Sometimes, buildings, old buildings especially need to be removed. At other times, it must not necessarily be old buildings, but buildings that need to be reconstructed or redesigned. This is where demolition contractors come into the picture.
Demolition contractors are solely responsible for the entire process that encompasses the removal of buildings, structures, debris, or materials from a specific location. Just before you hire one, keep reading!
Demolition contractors —What do they do?
In the construction industry is a special class of people known as the “demolition contractors”. They are empowered with the sole responsibility of disassembling structures through different means such as blowing them up, knowing them down, or using any other means as long as it is safe. These structures may be made out of concrete, steel, or wood, and as such, working on demolition sites is quite dangerous.
This explains why demolition contractors must follow the best practices and the planning must be detailed too.
How demolition works
First off, before a building is demolished, there is what is called the pre-demolition process. Demolition contractors must put into consideration different factors before the main act of demolishing.
Carrying out building survey
In building survey, the different characteristics of a building such as building condition, draining, materials, construction method, etc., are studied extensively. Why is this important? Without carrying out a proper building survey, experts will not know the best demolition method to employ in demolishing the building.
Eliminating hazardous materials
Hazardous materials must be removed from the site by specialized personnel just before demolition. These hazardous materials include asbestos, radioactive materials, flammable substances, etc.
Even petroleum contamination must be eliminated too. Failure to do so will endanger the lives of the workers on the site.
Hatching a demolition plan
A proper and extensive demolition plan must be designed before demolition can be carried out on the building. Even the equipment used and how much debris to expect must be put into cognizance. Why? This will make the job of demolition contractors easier.
Secondly, it is to ensure everything stays within budget.
Implementing safety measures
Safety measures must be employed or implemented if hazardous events such as explosions from flammable materials, high levels of dust, etc., may occur. The demolition method chosen must not only be efficient but must also be the safest.
Types of demolition methods
Building implosion
This is the most impressive but less used method of demolition.
This method involves using explosives to known down a building from its inside. How? Explosives are extensively fitted in the left column of the building marked for demolition. Then, cables are used to control the building as it collapses on its sides.
Sometimes, explosives can be placed in the middle or lower support system of the building. Whatever the case may be, demolition contractors decide what works best.
Excavator demolition
Demolition contractors employ this method for smaller buildings less than 60 feet tall such as living houses, or offices.
For buildings over 60 feet tall, made out of concrete, steel, or masonry, a high-reach excavator is used. This type of excavator drastically cut down on flying debris, noise, or dust.
Other popular methods include selective demolition, wrecking ball demolition, etc.
