The public perception of demolition is not entirely serious. It is often seen as a bit of fun, an authorised act of destruction carried out with an old-style wrecking ball or judicious use of explosives. There are videos available online in which demolition is shown as a form of entertainment, which, once you watch one, you may find yourself going down the rabbit hole watching more and more. But it is a highly skilled business carried out by experts, and each project must be carefully thought out, because there could be hidden dangers and problems.
If you are concerned with having your job done well and without incident, the way to mitigate risk is to use an experienced demolition company that will devise a plan and talk you through it.
In this guide, we are going to take you behind the scenes to look at possible issues and how the professionals may go about avoiding trouble while getting the job done.
Asbestos and Hazardous Materials: Identification, Removal, and Compliance Costs
When we think about hazardous materials involved in building projects in less enlightened times, the one that springs to mind most readily is asbestos. While it is tempting to think that hazardous substances tend to be manmade, asbestos is proof that that is not always the case.
It is a natural substance found in certain rock formations and was used in construction as long ago as Ancient Greek times, because it is resistant to heat and fire and provided a means of insulation at a time when the alternatives were grasses, reeds and other plants, which were not just less effective but vulnerable to fire and rot as well as being attractive to vermin. It would take humans thousands of years to discover that asbestos was harmful to our health, but eventually, in the 20th century, the link was confirmed between asbestos and cancer.
In Australia, asbestos began to be phased out in the 1990s but was not banned completely until 2003. That means that it could be a hazard in demolishing a range of buildings.
As with other hazards, the difficulty is that more often than not, no one knows exactly what the fabric of the building contains, and it only becomes apparent when demolition has begun to expose not just asbestos but other undesirable substances.
Potential issues involve silica dust from rock, sand, concrete and brick. All forms of dust are potentially dangerous, and sadly, they have led to the creation of medical names; silicosis is one, and there is pneumoconiosis (coal dust, causing lung disease in miners). Deconstructing metal frameworks can involve grinding or oxy-acetylene, laser or plasma cutting, all of which produce not just particles but gases.
There are also harmful chemicals in paints and wood treatments, while breathing in particles from modern fibreglass insulation can cause problems. It is therefore essential that the company demolishing a building finds out as much as possible in advance and proceeds with caution when carrying out the work. Hazards need to be identified, extracted and removed from the site to an authorised place of disposal.
This obviously slows the process down and adds to the cost, but it has to be done, and in addition to common sense and respect for people’s health, some regulations must be complied with. The image of demolition starts to look less like fun and more like a serious process.
Unforeseen Subsurface Issues: Old Footings, Underground Tanks, and Rock Excavation
Less insidious but also potentially dangerous are structural features that can be exposed during demolition. There could be old footings (reinforcing additions to walls, pillars, etc.) and tanks used for water or fuel, which may have to be cleaned out and filled in. There could be rock formations down there, which can make the creation of new foundations less straightforward. A good construction company can deal with all these things, but they are factors they could do without.
Again, these issues add time and cost to the proceedings.
Dealing with Inaccessible Utilities and Service Easements
While one of the advantages of building on a demolition site could be the presence of existing utilities (electricity, gas, water), they may not be up to modern standards, or they could just be inaccessible. Builders don’t build houses with one eye on making things easier for the next generation, who are pulling their edifices down. It is also possible that the services were run through an adjoining property and that any modification will involve inconvenience to the neighbours.
Boundary and Neighbour Issues: Shared Walls, Fences, and Asset Protection
Now we are out of the realm of physical issues that have to be dealt with by the demolishers and into the sphere of law and negotiation. Boundaries are a common source of disagreement between neighbours, and individuals are understandably wary of having work done that might have implications for their property. Work could be held up while negotiations take place.
Mitigation Strategies: The Value of a Comprehensive Pre-Demolition Site Assessment
While the focus of a knock-down rebuild is usually on the new building, the demolition should not be regarded as a formality. For all the reasons examined above, it is advisable to go for a comprehensive pre-demolition site assessment. That will mean someone visiting the site and doing a detailed examination, drilling and possibly removing pieces here and there to see what is concealed behind, below and above walls, floors and ceilings.
A thorough assessment will add a little to the cost of the demolition, but could result in saving time and money in the end by enabling the demolition crew to come armed with the facts and the appropriate equipment.
If there are any potential glitches as regards access or co-operation with others, they can be handled sensitively, rather than your people turning up one morning with heavy plant and intentions that could be alarming to other people involved.
Nice surprises are one thing, but nasty ones are to be avoided if at all possible, and giving the demolition process its due respect can help the overall project to go through more smoothly.
At Enso Homes, safety is our number one priority. Get in touch with our team here for a demolition you can trust.
