Demolishing a building involves more than hiring a contractor to bring it down. The work is a process, and it's critical for customers and demolition services firms to think of it that way. You must consider the process from these five angles.
Safety, Liability, and Environmental Hazards
The first goal of a demolition project should always be to minimize risks. This covers on-site worker safety and the safety of the general public. It also extends to protecting neighboring properties and the equipment at the site. Many buildings contain environmental hazards, too. If a structure has asbestos and lead in it, for example, you need to remove those materials before moving ahead with more aggressive measures.
Failing to handle these issues competently may increase your liability exposure. Parties may sue for physical injuries or damage to property. Regulators or community groups may seek injunctions to prevent work that might create unnecessary environmental hazards. A coherent demolition process can't erase liability exposure, but it can mitigate some of the risks.
Recovering Materials
Property owners can often recover materials from structures with well-planned demolition work. Very few projects involve bringing a building down suddenly and then sweeping up the mess. Frequently, there are valuable fixtures in a building. Likewise, materials like brick and wood can fetch a price at sale. In some cases, a slower demolition process with an emphasis on recovering materials can recoup some of the costs of the job.
Project Management
Most demolition efforts aren't one-off things. They usually involve additional plans. Even if you want to clear the property and put the empty lot up for sale, that requires some degree of project management. You will need to communicate with contractors and stakeholders to ensure everything is going according to plan. A less haphazard process can speed things up significantly, saving time and money.
Quality Control
You want the work to be as high-quality as possible. If you need to preserve the original footprint, you'll need to assess how viable that plan is and how to execute it. You also will want to keep the debris in a limited area to improve the clean-up process.
Compliance
Finally, many projects need to comply with local regulations and processes. You will likely need to submit a plan for the project and demonstrate that you've taken sufficient care to prevent problems before your municipality will issue a permit. There may also be a public comment period, and an orderly process will often assuage concerns.
For more info about demolition services, contact a local company.
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