipate having more waste. You can consult with your contractor to know which size of skip is most suitable for the job.
What Can You Use A Skip For?
Your local garbage collection company can manage your daily waste disposal, but if you have a project that involves quite a bit of dirt, then skip hire is your best option. In the context of your home, there are two main cases where hiring a skip would be vital. These are:
Landscaping and Gardening Project
If you are working on your garden, whether it is completely revamping it or fixing a few things, you should expect that there will be a bit of waste. This could be concrete from the old one, old grass, décor, and excess soil. You cannot dump this in your garbage bins as it will not be collected, and you may end up with extra fees. A mini or medium skip would handle all your waste collection, and it would be picked up at the end of the week.
Renovations and Construction
Renovations usually result in a lot of waste due to any excess material that you may not use in your new construction. Depending on the amount of work, you will need a reliable way to clear the garbage, which not only makes the work of your contractor easier, but it ensures that there won’t be too much clearing to be done once the job is completed.
Factors to Consider When Seeking a Skip Hire Company
One of the most critical aspects of hiring a skip that will not cost you a fortune is to find a company that will accommodate what you need. Below are the most crucial factors for you to consider before signing an agreement with any company.
Licensing
A competent skip hire company will be licensed, and this is a critical point since you may also be accountable. The document allows the company to do its job according to the set guidelines. This includes the proper ways to dispose of waste. You should always request to see the license before getting into a deal with anyone to ensure that you do not indirectly break the law.
Availability of Different Sizes
You may want to hire a company to provide you with a skip, which they do not have. In such a case, you may be drawn to hiring a skip that is either too large or small. This presents you with two challenges, which include that you may not have adequate space for the skip or that it may get filled sooner than you anticipate. Check that the company you intend to work with has what you need before getting into talks about pricing and delivery.
Good Qualifications
An experienced company will always opt to hire well trained and qualified personnel to work for them. This is important since several health and safety precautions need to be followed for such a job. An excellent way to know that the company is well staffed with qualified employees is to read reviews and to ask questions about what you need and what they provide. Take your time to interrogate them to ensure that they address all inquiries to your satisfaction.
There is nothing worse than dealing with a company that really shouldn’t be in business, and what I mean by that is dealing with people who don’t turn up on time. And typically will not take as much care with your stuff, so you risk damaging your driveways or anything close by people who rush.
Skip Hiring Costs
Overcharging, just like in any other area, is common when looking for a skip company to hire. This is one of the main reasons why you should compare the different quotes that you get from various companies. However, don’t be too quick to go for the most affordable one since it is more important that you get quality services. Enquire what the charges include and whether you can get any discounts, especially if you will need several weeks of hire.
Reviews
Many companies for skip hire to have an online presence, so it is easy to get a feel of what they offer. You can check out their website and social media for reviews and pay close attention to the type of reviews. Many companies will have fake reviews in their pages, which may seem overly enthusiastic, I mean it’s skip hire at the end of the day! If they have a blog section, the comments are an excellent place to look at their interactions with potential clients. Always engage them as well to see whether what is described is what you will get.
Waste Disposal Policies
Some skip hire companies may have the necessary license, but they don’t do much to ensure that waste is disposed of correctly. An excellent place to start when looking at how they get rid of garbage is to check whether they recycle. It is one of the most effective ways of getting rid of waste without affecting the environment, and it is encouraged. Many companies will even have a recycling depot which sorts out waste and these are usually some of the more efficient companies that you should hire.
Waste Type
Many of the companies you may interact with have strict terms on the types of waste that they handle, and this is crucial to check. Ensure that you make it clear what the bulk of the garbage you need disposal for is to avoid any miscommunication. Remember that disposing of waste using the wrong company could significantly increase the costs of hire. They may also leave you with some junk which they cannot take.
How to Ensure That Your Skip Hire Costs Are Low
Hiring A Skip Considerations
While the rates that are given above are the average of what you should expect to pay, you risk facing more charges if you are not careful. You must understand what you are paying for and how to prevent more fees by breaking the rules. The following are some tips to help you keep down the cost of hiring a skip.
Read the Terms and Conditions Carefully
Every skip hire company has a set of rules against which they provide their services, and it is beneficial to you to read and understand them. This is a document that you will be given before signing the deal. Many people sign it quickly since they assume that everything was made clear during the initial inquiry, which is not always the case.
Ensure that you take time to read through the guidelines, so if you have any issue, you may ask before finalising. Pay attention to the language and the mention of any added fees, so if you opt to work with that company, you will know for what you are paying.
Check the Weight Limit
Most people understand that a skip is available for use as long as it is not full, but this is not always the case. Any skip that you hire has a weight limit, and this is not usually stated as a suggestion but rather a severe restriction to which you should pay attention. This is not only so the skip can adequately handle the waste but so that it can be safely mounted on to the carrying vehicle.
