Key takeaways
- Order by 2 PM and a unit can be on a Smith County pad the next business day.
- Most barndominium shells keep a unit about two months.
- Set it on the gravel drive, not fresh fill or red clay.
Can I get a porta potty before framing starts tomorrow?
In most of Smith County, yes — order by 2 PM and the unit arrives the next business day. A barndominium owner in our log called the evening before framers arrived and asked whether that was too fast. It's a common call, and the answer is usually no.
“They are coming to start framing tomorrow. So, I don't know if it's that fast of a turnaround.”
How long do barndominium builds keep a unit?
About two months for most shells — framing, roofing, windows and dry-in — and longer if crews stay for finish-out. Monthly units bill every 28 days with weekly cleaning, so a two-month build is two cycles plus one delivery. Billing stops the day you call for pickup.
| Phase | Typical crew | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Slab & framing | 6–12 | 1 |
| Roof, windows, dry-in | 4–10 | 1 |
| Finish-out, overlapping trades | 10–25 | 1–2 |
What does it cost?
About $179–$199 per 28 days with weekly service, plus a one-time $49 delivery and free pickup — about $407–$447 for a two-month shell. Other quotes in our log ran $361 for the first month and $225 after, so ask for the full-project total.
Where should it go on the lot?
Beside the gravel drive or construction entrance, 10–20 feet from the slab, on settled ground — never on fresh fill or in a swale, where East Texas red clay holds water after storms. The weekly service truck must reach it every visit.
- Gravel drive or construction entrance.
- 10–20 ft from the slab.
- Settled ground, not fill.
- Out of drainage swales.
- Map pin + gate code for the driver.
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Related questions
We're building a barndominium. When should the porta potty arrive?
The day before framing starts. A barndominium owner in our log called the evening before the framers arrived — “they are coming to start framing tomorrow” — and asked if that was too fast. In Smith County it usually isn't, if you order by 2 PM. Plan about two months for most barndominium shells.
How many porta potties does my crew need?
OSHA 29 CFR 1926.51 Table D-1 requires 1 toilet for 20 or fewer workers, then 1 toilet seat and 1 urinal per 40 workers. Our units include a urinal. A 68-unit apartment build that starts with a few framers can begin with two units and add more as trades arrive.
It rained. Can you still deliver on red clay?
Usually, if the truck can stay on the driveway or road. Our trucks don't drive onto soaked red clay or fresh sod, because they rut the yard. The driver sets the unit on the nearest firm ground and calls you. For farms and new build lots, a gravel pad or the end of the drive is ideal.
Can I keep a porta potty for six months?
Yes. Monthly rentals renew every 28 days at the same rate with weekly service, and you can stop any time — billing ends on the day you call for pickup. Callers have kept units for camper stays, lake-lot builds and deer-lease seasons.