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Four day reroof on an occupied house: do I still need a porta potty if the homeowner says use the bathroom?

Brad L.asked 4 viewsConstruction & Job SitesConstruction sitesOsha 1926 51Standard unitPlacementTruck accessShort term rental

I do mostly framing but picked up a tear off and reroof on a two story house next week. Crew of six, four days if the weather holds, and the family is living there the whole time.

The homeowner told me the guys can just use the downstairs half bath. Nice of her, but I picture six roofers in dirty boots walking through her kitchen all day and I'm not sure that even counts as toilet facilities for my crew.

The driveway is going to have the dumpster on it, so the only open spot for a unit would be the side yard on grass, maybe 40 feet from the street.

For a job this short, is a porta potty actually required or is the house bathroom good enough? And if I do get one, will the truck be able to service it on the lawn?

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Hector V.Phoenix, AZ

Yes, you need a portable toilet. The homeowner's bathroom does not satisfy the OSHA 1926.51(c) requirement for construction sites. For a crew of six, OSHA requires one toilet. The standard is based on providing separate, dedicated facilities for the crew to maintain sanitation and avoid disrupting the residence.

Order a standard portable toilet. It is the correct type for a four-day roofing job. The crew will not track debris through the house, and you comply with the law. Place the unit on the side yard grass. The 40-foot distance from the street is acceptable for truck access; the vacuum truck hose can reach that far. Ensure the ground is firm and level.

You will not need a service visit for a four-day job. A standard unit has a holding tank capacity sufficient for a six-person crew over four days. The rental company will deliver it clean and pick it up after the job. The main cost drivers are the delivery fee and the short-term rental rate. Staking the unit is a good idea if the ground is soft.

  • Carl D. Agree on the side yard. One thing I'd add from our jobs: put a couple of plywood sheets down under the unit if it rained recently, otherwise it sinks and leans by day two on soft grass.
0
Deb K.Akron, OH

Hector is right about OSHA 1926.51, but the truck driver will need clear access to the side yard without driving on the grass, so confirm the route is firm and won't leave ruts. A standard portable toilet holds enough for four days, but if it's hot or the crew drinks a lot of water, you might consider a mid-week service. The rental company will stake it on grass if needed. Avoid using the house bathroom; it keeps the homeowner happy and meets the separate facilities rule.

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