Understanding The Job of a Demolition Contractor

In construction, the act of tearing down buildings and other man-made objects is considered demolition. While every job will not require heavy machinery and the use of a skilled labor force, most larger operations will, and in these instances, the duties will likely be given to demolition contractors. These contractors specialize in the deconstruction of structures and probably have experience with several types of heavy machinery, such as:

  • Hydraulic excavators
  • Cranes
  • Wrecking balls
  • Explosives

While it may seem that tearing down a building is easy work which only requires having reckless abandon, that is not the case. In demoing buildings and other sites, these contractors work tirelessly to ensure the safety of everyone involved.

Site Preparation

Before any site can be demolished, it must undergo preparations. To properly prepare a site, a demolition contractor is responsible for obtaining permits, disconnecting utilities, eliminating rodents, and performing necessary inspections to remove any potentially hazardous materials, like asbestos. These deconstruction professionals ensure that everyone on-site and in the immediate area are safe and secure before any demo work can begin.

Demolition

Once the preparation work has been taken care of, a team of demolition contractors will begin the process of tearing down a structure. The destruction can be manual or implosive. Manual demolition uses heavy-duty equipment to tear down a building, most often a one to two-story structure. In these instances, a contractor will likely use an excavator to dig a trench along certain areas around the foundation, undermining the construction of the facility and ensuring a directional collapse. When everything is ready, they will likely use a crane and a wrecking ball to bring down the bulk of the structure. If a building is too large for a manual demolition, then contractors will typically choose an implosion. However, while standard site preparation still exists, it is common practice to remove any potential life-threatening debris, ensuring that it does not become a projectile.

Cleanup

Once the building is torn down, a demolition contractor will help to clean up the site. They will search the property for salvageable materials and also help to dispose of waste. All licensed and insured contractors will know and follow the regulations of the state for the proper removal and disposal of waste. Therefore, when working with these contractors, a property owner should make sure that the company and laborers they use are licensed and insured to avoid any potential fines.

While small scale demolitions for remodeling projects can typically be handled by any contractor, bigger jobs that require complete tear downs, are better suited for actual demolition contractors. If you have a project that involves site preparation, building tear down or excavation, then call a properly licensed and insured home demolition service, like a home demolition service in Los Angeles, CA

Thanks to Nielsen Environmental for their insight into understanding the job of a demolition contractor and how they get the demo done safely and effectively.