If you are hiring a large bin, then it is more important that you consider this issue more keenly. Since it is not easy to measure the weight of waste, speak to the hiring company beforehand so they can advise on what a skip can handle.
Permits and Size
Many people will opt for a larger skip since it seems like a safe option when you are not too sure about the amount of waste that needs removing. However, this is not always a bright option when you have limited space on your property.
If the bin that you choose cannot fit on your land, then you may need to have it set up by the road. This is a bad thing since it attracts extra costs in the form of a permit. You will need to apply for a license to have the skip at the roadside. This may cost between £15 and £70, depending on the location.
Check on Restricted Waste
Every company usually has a list of waste restrictions that they cannot handle for one reason or the other. This is a crucial part to check before hiring them since you should at least have a good idea of what you can or cannot add to the bin.
Items such as glass, batteries, some appliances, and asbestos are common in the list of waste not to include in the skip. If you do dispose of such items, you could be charged more, or they are left out of the skip during pickup. This can present you with a different challenge of finding the best way to get rid of them.
Avoid Littering
Everything that needs to go into the skip must be in there and not anywhere else. This is a particularly important thing to note, especially if your bin is by the roadside. If you are found littering, which includes items blown off your skip on to the road or neighbourhood, you may be fined. If the company has to collect some things that were not in the bin, this could attract more labour charges than you anticipated.
Choose Limited-Time Skip
If you are doing a project which you don’t know how long it will go on for, it is easy to see the allure of an unlimited time skip. These usually don’t have the standard restriction time of between one and two weeks. However, it could be more expensive to opt for unlimited since the company could charge you per day instead of the overall duration that you will have the bin.
In some cases, they may give you an overall figure with hidden fees for each day you’re with the skip. Therefore, instead of paying £70 for a week, you end up paying about £350 for a month.
Choose the Best Location Beforehand
The amount indicated in the quote usually includes everything from delivering the skip, keeping it for the duration, and picking it up. Therefore, before the skip is delivered, you should check where it can be placed such that it serves you best. If for any reason, you pick a spot, the bin is delivered then you need it moved, this will cost you extra. Always involve your contractor in choosing the location since he will have more insight into what would work best.
Consider Sharing the Costs
It is not uncommon to find that you and your neighbour both need a skip for independent projects. It is perfectly allowed that you hire one skip then share the costs. This is, of course, dependent on whether the type of waste is within what is permitted. In such a case, if you have to apply for a permit to place the bin at the roadside, you are sure you won’t spend too much since it is a shared cost.
Make the Most of Your Hire
You may have hired the skip to take care of waste from your renovation or extension construction. However, if the skip is not full and you have other garbage to throw out, then you should use it. This can be items such as some stored away pieces of wood or old furniture. Ensure that anything else you need to dispose of is within the limitations, and you are all set. This will save you an extra cost of looking for different disposal of the items which you may have done later.
Frequently Asked Questions
The following are some of the common questions people intending on hiring a skip bin have, and they should answer some of yours.
Should Skips Be Lit At Night?
Yes, it is the law to have lights on your skip if it is on a public highway. Make sure this is supplied if you plan on having it on the roads at night time.
What does skip hire service cover?
Some companies may have different policies, so it is best to consult. However, the average service covers the delivery of the bin, collection, and disposal of the waste materials. The one point that may differ for most companies is whether additional labour is covered in the cost. In some cases, you will be charged extra when there is any extra labour involved other than drop off and pick up.
Does the weight of waste affect the price?
Not usually, it depends on the company but the larger skips this is more of an issue. Assuming you’re doing a residential project, with a residential skip usually, it will just have to not be overfilled and stacked up too high.
Is all waste from the skip recycled?
Many skip hire companies usually have a designated drop off for the waste, and this may not always be for recycling. Some items are recycled, such as cardboard. In some situations, given the type of waste usually accommodated in the bins, recycling may not be possible. However, it is disposed of according to the set guidelines, so it is safe for the environment.
Are there enclosed skips?
Yes. Enclosed skips are available in some companies, and they are a great option, especially if you intend to place the bin by the road. This prevents people from throwing in the trash that doesn’t belong in the skip hence saving you extra charges.
Conclusion
When doing major works in your home from constructing an extension, redoing your garden, or renovating your home, skip hire is a good time save.
It is an excellent way of ensuring that you do your part in conserving the environment through proper waste disposal. Depending on the company you hire and the deal you get, this won’t cost much, which is why it is crucial to understand what you need for starters.
It is always a good idea to work with your local skip hire providers since it reduces the costs involved. However, do due diligence in checking the services that they provide and their efficiency in disposing of the waste. If you are not sure where to start, a trusted contractor or tradesman can recommend some options for you. The important thing is to read the fine print, so you know what you will pay for precisely and how to maintain low costs.