house demolition tips

House demolition seems like an easy job. Nevertheless, before any machine can get to work, there are necessary preparations that must be done. You don’t instantly tear down your house once you decide to move out and have it demolished. You have to take care of several preparations before you can even start. Demolition is a long process before you can call it completed.

If it’s your first time demolishing a home, here are ten crucial things that you need to know before you do it.

1. Determine Which Demolition Method You Will Use

This should be the first on your demolition to-do list: decide how you will demolish your house.

You can take apart a house in two ways: deconstruction or mechanical demolition. Deconstruction is demolition by hand. You strip and deconstruct the house piece by piece manually to salvage materials that can still be used. With this method, about 25% of materials can be reused while 70% can be recycled. On the other hand, mechanical demolition uses hydraulic excavators and other heavy machinery to tear down your house.

2. Look For a Demolition Contractor

House demolition is not a DIY project. Although some may do it easily by themselves, demolishing a house is dangerous. Hiring a licensed and insured demolition contractor is still the best way to do this job.

When you hire a contractor, they can present options and solutions regarding your planned demolition. As professionals experienced in this kind of job, they also know how to protect themselves against injuries and other potential hazards while keeping the project safe for all involved. Demolition contractors also have the necessary materials and equipment needed to complete the demolition project.

3. Get the Necessary Permits

When you’re planning for demolition, you should consider your local ordinances to make sure you’re doing it the right way. Obtain permits before starting any demolition work. This will require some paperwork. For example, if there’s a giant tree that’s blocking the path, you need to have it removed first. That requires a tree permit from your city. You should check your local government’s website of regarding their rules and regulations about demolition.

4. Let Your House Be Inspected By a Professional

If you hire a demolition contractor, then they will probably inspect the house before tearing it down. Also, to issue permits, your local government may require inspections. This is important, especially for older houses. Inspections are needed to determine the presence of hazardous materials, such as asbestos or lead paint. An asbestos inspection should be done to know if remediation is needed before demolition. Asbestos-containing materials are dangerous to anyone who will work on the site because inhaling them can cause lung cancer and other health problems.

5. Disconnect All Installed Services

To avoid any accidents, make sure that all installed services, including gas, water, electricity and sewage, are fully disconnected. Service termination requests should be completed weeks prior to demolition. If services are not properly shut off and disconnected, they can pose dangers to the demolition team. Your neighbor can also be at risk of losing services if your demolition work happens to damage the supply sources.

6. Inform Your Neighbors

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep your neighbors informed about your demolition project beforehand. Such work may disturb them because of the noise, dust, and dirt. Giving them advance notice will help them prepare for the upcoming mess and chaos.

7. Do Not Stay In Your House During Demolition

With things becoming messy and dusty, it is not recommended for you to stay in your house that’s being demolished. It would be unsafe and unwise for you to remain there. This is also true for your pets. During demolition, the danger of falling objects and debris should be enough for you to stay away.

8. Recover Salvageable Materials

When there’s anything that can be salvaged in your home, let your contractor know it so they can recover these materials, which can then be reused, resold, or donated. If there’s a charity that can assist you, free of charge, you can also consider this option. You can donate the salvageable materials to them and support their cause while they help you save time and money.

9. If You’re Doing it Yourself, Rent a Demolition Dumpster

Typically you should not do a demolition yourself. However, if you are familiar with the work and experienced in it, you can proceed with it. To help you clean up after the project, you can consider renting a demolition dumpster to remove all the debris.

10. Create a Contingency Plan

Your demolition project may not go as planned. Situations and extra expenses may arise throughout the process. This makes a contingency plan essential before you start on your demolition job. Whether it’s bad weather or lack of supplies that can slow down the work, you can quickly address or respond to them if you have made a contingency plan. Otherwise, you might find yourself with additional costs, and the project is delayed.

House demolition is costly and complicated work. Before you start, make sure to gather all the necessary information and study each step cautiously. Consider these ten crucial things to help you make the right decision.

We hope you found this post on Ten Crucial Things You Need to Know Before Demolishing Your Home helpful. Check out our post House Demolition – Things You Need to Know for many more helpful hints.


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