The world is not a blank canvas, awaiting new structures and foundations on every site. Many locations have already housed at least one previous project—and sometimes many more than that. To bring something new and fresh to that location, the remaining facilities from the previous project need to be safely and effectively removed with a professional site demolition.
Demolish-able Structures
Any established structure, foundation, or roadway can be demolished. The reasons are many, ranging from fire damage to poor construction to simply a new vision for a space. Depending on the reason, a demo can be total or partial, with the entire structure coming down or just pieces and parts of it.
In addition to the more easily pictured range of buildings that can be demolished, so can sidewalks, roads, pools, and walls.
Heavy Lifting
It is rare to find a demolition job that won’t be made easier with some heavy machinery. The classic image of a building demolition comes with a giant crane and wreaking ball, breaking into the sides of a building. But the crane does not stand alone. Demo jobs often require front-loaders, backhoes, and bulldozers, down to handheld machinery like jack- and sledge-hammers.
In short, buildings are made to be sturdy, so when the time comes to tear them down, the equipment needs to be doubly so. Additionally, building materials like concrete blocks, bricks, and steel are dense and heavy, adding to the need for sturdy machines to haul them around.
Safety First
Any time heavy machinery is in use, it’s especially important to ensure that safety protocols are strictly met to protect the operators and passersby. However, the need for safety doesn’t stop during the actual act of demolition.
It is common for demolished buildings, especially if they are older, to contain hazardous materials. Examples include asbestos, mercury, and lead-based paint—nothing that we want to throw into a landfill or leave fermenting in our neighborhoods. For that reason, a huge safety requirement with demolition companies is to both 1) test and report any found hazardous materials, and 2) properly dispose of those materials as quickly and effectively as possible.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In some cases, the demolished pieces of a structure can contribute to the construction of something new. Asphalt is a great example, as pieces of asphalt roads can be crushed down and repurposed into eco-friendly driveways. Depending on the site, other elements of the demolished structure might also be applied to future projects at a reduced cost.
Before committing to a demolition, make sure that you take these factors into consideration, and select a contractor with the proper equipment, adherence to regulations and safety protocols, and environmental savvy to conduct a high-quality site demolition.
