The equipment was installed from the scaffolded work area and used to funnel debris from the courthouse's steep, high-elevation roof sections to a designated disposal area below. That allowed crews to continuously remove slate and other tear-off material without stockpiling it on weight-limited scaffolding, according to a project profile from Rocket Equipment.

Approximately 160,000 pounds of slate were removed during the project. The approach also reduced the amount of crane time required for debris removal, according to Sterling. Project Superintendent Brady Keller estimated that eliminating the crane saved approximately $3,500 per day. Sterling also estimated that crews avoided another $1,600 per day in labor expenses.

Over the project's 15-day tear-off period, those savings amounted to approximately $76,500 in avoided crane and labor costs, according to the companies.

"The Trash Rocket proved to be a cost-effective solution for the tear-off," Keller said. "It provided a safe and controlled environment, ensuring the safety of all personnel around the building."

The courthouse project was Sterling's third using the debris-removal equipment. The project highlights a logistical issue roofing contractors can face when working on historic, occupied or otherwise constrained buildings, where staging space, scaffolding capacity and access for cranes and other equipment can affect both productivity and project costs.

For Sterling, selecting a debris-removal method became part of managing those constraints while crews completed work on the historic courthouse.