There are many reasons to demolish a building. Some reasons may include needing the space to build something new, unsafe conditions, or the structure of the building is compromised.
There is probably one point in your life where you have seen the demolition of a building, but several factors play into demolishing a building before construction companies are given the go-ahead. Click homecarecontractor.com to learn more about the contractor’s role in the demolition process.
If you are planning to demolish a building for any reason, then contacting a professional demolition contractor is necessary. But, to give you an overview of how the demolition process works, we have some information for you to learn.
Phase One: Pre-Demolition
Before properly demolishing a building, there are some things that need to be checked off. The pre-demolition phase helps to get the process started.
The first thing that needs to happen is for professionals to survey the building. The experts are surveying the method of construction, building codes, traffic conditions, materials of the building, and the surrounding areas of the building. After surveying the building, the professionals can let you know the best steps to take for demolition.
The next stage in the pre-demolition phase is to check for any hazardous materials. Hazardous materials will include radioactive materials, anything flammable, gas contamination, and mold or asbestos. If any of these materials are found, professionals must remove them before starting the demolition. Removing the hazardous material will help keep the construction team and everyone in the surrounding areas safe.
After these two parts then the demolition can be planned. The planning includes the materials professionals will use to conduct the demolition, where and who will be part of the demolition team and the clean-up plan.
The last step is making sure the proper safety precautions are taken for those hired to do the demolition. Safety precautions may include appropriate equipment to be worn, where people need to be at the time of the demolition, and what role the professionals will take to conduct the demolition. The construction company that is conducting the demolition should also acquire the proper permits.
Phase Two: Selecting a Demolition Method
Phase two consists of choosing the safest demolition method. Although you may have seen buildings get imploded, that is not always the safest method. Many other demolition methods are conducted to ensure the safety of all workers.
One way to conduct demolition of a building is by implosion. One way to implode a building is by putting explosives inside the building and inserting cables; the building collapses to one side. Another way to implode a building is by putting explosives in specific places in the building. That way, it falls in on itself.
If you need to implode a building, you will need experts to conduct the process. Before conducting the implosion, they will need to mark a few things off a checklist. The experts will need to examine blueprints to see where the safest places are to put the explosives. There will need to be site preparation to ensure debris does not go flying everywhere. The experts will also have to select the type of explosives required for that particular building. Finally, the experts will set the explosives and set a time for detonation to occur. Imploding a building requires tact and knowledge of the equipment needed. Therefore, it is not safe to do it on your own.
Another way to demolish a building is by excavation. Excavation is an excellent method to use for small office buildings. However, if the building is tall, you will need a high reaching excavator. Using excavation as a demolition method is much safer and less troublesome to the surrounding areas due to less noise and less flying debris. The building is taken down by the excavator equipment, including shears, crushers, and hydraulic hammers. If there is any remaining debris, the crew members will clean it up using other tools.
Another way to demolish a building is by a wrecking ball. Wrecking ball demolishes are not used often because they produce a lot of debris and for safety concerns. Wrecking balls weigh anywhere from 1000 to 12,000 pounds, so when the wrecking ball is swung, it creates massive destruction of a building.
The final way to demolish a building is by selective demolition. Selective demolition consists of selecting specific parts of the building to remove piece by piece. Selective demolition is eco-friendly because fragments of the building can be reused and not put into a dump. If you choose to demolish a building, some steps need to be taken before starting the demolition.
Experts must prepare the site by turning off water and electricity sources. Experts then strip away the building, only leaving the exterior intact. Next, experts remove materials like floor beams, walls, or columns and shore up the building. Lastly, the crew will organize and clean up debris to be reused.
Phase Three: Cleaning Up
Once a demolition method is chosen and implemented, the last phase in the demolition process is to clean up the pieces and start constructing a new building. Of course, when building a new structure, you must get the proper permits and zoning to create something new. If you hire an expert crew, this phase of the demolition process is much smoother and guaranteed to be easier than picking up the pieces all on your own, plus you need to dispose of the waste created from the demolition properly.
Depending on your needs as a business owner, you can pick the proper demolition method for you. Be sure to choose the safest and easiest way for your building type.