Removing rubble after a bathroom renovation: what you'll be left with
Removing rubble after a bathroom renovation surprises people mainly with its weight. A small room of four square metres produces a pile that looks manageable until you try to lift it. Wall tiles, floor tiles and adhesive weigh many times more than you'd expect.
Sort it right as you demolish
Mixing everything into one pile is the most expensive mistake. Rubble from wall and floor tiles goes somewhere different from sanitary ware, plasterboard or old pipes. If you separate it as you go, you'll save yourself sorting through it at the place where you hand in the waste.
Dismantle the bath and shower enclosure. A steel bath can be folded after cutting, and an acrylic one can be cut up. A whole bath takes up as much space in the van as two hundred kilos of rubble, yet weighs a fraction of that.
The washbasin and toilet are fragile. Sanitary ware shatters into sharp pieces when handled. Break it in a controlled way into a sturdy bag, rather than by accident while loading it into the van.
Pack into small containers
Nobody can lift a big bag full of rubble. Smaller sturdy bags or old buckets filled only two-thirds full have proved their worth. A bag one person can manage alone gets into the van faster than one twice the size that you need to find help with.
Buckets are reusable. You fill them, tip them out on site and bring them back empty. With bags, expect them to tear under sharp shards.
Keep an eye on the payload
With rubble, you run out of payload before space. The load floor can be half empty and the van already at its limit. Payload is 1 100 to 1 450 kg depending on the model; you'll find the specific figures in our fleet.
You can weigh it by estimate too. Fill one bucket, lift it and count how many such buckets you have. If by the twentieth you start to doubt whether you're still within the payload, split the removal into two trips.
Don't forget packaging and leftover materials
Besides rubble, you'll also be left with a pile of packaging. Tile boxes, pallets, plastic film, empty adhesive and filler containers. These go somewhere different from rubble, but they take up the most volume — fold them flat and load them last.
Loading, driving and handing back the van
Check the drop-off point in advance
Not every place accepts all types of waste. Conditions, opening hours and quantity limits vary and change. Call the day before and ask specifically about rubble, ceramics and plasterboard — you'll save yourself a pointless trip with a loaded van.
Bring your documents. Many places only accept waste from residents of the area and want proof of that. Find out in advance what you'll need.
Protect the load space
Rubble is the most aggressive load you can carry. Sharp shards and fine dust get everywhere. Line the floor with a heavy-duty tarp or an old carpet and protect the sides with cardboard.
Dust is easier to deal with if you close the containers. Open bags spill on the way, and fine adhesive dust is then hard to get out of the van. Tie them up or cover them with plastic sheeting.
Load with the axles in mind
Heavy items go in the middle and as low as possible. Ideally above the rear axle, not right at the back and not right up by the cab. Stacking high doesn't pay with rubble — the pile will slide when you brake.
Leave yourself a way through to the back. When unloading, you'll appreciate being able to reach every bag without climbing over anything. Load so you can empty the van from back to front.
Plan carrying things out of the flat. Carrying bags one at a time down the whole staircase is the slowest option. First bring them down to the van in one pile and only then load — that way they go into the van in the order that suits you.
How many trips to expect
A smaller bathroom usually takes one or two trips. Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited, so the second trip costs you nothing in kilometres. The motorway vignette is included in the price, but the vans may only be driven within the Czech Republic.
Returning the van
Sweep out the van and empty the tarp. Rubble is easy to remove from the floor when dry, harder if you let it get damp. You return the vehicle with a full tank at the same place where you picked it up.
There's no deposit and nothing is blocked on your card. Payment is by card online only, and you can cancel your booking free of charge up to 72 hours in advance. You'll find more information about the rental in the FAQ and more tips on the blog.
