Dumpster Enclosure Fence Construction

A dumpster enclosure has a harder life than almost any fence. The container gets dragged in and out, the truck bumps the gates, employees swing them open with full hands, and the whole thing has to look respectable from the road because that is why it was required in the first place. We build enclosures for restaurants, stores, churches, RV parks, apartment and HOA common areas, and businesses around Lake Livingston, in wood, chain link, R-panel and mixes of the three, always with gates framed in steel and posts set for the abuse.

What makes an enclosure last

• Steel-framed gates. The gates take every hit. A welded steel frame with R-panel, wood or chain link infill stays square; a wood-only gate sags in a season.
• Heavy gate posts, deep in concrete, with the hinges welded or through-bolted, not lag-screwed.
• Bollards or curb stops inside the enclosure so the container stops before it hits the back wall and the truck stops before it hits the gate posts.
• Sized to the hauler. Container dimensions, lid swing, gate swing and the truck's approach all set the footprint.
• Gate hardware that works with full hands: cane bolts, drop rods, a center stop and a latch that holds against wind.

Material options

Chain link with privacy slats is the economical screen and is common on commercial sites. R-panel on a steel frame is the most durable solid screen and matches a metal building. Wood privacy fence on heavy posts looks best in front of a restaurant or a church and needs bollards to survive. Masonry or block walls with steel gates are built where the site plan calls for them, often in combination with our gates. See R-panel fence, chain link and privacy fence for the fence side of each. Why build a dumpster enclosure, and how to build it right covers codes and layout.

Other enclosures

The same construction serves mechanical and HVAC screens, propane and generator enclosures, recycling areas and equipment corrals. If a site plan calls for something screened and gated, it is the same job to us. See commercial fencing for the rest of what we build for businesses.

Repairs

Bent gates, broken hinges and pushed-over posts are normal wear on an enclosure. We rehang and re-square gates, replace posts and infill, and add the bollards that should have been there the first time. See fence and gate repair.

What affects the price of an enclosure

Material for the three screened sides, the gate construction, and the posts and bollards. Chain link with slats is the economical screen; R-panel on steel is more; masonry is most. Steel-framed gates on heavy posts are the one item we do not scale down, because they are what the truck hits. Bollards, a concrete pad and a hold-open for the gates each add a line. We price it from the hauler's container dimensions and your site's requirement, so the enclosure is the right size the first time.

Layout on the site

The enclosure has to sit where the truck can approach it straight, back away from it, and swing the container without hitting a car, a sign or the building. It should be out of the customer's sightline from the entrance and downwind of the patio. We walk the site with you and, if the hauler has an approach requirement, we build to it. Moving an enclosure after it is built is the expensive version of this conversation.

Frequently asked questions

How big does a dumpster enclosure need to be?

Big enough for the container, clearance to open the lid and the gates, and room for the truck to reach it. We size it with the hauler's container dimensions and pickup approach, not a guess.

What material lasts best?

Steel-framed gates with R-panel or chain link infill take the daily abuse best. Wood looks good and costs less but needs bollards and heavy posts to survive the truck and the container. Many enclosures use wood or masonry on three sides and steel gates.

Do you build them for HOAs and city requirements?

Yes. Many sites require a screened enclosure of a certain height and finish. Bring us the requirement and we will build to it.