Removing an old deck is a project most Bay Area homeowners face once: the redwood or pressure-treated lumber that looked great in 1995 is now silvered, splintering, or losing fasteners. Demolition is straightforward, but the disposal channel depends on what the deck is made of, and the weight always comes in heavier than people expect.
This guide covers the demo sequence for Bay Area deck removal, the dumpster size that fits a typical residential deck, the disposal channels for treated lumber versus redwood versus composite, and the cost of doing the project yourself versus hiring it out. Numbers are calibrated for the most common Bay Area deck footprints: 200 to 600 square feet, single-level, pier-and-post construction.
Deck Removal Volume and Weight by Size
Old deck debris is mostly wood, but it's denser than people expect because of fasteners, joist hangers, and waterlogged framing. A typical Bay Area deck of 2x6 redwood planks over 2x8 joists generates 3 to 4 cubic yards per 100 square feet of deck.
Typical Bay Area deck math:
- Small deck (200 sq ft): 6 to 8 cubic yards, 0.6 to 0.9 tons
- Mid-size deck (400 sq ft): 12 to 15 cubic yards, 1.2 to 1.6 tons
- Large deck (600 sq ft): 18 to 22 cubic yards, 1.8 to 2.4 tons
The weight matters because going over the bin's allowance triggers $150/ton overage in most South Bay and East Bay cities. The 10-yard's 1.0-ton allowance gets exceeded on anything larger than about 300 sq ft. For homeowners booking dumpster rental in San Jose for a typical 400 sq ft mid-yard deck removal, the 20-yard is the safe call.
Right Dumpster Size by Deck Size
| Deck Size | Volume | Weight | Dumpster | Total Cost |
| Under 250 sq ft | 6-9 cubic yards | 0.6-1.0 ton | 10-yard general | $399-$499 |
| 250-450 sq ft | 10-15 cubic yards | 1.0-1.7 tons | 20-yard general | $549-$649 |
| 450-700 sq ft | 15-22 cubic yards | 1.7-2.5 tons | 20-yard (with overage) or 30-yard | $549-$799 |
| Over 700 sq ft | 22-35 cubic yards | 2.5-4 tons | 30-yard general | $699-$799 |
Two common sizing mistakes. First, picking a 10-yard for what looks like a small deck but turns out to be 350 sq ft once measured the 1.0-ton allowance gets exceeded and the swap fee plus overage closes the gap to the 20-yard upfront. Second, going 30-yard for a 400 sq ft mid-yard deck the 30-yard's $699 base costs $150 more than the 20-yard for capacity that won't get used. For homes in dumpster rental in Santa Clara and other Peninsula cities, the 20-yard is the default.
Demo Sequence That Actually Works
The cleanest deck removal goes from top down, perimeter inward. Skipping the sequence leads to unstable framing that needs to be braced before final disposal.
Step 1: Remove the railing system. Posts, balusters, top rail, and any cap rail come off first. Use a reciprocating saw to cut through rust-frozen fasteners; pry remaining nails afterward.
Step 2: Pull up the deck boards. Work from one end toward the other. A flat bar works well for redwood; composite decks usually need a circular saw set to board depth to release the hidden-clip fasteners.
Step 3: Cut and remove the joists. Once the deck surface is gone, the joist framework is exposed. Cut at the ledger board and the rim joist. Pry joist hangers off the ledger they are recyclable scrap metal.
Step 4: Remove the ledger board (if old). If the ledger is staying for a new deck, leave it. Otherwise unscrew it from the house, patch the flashing holes, and dispose with the rest of the lumber.
Step 5: Pull the posts and pier blocks. Posts pull straight up from pier blocks once the upper structure is gone. Pier blocks come up next a typical 400 sq ft deck has 6 to 10 pier blocks at 25 to 40 lbs each.
Disposal Channels by Deck Material
Different deck materials route to different disposal channels. The dumpster company doesn't care, but knowing the difference helps for environmental and cost reasons.
