FAQ: Essential facts about Residential demolition
Is it time to clear away the old homestead and prepare the way for a brand new, modern home? Before you hire your demolition crew, read these residential FAQs.
What is residential demolition?
Residential demolition involves single-family homes, garages, condominium suites, barns, or other structures on residential property.
Is it necessary to test for hazardous materials before a demolition?
The answer is yes! Did you know that before renovations or demolition projects a survey has to be completed?
This survey has to be completed so that all hazardous materials can be identified and removed in a safe and secure manner.
This survey will notify occupiers, residents and workers in the area so that they do not become exposed to these materials. This is very common with asbestos fibres!
Why is asbestos removal so important?
Asbestos is generally considered a hazard the moment it releases dust or fibre. This is because asbestos usually enters the body while breathing or when it’s ingested, this can then be dangerous to occupants and residents in close surrounding areas.
Asbestos fibres can then become stuck in mucus membranes or in the lungs. Sometimes these can be removed, but if not they can oppose health problems.
In an industry like demolition we like to play it safe and remove all asbestos off of sites where we work, to protect our dedicated team and surrounding residents that may come into close proximity to our sites.
What qualifications are needed to perform professional demolition?
- Insurance
- WSIB
- WHMIS
- First Aid
- CPR
- Working at Heights
Can you tear down your own house?
Yes. You will need to talk to your lender, bank, mortgage company, make application to the city for permits and hire a professional demolition / deconstruction company to perform the work and remove the debris.
How much does demolition of a house cost?
Demolishing a house costs an average of $18,000 varying on many factors.
How is demolition cost calculated?
- Labour
- Site preparation / Utility Disconnects, (water, electrical, gas)
- Drywall or Plaster, Carpet, Tile and or Hardwood
- Asbestos Abatement
- Dust Mediation
- Protecting Assets
- Disposal and Cleanup
- Miscellaneous
What is a Pre-Demolition Designated Substance Survey?
A Pre-Demolition Designated Substance Survey must be done on your property before you go ahead with a demolition. The survey determines the presence of hazardous substances on the premises with the purpose of seeing whether there are any substances that might pose a threat to workers or occupants. Project leaders can then take precautions to ensure the safety of everyone on site, as well as providing for the proper removal of these materials.
What happens to the building materials after a demolition?
The demolition crew will do its best to reuse and recycle whatever materials they can. Scrap metal, flooring, carpets, plasterboard, wood, roofing materials can all potentially be salvaged. You may choose to reuse some of these materials in your new building, and whatever is left can be sold or used elsewhere.
I don’t plan to demolish my entire house - do I still need a demolition crew?
Demolition contractors can be helpful even if you only plan to do a partial demolition or strip out the house’s interior while leaving the core structure intact. Pro-Demo can either full or partial demolitions. It is advisable that you call upon our demolition professionals even if you only plan to leave much of the building as it is.
What is the difference between deconstruction and demolition, and which one do I need?
Demolition is the total destruction of a building using either mechanical methods or explosives. Deconstruction is a slower and more careful process, in which the building – or specific parts of a building – are pulled apart using hand tools. You should choose demolition if you plan to raze the entire building. Deconstruction is more appropriate if you only wish to a partial demolition or strip out certain parts of the structure while also salvaging materials for reuse or resale.
What effect does demolition have on the environment?
While demolition is very messy and produces a lot of waste, it is entirely possible – in fact, it is mandatory – to carry it out in a way that shows the utmost care for the environment. Hazardous materials must be disposed of in accordance with regulations, and demolition workers will always take great care to ensure that their sites are left in a clean and tidy state. Everything that can be reused and recycled will be, and the preservation of the neighbourhood’s clean air is always a priority.
What can Pro-Demo do for me?
If you are about to undertake a renovation, a rebuild, or any home construction project that requires the total or partial demolition of your existing structure, Pro-Demo has the expertise and equipment to carry out the work and safely dispose of all waste materials. Contact us today for more information on your residential demolition.
The Demolition Process
How do you demolish a building?
- Demolition – manually or mechanically using heavy equipment.
- Deconstruction – selectively taking apart a building while preserving valuable elements and assets for reuse.
What does a demolition contractor do?
What impacts the time it takes to demolish a building?
- Acquiring permits
- Preparing site
- Performing demolition
- Completing final cleanup
What does Controlled Demolition mean?
In a controlled demolition, the experts make sure that the surroundings of a particular structure are not impacted.
Is demolition considered construction?
Demolition is the process of de-construction
Construction is the process of building.
What are demolition materials?
Metals including copper, steel, aluminum, materials with architectural value or reuse potential.
What is demolition debris and waste?
Demolition debris means those materials resulting from demolition or deconstruction of any structure including houses, buildings, industrial or commercial facilities. Examples include appliances, kitchen cabinets, bathtubs, sinks, toilets, light fixtures, doors, marble, stone, windows, flooring, tile, concrete, brick, lumber, roofing, drywall, landscape and other wastes.
How do you manage demolition waste?
- Reduce – Plan ahead to minimize environmental impact of the demolition
- Reuse or donate materials in good condition
- Recycle sorted material
- Remove waste in a dumpster
Experienced in structures just like yours!
We are a hard-working, client-oriented team and have served Toronto and the surrounding area for over 10 years. Our goal is to continue building our reputation and our networks to provide quality demolition contractor work and/or general commercial demolition contractor services for specialized applications.
Our project team is highly safety trained, fully insured, reliable and on budget.