What size skip for roofing waste?
A 6 yard builders skip suits most re-roofs of a typical house, filled level because tiles and slates are heavy. A big roof or a concrete tiled one may need two, and a small repair or a porch roof fits a 2 or 4 yard skip.
- Full re-roof of a typical house: 6 yard builders, typically around £320, sometimes two
- Porch, bay or small repair: 2 yard mini or 4 yard midi, around £155 or £260
- Tiles and slates are heavy, so fill level and don’t go above 6 yards
- Keep lead out of the skip. It’s worth money as scrap
- Asbestos cement sheets and slates can’t go in a skip at all
Need a skip? Call for a price and to book.
- Prices up frontGuide prices for every size
- Permit rulesWhat your council charges
- LicensedRegistered waste carriers
- LocalCompanies near you deliver
Why a 6 yard skip suits most re-roofs
Roof coverings are heavy. Concrete interlocking tiles are the heaviest common covering, and a full roof of them on an average semi runs to several tonnes. Clay tiles and natural slate are lighter per tile but there are far more of them, so the total is still in tonnes.
That puts a roof firmly in heavy waste territory. Most skip companies cap heavy waste at the 6 yard builders size and ask you to fill it level with the sides. A bigger skip won’t take more tiles, because the weight limit is reached first.
On top of the coverings come the battens, the old felt or membrane, fascias, soffits, guttering, ridge tiles bedded in mortar and the mortar itself. Battens and felt are light but bulky. Together, a typical three bedroom house usually fills one 6 yard skip. A large detached house, a roof with a lot of mortar bedding or a chimney coming down too can need a second.
Which size for your roofing job
Typical prices are the national median for each size. Your local price may differ.
| Job | Skip | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Re-felting a porch or bay, or a few slipped tiles | 2 yard mini | Around £155 |
| Flat roof on a garage or small extension | 4 yard midi | Around £260 |
| Fascias, soffits and guttering on a house | 4 yard midi | Around £260 |
| Full re-roof of a terrace or semi | 6 yard builders | Around £320 |
| Full re-roof of a large house, or roof and chimney | Two 6 yard builders | Around £320 each |
Guide prices, ex VAT. A road permit, if you need one, is extra.
Tiles, slates, felt and battens
Concrete tiles break cleanly and stack well, so load them flat rather than throwing them in. Thrown tiles land at angles and leave gaps, and you’ll fill the skip by volume before you reach its weight.
Natural slate and good clay tiles are worth a second look before they go in a skip. Reclamation yards buy sound slates and handmade clay tiles, and some roofers reuse them on the same job or keep them for repairs. If yours are in decent condition, ask before they’re stripped.
Felt comes off in sheets and rolls. Old bitumen felt is fine in a mixed skip. Fold or roll it tight, because loose sheets of felt take a surprising amount of room. Battens go in with their nails still in, laid flat along the length of the skip.
Flat roofs are a little different. Built-up felt, chippings and old decking boards are lighter than tiles but bulky, so a garage or extension roof usually fits a 4 yard midi.
Keep the lead out
Lead flashing, valleys, soakers and the lead around a chimney are worth money. Scrap metal dealers buy lead by weight, and it’s one of the better paying scrap metals. Putting it in a skip throws that away.
Strip the lead, fold it into a bag or a separate pile, and take it to a scrap dealer or let your roofer deal with it. Agree who keeps it before the job starts, because on a big roof it can be a fair sum.
Lead is also a target for theft. Don’t leave it sitting in an open skip or on the drive overnight.
What can go in a roofing skip
Yes
- Concrete and clay tiles, ridge tiles
- Natural slate
- Battens, with nails in
- Old bitumen felt and breathable membrane
- Mortar, chimney brick and flaunching
- Plastic fascias, soffits and guttering
No
- Asbestos cement sheets, slates or soffits
- Asbestos in old flat roof felt or textured boards
- Plasterboard from a loft conversion, mixed in
- Part-full tins of bitumen paint or sealant
- Loft insulation in large amounts, without asking
Rules vary between companies. If in doubt, ask when you book.
Asbestos cement: stop and check first
Asbestos cement was widely used on roofs until it was banned in 1999. You’ll find it as corrugated sheets on garages, sheds and outbuildings, as man-made slates that look like natural slate but are flat, even and identical, and as soffit boards and old rainwater pipes.
No skip company will take it in a general skip. It’s hazardous waste and has to be removed, wrapped and disposed of by an asbestos specialist. Breaking it up or cutting it releases fibres, so don’t start stripping until you know what it is.
If you’re not sure, get a sample tested. It costs far less than dealing with a skip that’s been contaminated.
Loading from scaffold and chutes
- 1Place the skip firstUnder the scaffold or at the foot of a rubbish chute, before stripping starts.
- 2Use a chuteTiles thrown from height shatter, scatter and bounce out. A chute drops them straight in.
- 3Keep the chute inside the skipThe bottom section should sit inside the skip, not over the edge.
- 4Cover itA sheet over the skip and chute end keeps dust down and stops tiles flying out.
- 5Stack battens and felt by handThey’re light and bulky, so lay them flat rather than dropping them.
- 6Stop at the top edgeNothing above the sides. Book a swap when it’s full.
Skip and scaffold on the road
If the skip goes on the road, it needs a council permit, which the skip company applies for. Fees run from £15 to over £250, with a typical fee of around £80 for two weeks. Scaffolding on the pavement needs its own separate licence, usually arranged by the scaffolder.
Roofing skip questions
- Can I put roof tiles in a skip?
- Yes. Concrete and clay tiles are fine. They’re heavy, so most companies want them in a skip no bigger than 6 yards, filled level.
- Can roofing felt go in a skip?
- Yes, old bitumen felt and modern membrane are fine in a mixed skip. Very old flat roof felt can contain asbestos, so check if you’re unsure.
- Should I put lead in the skip?
- No. It’s worth money as scrap. Keep it separate and sell it, or agree with your roofer who keeps it.
- How do I know if my roof has asbestos?
- Corrugated sheet roofs on garages and outbuildings, and man-made slates from before 2000, are the usual suspects. A sample test will tell you for sure.
- How long will I need the skip?
- Stripping a roof usually takes one to three days, but the skip often stays for the whole job to catch offcuts. A standard one to two week hire usually covers it.
Need a skip for your roof?
Call for a price and to book.