What Is Demolition, and How Can It Benefit Me?

Did you recently purchase a parcel of land with the intention of clearing it for new construction, or want to clear an area on an existing property? If so, this is where demolition comes in. But what exactly is demolition, and what are the benefits for land and property owners? For an easy-to-understand explanation of demolition, check out the answers to questions our demolition contractors in Jeffersonville, IN hear all the time.

How is demolition defined?

When it comes to demolition, the experts want their clients to understand the basics of the process, not necessarily every intricate detail that goes into doing the job. The simplest way to explain demolition to someone is as follows: it’s a complex set of tasks that has to be completed in a specific order by a trained professional using the right tools and equipment, including hydraulic machinery, specialized attachments, loaders, cranes, wrecking balls and, oftentimes, explosives. These tasks involve structural dismantling, site clearing, environmental remediation, salvage of reusable materials, recycling materials and industrial recovery.

What materials are considered salvageable?

A lot of the materials found within a demolition site project still have some market value. As such, they are not considered garbage. In fact, according to a 2018 National Demolition Association (NDA) member survey, NDA members reported recycling, reusing or salvaging materials from over 90 percent of all demolition projects. The list of typical commodities generated through demolition projects includes ceiling tiles, brick, porcelain, concrete, certain metals (brass, steel, copper, iron and more), wood, carpet, roofing materials, wiring, insulating materials and hard flooring.

How are home, commercial and industrial demolition defined?

Simply put, home demolition is the tear-down of a residential home, either for safety or health concerns or to make way for a new home build. Commercial demolition is defined as the partial or complete dismantling of commercial properties, such as shopping malls, office buildings and hotels. There’s also industrial demolition, which is the dismantling of structures used in the production of goods—including oil refineries, chemical plants and manufacturing facilities. Extra care is required to prevent hazardous substances from contaminating of nearby lands and waterways.

Is there a difference between demolition and deconstruction?

Both conventional demolition and deconstruction projects seem to have the same recycling rates. Around 90 percent of materials get salvaged to sell, recycle or reclaim. However, there is a major difference between the two processes. Deconstruction tends to be more labor-intensive than conventional demolition, which utilizes a significant amount of equipment and technology. Deconstructing a site means a lot of dismantling of potential recyclables by hand, which also makes this process more time consuming than structural demolition. But the goal of both processes is the same: to maximize the amount of marketable recycled materials generated on a job site.

Before deciding to clear your property, contact the team at Estes Excavating Inc. for more information about our demolition services. We are knowledgeable demolition contractors in Jeffersonville, IN, and we’re ready to answer any questions about how our services can benefit your project.

Categorised in: Demolition Company

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