The demolition and wrecking industry in the US is worth a staggering $7 billion with about 4,368 businesses from across the country. No one likes bringing down what they tirelessly put up, but sometimes old structures and buildings have to pave way for new ones.
On the surface, a demolition project seems like a piece of cake. What’s so hard about wrecking a building with a wrecking ball and using bulldozers to clear the mess. However, you’d be surprised to learn demolition projects are just as hard as construction projects with project planning and everything else.
If you’re about to engage in a demolition project, it’s imperative to have a firm understanding of what the process entails for the best results. To help you out, we’ll be looking at everything you need to do for a successful demolition project.
Planning
Before you can send entire buildings crashing down, you have to map out the entire process. The planning stage is the first step of the process and entails laying out procedures for the demolition process. It’s also the stage where you get all the necessary permits and licenses from local authorities.
During the planning phase, it’s important to cover aspects of the demolition project like:
- What materials the contractor used to put up the structure or building
- What potentially hazardous materials are present on site
- Whether the building is a historic landmark
- Whether the demolition will be detrimental to the environment or wetlands
It’s also important to determine the project time frame and the weather during this stage of the demolition process. Be sure to give ample time for the project to ensure a thorough and complete job. Also, ensure you obtain all permits before beginning official demolition work.
Preparation
After planning everything out, you can now move to the preparation stage. The preparation phase is where you prepare the site for the actual demolition. The preparation stage breaks down into a few sub-stages, which include:
Staffing
Staffing entails getting demolition workers who will handle the demolition. All demolition workers fall under special trade contractors, according to OSHA. The workers must be experts in the following activities:-
- Breaking concrete to pave way for construction of streets and highways
- Demolishing buildings and structures save from marine structures
- Dismantling steel oil tanks
You’ll have to do your digging and find the best demolition contractor for the job. Don’t forget to check out reviews and testimonials to find out whether you’re in the right hands.
Building Inspection
Inspecting the building or structure you’re going to demolish is a critical part of the demolition process. An inspection will ensure the building set for demolition is free from any toxic substances like asbestos. That way, you can take the right steps to protect workers and the general public; remember safety first.
For the building inspection, you’ll have to hire a skilled building inspector. The inspection will culminate in a comprehensive report on the buildings’ condition. The inspector will then give the go-ahead on whether you should demolish the building.
Budgeting and Contingency Planning
Demolition can be very costly, depending on the type of project you’ll be embarking on. Budgeting is an important part of the demolition process to ensure you keep everything in control. For proper budgeting, you’ll have to work closely with the project managers to create the most cost-effective budget.
While budgeting, don’t forget to include emergency and contingency expenses. Demolition is a risky job, so ensure you have enough funds to cover unexpected events.
Creating the Building Inventory
You’ll also want to create a comprehensive inventory of the building you want to bring down. That way, you can decide whether there’s anything you want to keep. For instance, you can choose to keep furniture like desks, chairs, and cabinets.
Aside from keeping the said items, you can decide to donate them to charity. There are tons of charitable organizations that will gladly accept these items. Lastly, you can decide to sell them if they’re still in good condition.
For chemicals and toxic substances like left over paint, consider hiring a professional waste disposal company. That way you can properly dispose of the waste without harming human life or the environment.
Actual Demolition
This stage is where you have to roll up your sleeves and get to actual work. You’ll first have to determine what demolition method you’ll use to demolish the building in question. Mechanical demolition is the most popular form of demolition that involves using equipment like bulldozers, excavators, and breakers to bring down the building.
Apart from mechanical demolition, you can opt for deconstruction. As the name implies, deconstruction involves deconstructing the building step-by-step. In most cases, contractors will use both a combination of mechanical demolition and deconstruction.
To demolish a building, you’ll have to do one or a combination of the following:
Implosion: involves making a building collapse from the inside out.
Wrecking ball: Involves using a large wrecking ball to bring the building to the ground.
Excavator demolition: This involves using an excavator to topple the building.
Regardless of your demolition method, you must adhere to all safety precautions. It’s also important to ensure that the demolition contractor has proper worker’s compensation insurance. This insurance will shield you from liability in case any worker gets injured on the job.
Cleaning Up
Once you bring the entire structure, the final step of the process is to clean up after the mess. This is a lot of work and requires just as much attention as the demolition process. To save you some precious time and money, consider hiring Demolition Clean Up Services to do the dirty work.
After a thorough clean-up, you can remove the signage and conclude your demolition work.
Demolition and Project Planning Made Easy
Project planning for your next demolition endeavor should be a piece of cake with the information above. Remember to only hire a reputable demolition contractor for the demolition work. Also, don’t forget to hire a clean-up service to leave the demolition site squeaky clean.
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