Written by Chris Smith · Illustrative case study
The situation
A couple at a property in Clagiraba had pulled out their old kitchen and laundry themselves over a weekend to save money. They were pleased with the demolition but stuck with insulation and general site waste, timber offcuts and formwork and plasterboard and cornice piled in the garage.
Why the customer needed help
They'd rung a couple of other outfits and got vague answers about price. I told them I'd come and look, give them a figure on the spot, and they could decide from there.
What was at the property
By my count there were insulation and general site waste, timber offcuts and formwork and plasterboard and cornice, along with the usual loose odds and ends that build up around a job like this. It's typical of what we see from trades finishing a fitout.
Working in Clagiraba
Clagiraba is a rural area of acreage near Advancetown Lake. Clagiraba properties are often larger blocks with sheds, paddocks and lots of trees, so green waste, shed clear-outs and scrap metal are common jobs. Long driveways and gravel tracks are fine; we check gates, slopes and wet ground before backing in.
The initial assessment
I did my usual lap. I check what's heavy, what's sharp, what's reusable and what might be hiding something underneath. A redback in the bottom of a pile isn't unusual on the Coast, so gloves and a torch come out before anyone reaches in.
How the job was planned
The plan was simple: protect the route, clear a path, then work from the far end back towards the truck so we never had to climb over what was left.
Preparation
We put drop sheets down through the hallway and taped corner guards on the door frames. It takes ten minutes and saves arguments about scuff marks.
Step 1
Step one was the bulky stuff. My offsider and I took the largest items out first, tilting them through the door frames rather than forcing them. With insulation and general site waste, timber offcuts and formwork and plasterboard and cornice in the mix, there was no point clearing small things while the big ones were still blocking the way.
Step 2
Step two was the stuff in the hard-to-reach spots: the top of the garage racking, under the house, behind the water tank. That's usually where the surprises live, and this job was no different.
Step 3
Step three was the final check. I went back through every room and corner with the customer, picked up the small stuff the big items had hidden, and swept up.
Removal, sorting and loading
I'm fussy about the load. A well-packed truck means one trip instead of two, and that's the difference between a fair price and an inflated one. We netted the top before we drove off.
From the truck it went to a licensed transfer station, where recyclables were dropped off separately, and anything usable went to a local op shop before the tip run.
Challenges we ran into
The waste was heavy: plaster, tiles and a bit of brick, which meant weight, not volume, would decide how much the truck could take.
How we handled them
I loaded the heavy material across the front axle and kept the lighter timber for the top. It took two trips rather than overloading one.
Completion and final result
When the last load was strapped down, the space was empty and swept. The customer walked through with me, signed off, and paid the price we'd agreed at the start, not a dollar more.
What I learned
I came away reminded that a fixed price agreed up front takes all the stress out of the day, for them and for us. Nobody's watching the clock or arguing at the end.