The Ins and Outs of Demolition: Do You Know Them All?
In this comprehensive post, we'll go over;
The ins and outs of demolition!
You'll learn;
- Different demo scenarios.
- Types of demo projects
- Cleanup and Recycling.
- Permits, Regulations and Safety
So if you've ever asked yourself any of these questions, you'll love this post!
Contents
Demolition Scenarios
Demolition can mean a variety of things. Sometimes it can mean to tear down a home or building completely for almost any reason.
Maybe a new building or home will be going in its place, maybe the property will be used for green space, either way, that will require some form of demolition.
Other kinds occur when someone wants to make changes to the interior or exterior of their home or building. It could be gutting the whole interior and starting over, or possibly just one area like a kitchen or bathroom.
Possibly adding a new area to the existing structure? Regardless of the job, big or small, it is likely some form of demolition.
Rock Environmental is no beginner in the realm of demolition. Many scenarios or instances have occurred, and our professionals handled each case with care and professionalism.
While there are many reasons why someone would need demolition services, below are some of the common scenarios we have encountered.
Removal of Old/Dilapidated Buildings
Building Expansions
Gutting
Damage or Hazard
Underground Tank Demo & Removal (septic, fuel)
Swimming Pools
Chimney Demolition & Removal
Concrete or Asphalt Demolition & Removal
Concrete Removal is often used to demolish parking structures, parking lots, foundations, and even driveways. Heavy machinery is used to break it into manageable pieces which are then removed and recycled for future use.
Types of Demolition
With there being so many different reasons to have some sort of demolition completed, it would be good to know what different types are available. It is important to know the scope of your project to best determine what needs to be done. When you are looking for a demolition contractor in the Rochester, NY area, you want to pick only the best.
Best isn’t only about the work they do, it is also about how they manage their time, the structure, any clean-up required after the fact as well as managing permits, regulations, and all safety procedures.
Don’t worry, Rock Environmental has you covered on all sides! Take a look below at the 4 common types of demolition provided by the Rock Environmental professionals.
Interior - Interior Demolition is the removal of architectural finishes such as wall covering (paint, wallpaper, plaster), flooring (carpet, tile, linoleum, wood floors), interior walls, ceilings, plumbing, electrical components. Commonly used when remodeling a room such as a bathroom or a kitchen. The outside of the structure is preserved and untouched.
Selective - Specific or select areas that can be interior or exterior, meant to not affect surrounding areas and often creates less waste. Requires highly trained and skilled technicians to remove isolated portions of a structure without disturbing the other areas.
Structural - Usually demolition of an entire building or structure. Can be completed in numerous ways including a crane/wrecking ball, controlled implosion (use of explosives), high-reach arm machinery, bulldozers, and more. Removes everything all the way down to the foundation.
Deconstruction/Dismantling - Sometimes called soft demolition, it is a partial removal of a structure, usually taken apart piece by piece. Can Include flooring, walls, block walls, curbs, retaining walls, asphalt, drop ceilings, interior fixtures, and more. The intent is to salvage materials for recycling or to sell. Depending on the materials, they can be refurbished and reused.
Demolition Cleanup and Recycling
Rock Environmental takes pride in the efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle following all EPA guidelines. During any of our demolition projects, if there are materials that can be salvaged for reuse, we do our best to not cause damage to them.
Examples of this can include fixtures, doors, and hardware from within the home from an interior demolition, or wood from a deconstruction project. Oddly enough, old, weathered barn wood is quite popular.
Concrete, asphalt, brick, and other masonry materials can be recycled for use in new materials. The more that can be refurbished and reused or recycled, the less that ends up in a landfill or the environment.
For any leftover materials that are considered waste and not recyclable, we provide on-site dumpsters and landfill hauling. With our dumpster services, there is no need to use another company which will save money in the long run for waste removal. Clean-up is just as important as the demolition project.
Rock Environmental is also a HAZWOPER trained and IICRC certified remediation and demolition company. What does this mean? It means that we are certified for the removal of hazardous materials that may be on your property.
Oftentimes, homes, or industrial buildings need to be demolished because they may be hazardous or cause a significant amount of safety concerns.
In any structure that needs mold removal, asbestos abatement, or lead-paint removal, we will be able to not only resolve the problem but effectively remove the waste from your property to their designated landfills.
Demolition Permits and Regulations
When doing any type of work to your property, whether it be a demolition or even adding a simple fence, there are permits involved. Permits must be obtained before a project is to start to avoid the town taking legal action against you or your contractor.
Permits can be obtained at your local city or town hall. Depending on what type of work is being done may change the fees associated with the permit.
Some are a flat rate for smaller projects like building a storage shed or a small back deck. Regardless, one must be obtained before any work is started.
Check with your contractor to see if they obtain the permits, otherwise, they can advise you on what is needed for your project.
Demolition Safety
Safety is probably the most important aspect of any residential or Commercial Demolition project. Part of our training process for all employees ensures that all training, licensing, and certifications of all machinery have been completed. Based on the project location, we map out routes to medical centers in the event of an emergency.
Additionally, our crew members have also received CPR and first aid training through our extensive safety meetings. We also have plans in place to reduce the risks of falling as well as policies on wearing protective gear. Lastly, all of our professionals adhere to OSHA standards!
Prior to starting any construction or demolition, we must first go through a safety inspection.
We check for hazardous materials that may cause health concerns not only for you and your family but also for our crew members. If we find anything like mold or asbestos, we must take other forms of precautionary measures before starting the actual project.
At this time, we follow our decontamination procedures for hazardous materials. Something like this can be unexpected, so there may be delays in project completion.
We may also look for any infestations of pests. This can include, but not be limited to mice, bees, bats, or raccoons. If we find anything like that, we will need to call in exterminators or wildlife rehabilitation experts to remove the animals for relocation.
In addition to the above-stated safety measures we take, we conduct a variety of others through the duration of the project:
- Environmental testing
- Air monitoring
- Work area clearance
- Confined space entry plan
- Fire protection plan
- Lock-out / tag-out procedures
In closing, demolition can take place for almost any reason. There are various ways it can be completed, and many things that are taken into consideration for each project. It is important to find the best demolition contractors in the Rochester, NY area, and Rock Environmental is it!
Not only will we conduct a safe demolition project for you, but they can also assist with any mold remediation, flood or water damage restoration, and other environmental issues. Rock is a one-stop-shop, let it be yours!
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