Is a 14 or a 20 yard bin right for a kitchen tear-out in Westboro?

Either size, by Ottawa bin companies' own size guides: they point a single-room renovation such as a kitchen or bathroom to 14 to 20 yards. Which of the two fits your kitchen depends on how much is coming out and where the bin will sit, and the company you book is the one to size it from your description.

Typical outside dimensions on those companies' pages (typical, sizes vary by company):

• 14 yard: about 11 to 12 ft long, 8 ft wide and 4 to 5 ft high.
• 20 yard, short and tall: about 11 to 12 ft long, 8 ft wide and 5.5 to 6 ft high.
• 20 yard, long and low: about 18 to 22 ft long, 8 ft wide and 3.5 to 4 ft high.

Two companies describe a 20 yard bin as roughly 8 pickup-truck loads, which helps when you picture the volume of cabinets, counters and drywall.

The spot decides as much as the volume. Measure it, and get the outside dimensions of the specific bin in writing. Bin companies ask for a level spot clear of overhead wires and branches. If any part of the bin will sit on the road, boulevard or sidewalk, the City's Temporary Construction-related Encroachment (TCE) permit applies.

Heavy material such as soil, concrete and brick usually needs a small or dedicated bin, billed by weight, so mention any of it when you ask for the price. An old range or fridge may draw a per-appliance charge at some companies.

Describe the tear-out to the company, ask which size it would bring and why, and get its answer with the price in writing.