Fall is a great time to get in a few last outdoor projects before the cold and wet winter weather sets in. In many parts of the United States, fall weather is sunny, temperate in temperature, and pleasant for working outside. If your yard has any eyesores you want to move to the landfill or repairs to complete on your home, here are tips to help you complete them with the right equipment and machinery to make the work lighter.

Prep for a New Roof

Your home's roof and shingles take a great deal of wear and tear from the sun, wind, and other types of adverse weather that have been affecting weather around the country. Shingles, especially those on the side of your roof that face the sun, will begin to show signs of damage first, which will let you know it is time to replace them. They will begin to curl up at their edges, and some may even blow loose during a storm with high winds.

When you replace your roofing shingles, it is recommended to remove the old layer of shingles first so you can inspect the roofing deck and replace any areas of damage. But this labor to your roof replacement can add several thousand dollars to the cost, depending on the size of your home. To help you alleviate some of this cost, you can remove your old shingles before your professional roofers arrive and install the new shingles. Be sure to use safety harness equipment and the proper shingle removal tools, such as shingle shovels or forks.

Look into getting a roll-off dumpster rental from a local waste management company. They will deliver and can position the dumpster directly below your roof's edge so as you scrape and remove the old shingles from your roof, you can push them off directly into the dumpster.

When your removal job is completed, call the dumpster rental company for its pickup. This eliminates your having to haul the shingles and other roofing materials to the dump in a pickup truck or trailer, especially as shingles can be quite heavy. Shingles covering an area on your roof of only 33 square feet can weigh up to 80 pounds.

Remove Old Concrete

Old concrete in your yard can look unattractive and take up yard space that you could use for other purposes, so removing it is helpful for improving your yard. If the concrete is already broken apart, you just need to remove it into your rented dumpster. Use a wheelbarrow to move and dump the concrete chunks into the dumpster. Most roll-off dumpsters are equipped with a doorway hatch on its side to make it easier to load it with refuse.

If the chunks are large or there is a great deal of concrete, you might consider renting a Bobcat to pick up and transport the pieces. Concrete can be quite heavy, weighing up to 150 pounds per cubic foot.

If the old concrete slab is still intact, you will need to demolish the slab with a jackhammer or a sledgehammer. Choose the type of tool that you are comfortable with using; a rented hydraulic or electric-powered sledgehammer can be much heavier than a 19-pound sledgehammer, but it will get the job done faster.

Repair Gravel-Paved Areas

The gravel paving in your yard is an inexpensive way to keep down dust and mud and give your vehicles traction. But as you use your gravel parking area, the gravel gets moved around from your vehicle's wheels and potholes can begin to appear.

Order a load of gravel and have it delivered to your yard, or buy gravel in bags from a home improvement store, which you can use to fill in any sunken spots in your gravel parking area. To fill in voids in a large gravel-paved area, you can use a Bobcat to spread it evenly, or you can use a shovel and a rake to smooth and level the new gravel into position.