Dumpster Enclosures: Is Vinyl The Best Fence Material?
Posted by Dawn Lowndes on Wed, Oct 27, 2010 @ 01:24 PM
Dumpster enclosures range tremendously in size. The three sided kind range from 10’ wide x 8’ deep x 6’ high to 30’ wide x 12’ deep x 6’high with three double swing gates. Local codes will dictate the need for a dumpster enclosure. How extensive the coverage of the dumpsters has to be is also a coded requirement. Enclosures that necessitate gates call for gateposts sized to meet the dimensions, weight and general abuse that will come from this repeated use environment.
Enclosure material will vary from wooden privacy pickets, vinyl privacy to a composite material. What is Composite Fence Material?
Dumpster enclosure gates will demand steel gateposts sized to support the gate leaf needed for the opening. Additionally, the gate frame should also be steel with pickets or panels of the chosen material attached to it. This will provide a much greater structural support to the gate and guarantee its survival much longer than other less sturdy types of construction.
For enclosures housed on a concrete dumpster pads requiring gates and gateposts: they should be core drilled for the installation of the gateposts. This will help to eliminate sagging of the gates.
Be sure that the enclosure is large enough to accommodate the dumpster and allow for easy refuse pickup. Replacement of the dumpster to its original position after emptying without panels or gates damage them during this process should be trouble-free. Refuse truck drivers are not very tolerant of enclosures and gates that they consider counter productive to an easy pickup. Adequate planning will help preserve the life of the enclosure, decrease damage claims and increase customer satisfaction for quality construction.
Wood enclosures are the most popular due to low cost and ease of replacement of parts and pieces. Vinyl and Composite enclosures are initially more expensive but they do not have the maintenance issues that come with product aging. The location and use pattern of the dumpster could very well dictate what would be the better value for the long term.
Hurricane Fence Company does approximately 30 dumpster enclosures a year. Two thirds of those enclosures will be wood and the remaining will be vinyl. Almost all will be in the commercial marketplace. We have probably built over a thousand dumpster enclosures since our company start over 25 years ago.
If you need help with determining if a dumpster enclosure is required, how large it needs to be and finding a number that fits in your budget give us a call. We have been helping people for over 25 years and we would love to help you.
Article contributed by fence professional Paul Moss.