Preparing For Demolition
Posted on: 13 July 2020
Removing an old structure to make way for new construction can be exciting, but it also involves a lot of work. Luckily a demolition company can do most of this work for you, but you still need to prepare for the demolition date. Taking down a building is not like disassembling furniture; while it sounds simple enough, a lot more goes into building construction than flat-packing a bookcase. If you're about to have a building demolished on your property, prepare carefully.
Make Sure All Utilities Have Been Fully Shut Off
Shutting off all utilities should take just a phone call, but sometimes it's not that simple. The water, electricity, and gas that is sent to a building won't be cut off cleanly right after you call. In fact, it can take several days for all utilities to be fully cut off. This means that if you don't arrange for utility shutoffs with enough time between the date you call and the date of demolition, you could find residual gas flowing through the lines. Be sure you know when the lines will be completely shut off; the utility company can help you there.
Arrange for Salvage
Some demolition companies offer salvage services, but others don't. When you demolish the building, you'll have access to things like copper wiring and concrete that could be recycled. Ask the demolition company about their salvage and recycling services; if they don't offer those, you'll have to arrange for separate salvage and removal services yourself. Don't ignore salvage, by the way, thinking that you won't have time or that it won't matter; you can make money on what looks like trash, lowering your overall costs for the demolition. Recycling, too, is important as you can reduce what goes into landfills by a substantial amount.
Verify Lead and Asbestos Abatement
If the building is very old, you'll need to be sure there are no lead or asbestos parts remaining in the building before demolition. Demolishing the structure would kick up lead and asbestos into the air, and that can be dangerous because of the inhalation risk. Have the structure inspected and arrange for abatement if needed. Note that demolition companies will want to know if these substances have been removed before proceeding with the demolition.
As you can see, the overall process to get a building demolished can take some time. Start now so that the actual demolition services go well, and you can start building a new structure as soon as possible.
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