Renting a Porta Potty for a Home Renovation
A porta potty for a home renovation keeps the crew out of your house and gives the family a backup when the only bathroom is torn out.
Rent a porta potty for a home renovation when the only bathroom is out of service, the water is shut off, or you do not want a crew using your house. A flat event rate covers up to 7 days. Remodels lasting longer go on a 28-day cycle with weekly service included. Most driveways work.
Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Quote requests answered within 1 business hour.
Do you need a porta potty for a home renovation?
You need a porta potty for a home renovation when the house has one bathroom and it is being torn out, when the water is shut off, or when you want the crew out of your home. The crew and the family have different needs, so decide who the unit is for before you book.
The crew
Contractors with employees on site must provide a toilet under OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51. A bathroom in the house can count when the owner allows it and the plumbing works. Many homeowners prefer not to share once drywall dust and work boots start moving through the hallway.
Our OSHA toilet requirements guide explains the crew rule.
The family
A family loses its bathroom during a single-bath remodel, a sewer line repair or a main water shutoff. That is the case where a deluxe flushing unit with an inside sink is worth the step up.
Should I rent by the event or on a 28-day cycle?
Rent on our flat event rate when the work takes 7 days or less, such as a water shutoff or a quick fixture swap. Rent on a 28-day cycle when the remodel runs longer than a week. The 28-day cycle includes weekly pump-out, cleaning and restocking, which a full household plus a crew will need.
| Rental | Best for | Typical starting price | Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard unit, event rate | Shutoffs and jobs of 7 days or less | From $165 | Arrives cleaned and stocked |
| Standard unit, 28-day cycle | Remodels longer than a week | From $150 per 28 days | Weekly service included |
| Deluxe flushing unit, event rate | Family use during a short job | From $275 | Arrives cleaned and stocked |
The 28-day cycle is billed every 28 days and is not prorated. When the job ends, call or text and we schedule pickup. Billing stops on the pickup date of the cycle you are in. Details are on the monthly rentals page, and short jobs are covered on the short-term rentals page.
How long does a bathroom or kitchen remodel take?
A bathroom or kitchen remodel usually takes several weeks, not days, once demolition, rough plumbing, inspection, tile and fixtures are counted. Kitchens tend to run longer than baths. Your contractor's written schedule is the number to plan around. Book the porta potty for the full window the bathroom or water will be out.
Delays are common. Tile backorders, a failed inspection or a hidden leak can add a week. A 28-day cycle absorbs that without a new order.
A water shutoff for a main line or water heater swap is different. Most of those finish in a day, and the event rate fits.
Mon–Sat, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Quote requests answered within 1 business hour.
Where does the porta potty go during a remodel?
During a remodel, the porta potty usually goes on the driveway, beside the garage or at the end of the drive. The spot must be level and firm, with the service truck able to park within about 25 feet. Keep it about 10 feet from windows and doors, and out of the way of the dumpster and material deliveries.
A backyard spot works through a gate at least 48 inches wide. Most remodel crews prefer the driveway because it is close to the work truck.
Your own driveway needs no city permit. A unit in the street is a different matter; the placement guide covers permits and clearances.
What are good rules for a remodel crew porta potty?
Good rules for a remodel crew porta potty are simple: the crew uses the unit, not the house; the door stays latched shut; nothing goes in the tank but waste and toilet paper; and the path stays clear on service day. Put these in writing with the contractor at the start of the job.
- No paint, drywall mud, grout or rinse water in the tank. It hardens and makes pumping hard.
- Close the door after each use so rain and leaves stay out.
- Keep the dumpster, trailer and pallets from blocking the truck's spot.
- Tell the homeowner if supplies run low, and we restock on the next service.
Add your own padlock to the hasp if you want the unit locked at night. We remove it at pickup.
What does a remodel porta potty timeline look like?
A remodel porta potty timeline starts with delivery the day before demolition and ends with pickup after the final fixture works. On a five-week bath remodel, that means two 28-day cycles if the work runs past day 28. Weekly service runs the whole time, and you text us when the bathroom is back.
Day 0: delivery
The unit arrives the day before demo. Mark the spot; nobody needs to be home.
Weeks 1–4: weekly service
The truck pumps, cleans and restocks once a week. Add a visit if the house and crew share.
Day 29: new cycle
We send a reminder 3 days before the next cycle begins, so you can decide whether to keep the unit.
Final day: pickup
Once the toilet flushes again, call or text. Billing stops on the pickup date.
Remodel porta potty questions
Should the homeowner or the contractor rent the porta potty?
Either one can rent it, and the contract should say who. A contractor with employees on site has its own OSHA duty to provide a toilet. Many remodel contracts already include one. If yours does not, a homeowner can book it directly and the unit goes on the homeowner's quote.
Can my family use the same porta potty as the remodel crew?
Everyone can share one standard unit on a small job. A family of four plus a three-person crew will fill it faster, so weekly service on a 28-day cycle makes sense. Some families add a second unit or a deluxe flushing unit with a sink just for the household.
Is there something nicer than a standard unit for my family?
A deluxe flushing porta potty adds a foot-pump flush and a sink inside, with no water or power hookup. For a household going weeks without a bathroom, a deluxe unit for the family and a standard unit for the crew is a common pairing. Ask for both on one quote.
We only lose water for one day. Is a porta potty worth it?
A one-day water shutoff is the shortest case. A standard unit on a flat event rate covers up to 7 days, so it also covers a plumber running late. If neighbors or a nearby business can host you for the day, you may not need one.
Can the porta potty go in the garage during a winter remodel?
Units are not placed inside garages. The service truck needs to park within about 25 feet and reach the unit outdoors. Set it on the driveway beside the garage door, out of the wind. From November through March we add non-freezing treatment to the tank.
Mathew, owner of Mathew Rental Works
Mathew runs dispatch, routing and servicing from the Mathew Rental Works yard at 1756 Tennessee Ave in Bond Hill, Cincinnati. He checked this page against how our crews deliver, service and pick up units.
Questions about your site? Call him at (513) 270-1174, Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. More about us.
Get a porta potty for your Cincinnati remodel
Send your address, start date and how long the work should run. We match the rate to the job and send one itemized price.
Fastest answer: call dispatch now.
(513) 270-1174Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Quote requests answered within 1 business hour. Call before 12 p.m. for same-day delivery on most Greater Cincinnati orders.
Mathew Rental Works
1756 Tennessee Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229