House renovations, gardening, or extensions generate a lot of waste that doesn’t fit into your everyday bin. That is why skip hire is used. But before you consider hiring a skip, there are some important things you need to know to save your money and time and avoid unnecessary trouble.
Getting it right is important if it is your first time hiring a skip or if you have hired one or two times before. From deciding on what size to select to knowing which type is legal, there are many factors you should consider before hiring a skip. Here are Skip hire guides to follow:
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Size matters
Don’t know how to hire a skip? The first thing you must do is measure the size of the skip you need by quantifying your waste correctly. Skips can be small for garden pruning work or very large, 40 yards for a construction site. Getting the wrong size skip means you will have to pay more for the skip or hire another skip.
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Location planning
Before hiring a skip, first make sure where the skip is going to be placed. You will need an easy road with sufficient space for delivery vehicles to access. If you are placing the skip in a public space, i.e. the road, then you will need permission from the local authorities.
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Skip permit requirements
If you are going to place a skip in a public place, you will need permission from local authorities. Your skip hire company may do this, but always clarify who is in charge of organising it. Permits usually take 2-3 working days and have additional costs.
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Check weight limits
Each type of skip is designed to handle a maximum weight capacity. Before hiring a skip, check the weight limits of the skip; otherwise, going over it can lead to extra charges or collection refusal. Large objects such as soil, concrete, bricks, and stones take up a lot of space, so put them uniformly in the skip and hire large skips.
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Restricted items
Many items are banned from being in the skip. These items are harmful to the environment, as well as to the health of people. Don’t throw electrical gadgets and devices, batteries, asbestos, paints, cylinders, medical waste, tyres, petrol, or diesel. You need to take care of these things; otherwise, you could be fined.
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Time limits for hiring a skip
The hiring period of companies varies, usually on a 7-14 day basis. But do you need it for longer? If so, inform the company beforehand at the beginning because it will be less expensive and hassle-free. Also, hire skip considering the weather conditions since rainy days will certainly slow down work.
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Cost of skip hire
One of the most important things to consider before hiring a skip is finding out the overall charges and getting a cheap skip hire. Apart from the skip hire price, ask about additional charges like:
- Transportation costs & pickup charges
- Overweight charges
- Permit costs
- Weekend delivery charges
- Charges for specific waste type
- Cancel or reschedule charges
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Where does the waste go?
A skip hire company should have good recycling facilities. Skips are the most convenient solution for waste management due to its environmentally friendly nature. Most companies now recycle 90% of their waste by minimising the waste that goes to the landfill. So before hiring a skip, ask them about the environmental policies, waste processing methods, and recycling facilities.
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Booking timing tips for skip
If you want to hire a skip, then book in advance, especially during peak seasons such as spring and summer. If you book a skip at the last minute, then the skip might not be available or it will might be more expensive.
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Insurance check
Check whether the skip company holds all the necessary insurance. It protects you in case of damages during transport and picking up while the skip is in your compound.
Conclusion
Skip hire helps to ease any cleanup or building project when it is well planned for, and planning saves money and time when hiring a skip. Ready to hire? Remember to select the right size skip for your work, and find out the permit requirements of the area. Additionally, understand all the overall costs of hiring a skip, follow all the rules of loading, and choose a legally authorised and well-reputed company. Consider the following skip hire tips and keep track of your work and the budget.
