Written by Chris Smith · Illustrative case study
The situation
A woman at a property in Hollywell had hired a gardener for a two-day overhaul of an overgrown block. The gardener was brilliant at cutting, but he didn't haul, and by Friday afternoon the driveway was hidden under blown roofing and sheeting, water-damaged carpet and furniture and soaked cardboard and stock.
Why the customer needed help
Their main worry wasn't the cost. It was not knowing what could legally go where, and not wanting to damage the house getting it all out. Both of those are part of the job for us.
What was at the property
By my count there were blown roofing and sheeting, water-damaged carpet and furniture and soaked cardboard and stock, along with the usual loose odds and ends that build up around a job like this. It's typical of what we see from storm-affected homes.
Working in Hollywell
Hollywell is a quiet canal and waterfront suburb near the Broadwater. Hollywell homes often back onto water, so we carry loads carefully past pools, pontoons and landscaped gardens. We protect paving and lawns on the way to the truck and work within bridge and street access limits.
The initial assessment
I arrived at the property and the first thing I noticed was the access. Before I look at the pile, I walk the route it has to travel: doorways, steps, the driveway slope, overhead wires, where the truck can park. For this job I paced it out and worked out we'd need about two-thirds of the tipper.
How the job was planned
I gave them a fixed price there and then, based on volume, and explained what was included: fallen vegetation removal, damaged fence and roofing clearance and water-damaged goods removal. They said yes on the spot, so we planned to load in one visit rather than two.
Preparation
We checked the weather, laid out the straps and blankets for anything worth saving, and agreed a hand signal for "stop" because the truck was right on the road.
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 blown roofing and sheeting, water-damaged carpet and furniture and soaked cardboard and stock 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 heavy lifting. Anything over about forty kilos went on the trolley or got a two-person lift with straps. No hero stuff. A strained back on the first job of the day ruins the week.
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
We loaded by destination rather than by size. Metal on one side for the scrap yard, green waste kept clean, cardboard flattened and bundled, and general rubbish packed into whatever space was left.
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 ground was boggy from the rain, and the truck couldn't get anywhere near the back of the block without sinking.
How we handled them
We parked on the street and barrowed it out in short runs along boards, which kept the lawn from getting torn up.
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
What stuck with me was how much of it could be reused. People expect storm Debris Removal to mean everything goes to landfill. On this job, close to a third of it went somewhere useful.