The Oregon demolition and construction industry will grow in 2020 as the value of construction rises. According to a market research report, “the amount of construction spending for single-family housing… directly drives demand for demolitions,” and demolition contractors “are often hired to dismantle old bridges and other large-scale structures in preparation for the installation of new infrastructure.”
A Look at the Future of Commercial Demolition
In this blog, we examine top areas of growth and some major trends that will shape the demolition industry in 2020.
1) Growing Use of Drones & Robotics
Automation is increasingly used across industries, and the demolition and construction industry are no exceptions. There is a growing need for skilled workers and more and more Oregon demolition contractors are turning to robots and drones to play a larger role in construction.
Drones will be increasingly used to inspect job sites for potential dangers, as they can fit into small spaces that even human inspectors would find difficult to maneuver through. Drones can even be used to save time by making measurements of materials on hand in less time than traditional methods, like a laser-system-mounted truck.
Robots can be used to help keep workers safe by taking over jobs that are proven to be very dangerous when done at lengthy periods of time, like operating a jackhammer.
However, there is still a big gap between the skill of robots and the craftsmanship of skilled labor. Robots present a large initial investment in capital but may offer long term savings, especially as they become less expensive and more ubiquitous. You can expect that robots and drones will continue to shape the industry.
2) Increase in Prefabricated Construction
Alongside the growth in automation, off-site construction and the use of prefabricated construction will be increasingly used by Portland demolition contractors. This will save construction companies a lot of time and material costs. Prefabricated constructed buildings can be built faster and, because they are constructed off-site, they can potentially reduce the environmental impact of the construction site.
Prefabricated construction is a great tool for the creation of office buildings, stores, hotels, or other similar commercial designs. The factories in which they are built is a controlled environment, which means quality is consistent. Weather delays can be mitigated and the process of assembly is much safer than traditional construction. By 2020, off-site construction is set to grow “by 6 percent.” The growth of off-site construction can increase the demand for custom, large-scale components.
3) Better Safety Equipment for C&D Industry Employees
The construction and demolition industry has always prioritized safety, but 2020 promises to bring a greater focus on the issue. Better equipment and safety measures can help counter construction-related accidents and injuries.
Elder Demolition is committed to safety. We have a variety of safety-related activities that our workers participate in that include:
- Annual hearing tests
- Wearing protective gear
- Annual training on hazardous materials and fall dangers
- Training on how to use specialized equipment safely
Additionally, because demolition requires a great amount of care, expertise, and skill, our workers take extra precautions because of the inherent hazards of the demolition process. We practice a variety of safety measures to ensure that our workers are able to demolish any structure safely.
These practices include:
- Extensive advance planning
- Using the right equipment for the job
- Identifying hazardous materials
To learn more about our safety practices, click here.
4) New Recycling Opportunities
Demolition contractors are in a prime position to take advantage of lucrative recycling programs with the materials that they recover from a demolition site. Elder has developed a solution to help divert thousands of tons of concrete from landfills through a process of concrete crushing. Concrete crushing is a process where the concrete is ground into gravel that is reused and recycled.
This means that you can save both time and money and money with our on-site crushing. You can also gain LEED points for reusing the concrete on site. We take special precautions to reduce air pollution and to protect our workers from any harmful silica particles.
5) Increase in Asset Recovery
Asset recovery is when we recover the valuable resources that can be harvested from demolition sites. Elder is a leader in asset recovery, allowing our clients to capitalize on the site’s unused or end-of-life assets through recycling, reclamation, reuse or resale.
Many buildings are filled with salvageable resources, including metal, equipment, machinery and more.
You can recover materials such as:
- Metals, like copper, aluminum and steel
- Pipes
- Windows
- Doors
- Flooring
- HVAC units
- Glass
- Finishing materials
- And more!
The Northwest’s Choice for Industrial & Commercial Demolition
By choosing Elder Demolition for your next project, you are choosing a full-service demolition company in Oregon to manage every aspect of the project from the initial salvaging of the building materials to the groundbreaking ceremony. We offer flawless execution, on time and on budget, with money saved through asset recovery.
Interested in working with us? Contact us today.