What is demolition work?
According to Safe Work Australia, any work that is connected with the demolition of a structure is classified as ‘constructionwork’ under the Work, Health, and Safety (WHS) Regulations. When carrying out demolition work, the requirementsrelating to construction work must be complied with.
Demolition work means to demolish or dismantle a structure or part of a structure thatis load-bearing or otherwise related to the physical integrity of the structure but doesnot include works like dismantling of formwork, falsework, scaffolding, or other structures designed or used to provide support, access, or containment during construction work, orthe removal of power, light, or telecommunication poles.
What is partial demolition?
While complete demolition is the most common method of demolishing a whole structure, there are instances where partial demolition Dandenong will be more advantageous. Partial demolition refers to demolition work when only a portion of the structure will be removed.Partial demolition is selective in nature since it only removes certain parts of a building – e.g. removing a single wall or a fraction of the building instead of demolishing the entire structure.
Partial demolition is a good alternative to full demolition when salvaging some parts of the building or when the complete installation can get fixed. This type of demolition can be done using various techniques such as hand or manual demolition, saw cutting, and by using heavy machinery as well.
Who can do demolition work?
Demolition work, whether partial or full demolition, can be a really dangerous job, and should only be carried out by an approved, licensed demolisher. Demolishers often provide a full service, dealing with cleanup, waste disposal, asbestos removal, salvage, and completely clearing the site of debris.Demolition experts who will do the job must have a detailed knowledge of the components in the building to make sure that the structural integrity of the building does not affect other areas of the building once the demolition process began.
According to Work Health and Safety (WHS), demolishers must have a demolition work license to demolish or dismantle a structure that contains pre-tensioned or post-tensioned structural components, involvingthe use of load shifting equipment – e.g. use of combination front-end loader and backhoe, skid steer loader, excavator, crane, and involves the use of explosives or another induced collapse method.A demolition work licensewill not be needed if the structure being demolished is a domestic house, a structure built as, and still generally having the characteristics of a domestic house, for example, a domestic house converted to an office, and a structure that is ancillary to a domestic house or a structure with the characteristics of a domestic house – e.g. a garage for a domestic house.
When is partial demolition a good option?
If you are in a dilemma about what type of demolition you may require for your building project, the following are some examples of when partial demolition is a better option;
- Partial demolition can be done during a home renovation project.Widening an existing room may only need partial demolishing to clear a wall that divides two rooms, or you just need to remove some sections of the building or house to make new features or allow for changes to the building’s layout.
- Partial demolition is a good option if there is visible structural damage in the building. If a building has suffered structural damage, only the affected section may need to get removed.
- Partial demolition is a good option for removing hazardous material from your property – e.g. asbestos.
- Partial demolition is good for building expansion. Partial demolition can be done to make way for a building expansion while preserving the existing structure.
- Partial demolition can be done when you wanted to convert your property to a different use, like for example, a house to be converted into a flat or an office.
- Partial demolition may also be necessary to replace defective plumbing.
What are the things you need to do before starting a partial demolition?
While partially demolishing a house or a building is not a difficult job, there are quite a few things that need to be taken into consideration. These are the following:
- Hire a licensed contractor –if you feel like you can do the demolishing by yourself to save money, in most cases, it’s best to leave a demolition project to professionals. Instead of doing DIY work that can cause damage to utilities and the overall stability of your structure, it is better to hire a licensed contractor. Not only will it be quicker and stress-free for you, but you can be at ease and can avoid safety hazards during the demolition.
- Discuss with your contractor their partial demolition plan. Your contractor should be able to devise a plan and outline their work schedules after carefully surveying your structure. This plan will include which exact part of the structure needs to be removed, what will be their method of demolition work, their recycling plan, and safety and environmental risk controls.
- Apply for the necessary legal permits. Check with your local authority if your partial demolition project be needing a permit. Your contractor can help you to speed up the building approval process, especially in submitting your partial demolition plan.
- Have your contractor disconnect all utilities like gas, electricity, and water. Demolishing a property without disconnecting first all the utilities not only poses a safety risk to the workers but can even damage the supply to neighboring homes. Make sure to file a written request to your service provider before the demolition to terminate these services.
- Make sure that your contractor has a recycling plan in place. Unless you want to be penalized by your local authority make sure that all concrete and construction materials can be disposed of properly. Another option is to check with your council if they accept donations of demolished concrete for recycling.
What are the advantages of partial demolition services?
- Partial demolition is generally more cost-effective than total demolition. By only removing specific parts of a building, there is less waste, fewer resources required, and less time needed to complete the demolition process. It means you’ll only have to pay for the work that needs to be done rather than the entire demolition process.This can result in significant cost savings for property owners.
- Partial demolition is considered to be more environmentally friendly than total building or house demolition. By choosing partial demolition, you can minimize waste that will just end up in a landfill which is better for the environment and promote sustainability. Partial demolition allowsfor the preservation of valuable components of a building. This can include things like architectural features, historical elements, and materials that can be reused or recycled, further reducing the environmental impact.
- Partial demolition is often a faster process than complete demolition. Because you’re only demolishing a portion of the structure, you can choose less work to get it done. Additionally, partial demolition can often occur without disrupting the entire building, so you can continue using the space while the demolition work is in process.
- Partial demolition often minimizes disruption to the surrounding area and community. Since only specific parts of the building are being removed, there is often less noise, dust, and debris compared to total demolition.
- Partial demolition allows better structural assessment. By demolishing only a portion of the structure, you can see other internal structures and determine if any fundamental issues need to get addressed.
- Partial demolition can improve safety during the demolition process. By removing only detailed parts of a building, workers can access the area safelyreducing the risk of accidents or work-related injuries.
What are the advantages of hiring a professional demolition crew?
When it comes to partial demolition, choosing a professional demolition crew is important. You may think that you can just bring a sledgehammer and start demolishing your property. But dealing with a professional demolition crew will ensure that your project is completed to the highest standards and that it will preserve the integrity of your building and of course will come within your budget. Here’s a list of some of the advantages of hiring a professional demolition crew;
- First and foremost on the list is your safety. One of the most important things to understand about demolition work is that it is high-risk work. A professional crew can produce methods and risk analysis to ensure that all work carried out meets the required safety standards and that risk mitigation controls are applied.
- Next on the list is work efficiency. All contracted project needs to be completed on time. Whether you require a partial demolition in a live environment or an entire structural collapse, a trusted demolition crew will work methodically to accelerate project schedules, without compromising safety.
- You need to think as well that when doing DIY partial demolition work, you will worry about where to dump the concrete and construction waste. A major element of demolition is the waste material that is produced through the demolition process. Having a contractor that has an experienced management team with an understanding of waste, hazardous materials, and potential recycling and reuse will allow for an environment-friendly project allowing the diversion of waste materials from landfills.
- Having a professional demolition team working on your partial demolition project can give you a fair estimates of your expenses.Doing a DIY partial demolition work, you may run the risk of costs blowing out due to unassessed project requirements, faulty machinery, and ineffective methods. Damage can be caused to other structures, neighboring properties, or the public and can end up costing you a lot more money than you anticipated.
Partial demolition services can be an excellent option for many projects due to their adaptability and personalization. Overall, it is clear that partial demolition services can offer a number of advantages, making them an advantageous option for many building and demolition projects.