Redwood (clear, untreated). Goes in a standard general-debris dumpster without special handling. Some Bay Area salvage yards (Heritage Salvage in Petaluma, BarnLight in Berkeley) accept clean reclaim-quality redwood 4-foot or longer pieces with no rot for resale. Most 1970s deck redwood is too splintered to reclaim.
Pressure-treated lumber. Modern (post-2003) ACQ-treated lumber is landfill-acceptable and dumpster-eligible. Pre-2003 CCA-treated lumber is also accepted in California for residential demolition volumes but should never be burned.
Composite decking. Trex, TimberTech, and similar wood-plastic composites are landfill-acceptable as general debris. They don't recycle through wood-mulch channels (the plastic content disqualifies them). Bay Area dumpster companies accept composite without special handling.
Concrete pier blocks. Heavy but inert. They can go in a general-debris dumpster as part of the deck demo, but they count toward the weight allowance. For decks with 15+ pier blocks, consider splitting into a 10-yard inert plus a 10-yard general to save overage cost. The detail is in the concrete disposal guide.
Bay Area Pricing and DIY vs Hire-It-Out
The 20-yard base rental in the Bay Area runs $549 to $649 depending on city tier. For a typical 400 sq ft mid-yard deck removal:
Worked example. 400 sq ft deck, redwood with treated joists, six pier blocks.
- Debris: 14 cubic yards (boards + joists + railing + pier blocks)
- Weight: 1.6 tons
- Bin: 20-yard at $549 base, 2.0 tons included
- No overage (under 2.0 tons)
- Project finishes in 2 weekend days, no extra-day fees
- Total: $549.
DIY tool/PPE costs add $50 to $100. Total DIY: $600 to $650. Hiring a deck-removal service in the Bay Area runs $800 to $2,500 depending on access and material most quotes include the dumpster. DIY saves $200 to $1,800 at the cost of one to two full weekend days. For larger structural demo projects, the workflow in construction dumpster rental guide for contractors applies.
Standard fees apply: same-day delivery $100 outside San Jose/Campbell, dead-run $250 in South Bay/East Bay if delivery fails, extra days $45/day beyond seven. For homes in dumpster rental in Oakland and other East Bay cities, watch for buried galvanized fasteners they require a reciprocating saw rather than a hammer. Prices subject to change. Verify current rates at zebradumpsters.com/weight-limits-and-fees.
Zebra Dumpsters services the South Bay, East Bay, and Peninsula corridor with same-day routing on 10-yards and 20-yards. Call (408) 495-3006 to book a deck-removal project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size dumpster do I need for deck removal?
For a deck under 250 sq ft, a 10-yard fits the 6-9 cubic yards with headroom on the 1.0-ton allowance. For the most common 300-450 sq ft mid-yard deck, the 20-yard is the right call. Anything over 450 sq ft jumps to a 30-yard.
How much does it cost to remove a deck in the Bay Area?
DIY removal of a 400 sq ft deck costs about $600 to $650 (20-yard dumpster + tools + PPE). Hiring a removal service runs $800 to $2,500 depending on access and material. DIY saves $200 to $1,800 at the cost of one to two weekend days of work.
Can pressure-treated lumber go in a regular dumpster?
Yes. Modern ACQ-treated lumber (post-2003) is landfill-acceptable in California and goes in any general-debris dumpster. Older CCA-treated lumber is also landfill-acceptable for residential demolition volumes never burned.
What about the concrete pier blocks?
Pier blocks can go in a general-debris dumpster as part of deck demo. For decks with 15+ pier blocks, weight starts to push toward overage. A split bin (10-yard inert + 10-yard general) often saves money on cost.
How long does deck removal take?
One to two weekend days for a typical 400 sq ft deck with two people, three to four days for a 600 sq ft two-level deck with one person. The slowest part is removing the pier blocks and patching the lawn or hardscape underneath.
