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Roll-off dumpsters provide a convenient way to gather and dispose of large amounts of waste materials, making them a great option for construction projects or extensive yard work. If you're not careful, however, the container can cause damage to your driveway that may cost thousands of dollars to repair. Here's what you need to know to protect your driveway from roll-off dumpster damage.

Pick the Right Time

Depending on the material used to pave your driveway, there are times when placing a roll-off dumpster on the surface is inadvisable. For concrete driveways, you'll want to avoid setting the dumpster on a freshly paved surface. Dumpsters can weigh hundreds of pounds not including the waste materials. A concrete driveway that was just paved will typically still be too soft to fully support the weight of the dumpster and may suffer indentation damage as a result. It can take up to 28 days for a concrete driveway to harden completely; so you may want to find an alternative place to put the dumpster if you're still within that window of time.

People who have asphalt driveways will want to avoid placing the dumpster down when it's hot outside. Asphalt has a tendency to soften in the heat, which can also lead to unwanted indentations. Avoid putting the dumpster in areas that have been in direct sunlight. Instead, find a shady spot to situate the container.

Put Down Covering

Sometimes the dumpster will scrape against the surface of the driveway during placement, leading to unsightly scratches in the cement or asphalt. One way to guard against this is to cover the surface where the dumpster will be sitting with sturdy plywood or hard plastic. In addition to protecting the driveway from being gouged by the dumpster, the material may also prevent the container from leaving indentations in the driveway if it is too soft because of recent construction activity or heat.

It's also a good idea to place a tarp that's wider and longer than the dumpster on top of the plywood or plastic. The tarp can catch any materials (e.g. bricks, planks with nails) that may overflow from a full dumpster, further protecting your driveway from harm.

Opt for a Smaller Size

Lastly, opt to use a smaller dumpster than you may need. As noted previously, dumpsters can weigh hundreds of pounds all by themselves, and the waste you're throwing away will only increase the amount of weight the container puts on your driveway. It may be best to get a small container that weighs less and have it dumped more frequently than to get a large container that might end up causing surface damage once it's filled with hundreds of pounds of waste materials.

For more tips on protecting your driveway from possible damage caused by a dumpster, connect with a roll-off dumpster rental company, like Lakeshore Recycling, in your area.