Demolition is not as simple as it first seems. There’s more to taking down a building than just smashing it with a wrecking ball. Demolition methods vary according to building location, construction materials, disposal techniques and the ultimate demolition goal. This following information outlines the different types of approaches and demolition services a modern demolition company such as Elder Demolition is likely to offer.
Demolition Methods
Mechanical demolition. This is the most commonly used approach for the average demolition contractor. Oregon to Florida, mechanical demolition involves knocking down buildings through mechanical tools such as cranes, bulldozers, excavators, rams and, yes, the wrecking ball. Mechanical demolition workers break the structure down into smaller pieces that can then be sorted and recycled or discarded. Sometimes mechanical demolition may also involve undermining, or weakening internal supports so as to encourage collapse.
Implosion. This involves wiring structural supports to blow up in such an order that the falling weight of the building causes its own demise. A demolition company will often opt for implosion in cases where there’s little free room surrounding a building, or when a building is so massive that other demolition techniques would be too time-consuming. Tunnels, smokestacks, bridges and towers are often brought down via implosion.
Deconstruction. Imagine how much time it takes to build a structure in the first place; deconstruction one takes nearly as long, since it must be done by hand. The appeal for project managers and demolition services lies in the fact that deconstructed building materials may be repurposed for future projects. This is the most ecologically friendly form of demolition, but it does require extra time and investment when compared to other, more efficient, demolition methods.
Demolition Services
The above demolition techniques may be applied in several different settings: residential (which we won’t cover here, since it’s fairly self-explanatory), industrial and commercial.
Industrial demolition involves taking down old factories, processing plants and mills. The destruction of water towers, grain silos, chemical plants and paper mills also falls into this category. Any building that was used for industrial purposes requires specialized knowledge in order to safely remove hazardous materials. A demolition company that wants to provide industrial demolition services must also be stringent about following EPA guidelines.
Commercial demolition, in contrast, involves dismantling buildings that were used for light trade; grocery stores, office buildings and airplane hangars fit the bill. Commercial demolition poses its own challenges for demolition companies. For instance, many commercial buildings are located in urban centers, where there’s virtually no wiggle room for falling debris.
Elder Demolition offers reliable industrial and commercial demolition services across several states including California, Oregon and Washington. When looking for a reliable demolition contractor, Oregon project managers can give us a call.
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