At first glance, demolishing a building may seem like a fun task of breaking it down into pieces and then cleaning up the debris.
But in reality, a demolition project can pose risks for those who are unaware of the proper techniques and basic safety rules.
In this article, the experts at Excavation Chanthier, a demolition company in Montreal, present the steps to properly demolish a building.
STEP 1 : DIAGNOSING THE PRESENCE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
Any building demolition project should be preceded by complete decontamination to ensure that no harmful or hazardous materials will be released into the environment during deconstruction. This is essential for the health of workers, the public, and surrounding ecosystems.
Before starting any demolition work, a hazardous materials expert (asbestos, lead, mold, etc.) must conduct an assessment of all materials that should be removed before demolition. When possible, decontamination can occur immediately after the diagnosis, but since materials containing harmful products are sometimes difficult to access, it will generally follow the gutting process (a step that will be discussed later in the text).
STEP 2: ORGANIZING AND PLANNING THE DEMOLITION
For the demolition of a house or other type of building to go smoothly, the project must be carefully planned. To do this, demolition experts will analyze the structure of the building, which will provide the necessary information for planning the work. For example, demolishing a house with a shared wall may require taking additional precautions to preserve the integrity of neighboring buildings.
This preliminary study will help determine the demolition method to prioritize and the equipment to use to proceed as safely and efficiently as possible.
Additionally, this analysis will allow the experts to identify elements requiring special attention and the load-bearing structures that must be preserved during the gutting process.
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STEP 3: GUTTING THE BUILDING TO BE DEMOLISHED
During demolition, not all materials will be sent to the same location. A good portion of the waste will be sent to a landfill, but some products will be recycled or reused. Managing the waste after demolition is very tedious, which is why gutting should be done at this stage of the project.
In simple terms, gutting involves removing from the structure any installations or materials that are recyclable or reusable and are not part of a load-bearing element, so as not to compromise the stability of the building to be demolished.
STEP 4: DECONTAMINATING THE BUILDING
This fourth step follows the diagnosis established at the beginning of the project. During this phase, all hazardous materials will be removed from the structure. For example, if asbestos is found in insulating materials, asbestos removal must be done before demolition.
After decontamination, an expert must confirm that there are no remaining contaminants in the air or materials on the site. Otherwise, the demolition process cannot proceed.
STEP 5: DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING
We have finally reached the step many were eagerly waiting for, the demolition of what remains of the building. Depending on what was decided during the second step (organization and planning), the deconstruction can be carried out using an excavator or other heavy equipment.
STEP 6: CLEANING UP THE SITE
After the heavy equipment has done its work, a significant amount of debris remains on the demolition site. This is the time to separate reusable structural elements from waste and send the latter to a designated center.
After this final step, the demolition site should be cleaned and cleared to prevent accidents and ensure the land can be used for a new project.
FOR DEMOLITION WORK DONE RIGHT: CONTACT EXCAVATION CHANTHIER
In conclusion, demolishing a building should be done by following these various steps to ensure everyone’s safety and to maximize the recycling or reuse of materials.
At Excavation Chanthier, we meticulously manage all our demolition operations to ensure customer satisfaction. Whether you are planning to demolish an in-ground pool or need to demolish a building damaged by fire, we always follow the steps outlined in this article.
If you live in Greater Montreal, contact us today to entrust us with a demolition project!