The demolition process starts well before the first wall of a building comes down. A pre-demolition inspection is one of the first steps a contractor takes prior to demo.
Why should an expert inspect a building’s structure if it’s going to be demolished?
A pre-demolition inspection provides a variety of benefits. The information gleaned from the process can:
- Help estimate the costs of the project.
- Assist with the identification of valuable assets for recovery.
- Detect hazardous materials that need special handling.
Our commercial clients often ask us the difference between a pre-demolition inspection and a pre-demolition walk-through. We’re here to answer your questions!
4 Benefits of Pre-Demolition Site Inspections
Below we take a closer look at the benefits of a pre-demolition inspection.
1) Ensure Accurate Costs for Demolition
The more information you can supply contractors, the more accurate their bids. This extra data will make selecting the best provider easier and weed out companies without the equipment or expertise to handle the job.
You’ll also want to provide bidders with accurate site dimensions and information about the materials they need to remove. Again, this information ensures accurate bids without the need for additional measurements or inspections.
2) Offset Costs by Identifying Recyclable Assets
A pre-demolition inspection could also help offset the cost of the project by finding materials suited for asset recovery. For example, your Portland demolition contractor could locate scrap metal or steel for recycling or reuse in another project.
Concrete is another recyclable material from which developers are seeing profits. Be sure to ask if your contractor has the capability to crush the material on-site for reuse in road or pipe bedding or landscape leveling.
3) Identify Hazardous Materials
Some companies may not be qualified to handle certain substances, such as asbestos. If dangerous materials are present, you’ll need bids from Oregon demolition companies qualified to deal with these potentially dangerous situations.
Failure to identify these substances before the project begins could cause delays and necessitate hiring an additional company to deal with the materials before demolition can continue. This unexpected step will add to both the time and cost of the project.
4) Cut Down on Project Time
An inspection is an extra step, but it will help ensure your project is completed on time. In addition to accurate bids, you will also avoid delays that could occur if the contractor finds challenging structural conditions or materials they are unprepared for.