Demolition can be an important part of any development project. Whether it’s taking down part of a structure to make room for something else, or destroying the whole structure completely. Sometimes demolition is unavoidable in order to move the project forward. But, in some cases, you may not have fully considered everything that goes into the demolition before starting work, and this could have disastrous consequences. After all, the dismantling is the most high-risk activity in the construction sector.

So, what needs to be considered before you start a demolition project?

Risk

All demolition projects, irrespective of their size, come with many risks. As a result, all of the risks and potential dangers should be assessed fully before starting work to ensure optimum safety is maintained throughout the entire process. Every mistake made can seriously damage the structure of the building, so if you want to demolish load bearing walls, these should be assessed by an experienced professional. For Demolition Birmingham, visit a site like Hammerjack, a leading Demolition Birmingham company.

Common procedures that must be followed before demolition include:

Compound and site and security

Pre-demolition survey (such as asbestos surveys for demolitions, structural surveys, hazardous materials surveys, etc.).

Isolation and removal of utility meters

Disconnection of utilities

Asbestos removal

Soft Strip (taking a structure back to the construction material including the removal of window and door frames).

Slabs and foundation demolition

Depending on the nature of the demolition, it will carry different risks. For example, if you are carrying out an explosion, then this requires extensive use of the police to enforce an exclusion zone as well as pre- and post-demolition structural inspections to a fairly large radius. For small scale projects, or when dismantling is more sensitive due to constraints of the site, demolition will most likely be done by hand.

Time constraints

If you have to do a project in a hurry for any reason, then demolition is not recommended. This is a critical process and should be done carefully, slowly, and under the best development practices. A rushed job carries a lot of risk.

The project should be done with caution – whether the demolition takes place or not – so an assessment of time should be important to all of your projects.

Equipment

Undertaking large projects such as demolition requires the right tools. Getting the right equipment can make a smooth project of a higher quality and leave you with a better finish at the end of the project. The more money you put into a project, the higher the final results you are likely to achieve.

A last question that should be asked is if a demolition is required in the first place? Demolition should be a last case scenario, something you do when nothing else seems to be working to create the same results. If you can determine the outcome of the project without the need of demolition then this is, ultimately, a preferred option.