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Something happens to our phones every September. The calls start sounding less like ‘we’re thinking about it’ and more ‘we can get this booked in’. Extensions, kitchens, lofts, gardens – people want it all wrapped up before family turns up for Christmas.
It makes sense. Nobody wants a half-completed kitchen or skip parked on the drive over the holidays. The problem is the window to finish these projects by December is shorter than most people think, and skip availability is one of the first things to get tight once autumn moves in.
If a project’s on your list for this year, here’s what to sort out first, and when.
Why September is the unofficial deadline
Ask any local builder and they’ll tell you the same thing: October and November get booked up fast. If you want a trade in before Christmas, September is when you need to lock them in.
The maths is simple enough, a kitchen refit typically takes two to three weeks once it’s underway. A bathroom, usually one to two. Work backwards from Christmas and you’ll see the start needs to land in October at the latest, which means booking trades, materials and a skip well before then.
It’s not just about the trade’s diary either. Once a project starts, waste starts piling up straight away. Old units, tiles, flooring and packaging from new materials all need somewhere to go. Having a skip already on site from day one means work doesn’t stall while someone tries to arrange a last minute delivery.
Matching the job to the right skip
Getting the size right first time saves a second delivery or wasted space later.
For a kitchen or bathroom refurb, a midi skip usually does the job. It’s compact enough to fit on most driveways without blocking access, and there’s no weight restriction, so old tiles, sanitaryware and units can go straight in without worrying about limits.
Bigger jobs, extensions, full renovations, garden landscaping and building work tend to need a large skip, also known as a builder’s skip. It holds enough for a full renovation without needing multiple collections, and again there’s no weight limit to think about.
If you’re clearing a whole room or property before a refit starts, an X-large skip is worth considering. It’s best suited to bulky, lightweight waste like old furniture, timber and packaging, so it’s the right call for a full clearance with multiple types of waste that pile up.
Access and timing
A skip can only go where the lorry is able to reach. That means 9.5ft of clear access to the spot you want it placed, with nothing over 3ft in the way, walls, hedges, archways included. If there’s any doubt about access, it’s worth a quick call before booking rather than finding out on delivery day.
You don’t need to be home for the delivery either, so long as the space is clear and ready. Deliveries run between 7:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Saturday, and we’ll always try to work around your preferred time.
The other thing worth knowing – September and October can be very busy months for us. If you’ve got a start date in mind, booking the skip online early means one less thing to chase once the project is underway.
What you can and can’t put in a skip
Most household and building waste is fine – furniture, wood, rubble, soil, packaging, and general DIY waste. But be careful of the exceptions.
Fridges, freezers and anything with refrigerant gas needs to be dealt with separately due to how they’re processed. Paint, chemicals and anything flammable also can’t go in with general waste. Plasterboard is another common one. It can’t go in with general skip waste, and needs to be disposed of separately for safety reasons. We offer separate plasterboard skips for exactly this, so if a project is generating a lot of it, it’s worth booking one alongside your main skip.
If you’re not sure whether something’s allowed, it’s always worth asking before it goes in to avoid contaminating your waste.
Your pre-Christmas project checklist
If you want a project wrapped up before the winter, here’s the order to tackle things:
- Book your trades. Aim for mid-September to get the dates that work around you.
- Confirm materials and delivery dates. Have this locked in by late September so nothing holds up on day one.
- Book your skip. In the same window as materials, sized to the job using the guide above.
- Check access to the property. 9.5ft of clear route, nothing over 3ft in the way.
- Confirm your delivery slot. Let us know if anyone needs to be on site, though it’s not required.
- Start first fix work, realistically underway by early October.
- Extend the skip if needed – 10 day hire as standard, with extensions available online and over the phone if the job runs on.
Ready for your Christmas project?
If a project’s on your list for this year, September’s the month to get things moving. Book your skip, and everything else has a better chance of falling into place before the year runs out.
Book online or give our team a call. We’re always happy to help you pick the right size or talk through access if you’re not sure.
