PRODUCT 04 · SITE ENCLOSURES · COMMERCIAL + INDUSTRIAL
Trash, Generator, and Mechanical Enclosures
Screening that survives a garbage truck, a code review, and ten years of weather.
Trash and dumpster enclosures, generator and mechanical equipment enclosures, and equipment screening. Fabricated in Rancho Cordova, installed within 600 miles of Sacramento.
2026 pricing
Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
| Item | 2026 budget range |
|---|---|
| Trash enclosure, single dumpster | $4,500 – $7,500 |
| Trash enclosure, double dumpster | $7,500 – $14,000 |
| Mechanical or generator enclosure | $8,000 – $25,000+ |
Budget pricing · 2026 Northern California · Not a quote — Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
What we build
| Type | Typical scope |
|---|---|
| Single dumpster enclosure | Steel frame, gates, hardware, bollards or wheel stops, and infill panels |
| Double dumpster enclosure | Same, sized for two containers, often with a walk-through gate |
| Recycling and organics enclosures | Multi-bin arrangements driven by local waste-diversion requirements |
| Generator enclosure | Weather, security, and acoustic screening with service access and ventilation |
| Mechanical equipment enclosure | Screening for chillers, condensers, pumps, and compressors |
| Rooftop equipment screening | Frame and panel screening for rooftop units |
| Utility and panel enclosures | Protective housings for controls, panels, and metering |
Infill options include steel plate, perforated panel, expanded metal, laser-cut decorative panel, wood or composite slats in a steel frame, and masonry infill within a steel structure.
ENCLOSURE EXTERIOR — PERSONNEL DOOR 
EXPLOSION ROOM — GRATING DECK AND SERVICESCHEMICAL PROCESSING · DWG PRJ-04
The gate is always the thing that breaks
Walk any commercial property and look at the trash enclosure. The gate is sagging, the cane bolt hole is worn out, the hinge is torn out of the post, and one leaf is tied open with a chain because it will not latch anymore.
That is not bad luck. It is the predictable result of hanging a heavy gate on an undersized post, with residential hardware, in a spot where a driver in a hurry will hit it with a truck.
We size the posts and hinges for a gate that gets slammed twice a day, set the posts in real footings, and put the hardware where it can be replaced without cutting the frame apart. Bollards in front of the posts are cheap insurance and we recommend them almost every time.
What we need to quote an enclosure
- Number and size of containers or the equipment being screened
- Overall dimensions available on the site
- Required height, and any local design guidelines or screening ordinance
- Infill preference: solid, perforated, slat, decorative panel, or masonry
- Gate configuration: swing, slide, walk-through, or none
- Existing pad or new pad required
- Whether an architect or the city has an approved design to match
- Ventilation and service access requirements for equipment enclosures
- Finish, or the environment so we can recommend one
Many jurisdictions and property owners have design standards for trash enclosures. Send them with the RFQ if they exist. Redesigning after a plan-check comment is the most expensive way to find out.
Divisions
Related services
Products
Related fabrication products
Custom Steel Auto Gates
Residential sliding gates $12,000-25,000, commercial $25,000-60,000+, heavy industrial $60,000+. Engineered, fabricated, installed. Automation coordinated.
Steel Bollards: Fixed, Decorative, and Removable
Standard steel bollards $450-850 each, decorative $950-2,500, removable or locking $1,500-3,500. Fabricated and installed from Rancho Cordova.
Pricing
Published 2026 budget pricing
Miller 3 Engineering publishes budget ranges instead of hiding them. Guardrail runs $165 to $225 per linear foot, a light-duty mezzanine runs $18,000 to $35,000, and a 20 to 30 foot fixed ladder runs $3,500 to $7,500, in 2026 Northern California, fabrication only.
| Item | 2026 budget range |
|---|---|
| Standard steel handrail, 2-line | $140 – $185 per linear foot |
| Guardrail system, 42" OSHA | $165 – $225 per linear foot |
| ADA compliant rail | $180 – $240 per linear foot |
| Fixed ladder, 20–30 ft | $3,500 – $7,500 |
| Steel framed roof access hatch | $3,500 – $8,000 |
| Light duty mezzanine | $18,000 – $35,000 |
| Heavy industrial mezzanine | $35,000 – $75,000+ |
| Standard steel | $450 – $850 each |
Budget pricing · 2026 Northern California · Not a quote — Fabrication only. Installation available after site visit and field review.
Common questions
How much does a steel trash enclosure cost?
A single dumpster enclosure runs $4,500 – $7,500 and a double dumpster enclosure runs $7,500 – $14,000 in 2026 Northern California, fabrication only. The spread comes down to size, infill material, gate configuration, and finish. Installation, including a concrete pad if one is needed, is quoted after a site visit.
Can you match our city's design standards?
Yes, if you send them. Many municipalities specify enclosure height, screening opacity, gate type, and sometimes materials. We build to the approved standard and, where a structural stamp is required, our engineers on staff design, draft, stamp, and pull permits.
How much does a generator enclosure cost?
Mechanical and generator enclosures run $8,000 – $25,000 and up, fabrication only. The drivers are size, whether acoustic attenuation is required, ventilation and airflow requirements, access panel arrangement, and finish. Acoustic requirements in particular can move the number substantially.
Will the enclosure block airflow to our equipment?
Not if it is designed properly, which is why we ask about ventilation requirements before quoting. Generators, condensers, and compressors all have minimum clearance and airflow needs published by the manufacturer. Send those pages with your RFQ and the design will respect them.
Can you build an industrial process enclosure, not just screening?
Yes, and that is a different service line. Process enclosures, hazardous-area enclosures including explosion rooms, and food and pharmaceutical enclosures are covered under specialized enclosures and are quoted individually rather than from this price guide.
Send a photo of the spot and the container count
Plus any city design standard you have to meet.