We know how difficult the construction process can be, and how many lessons are learned in the process. In an effort to save you time and energy learning these lessons the hard way, we’ve put together some key advice on what to expect from each phase as well as what pitfalls and surprises could be lurking around the corner!
Preparation
In most cases, demolition work cannot be started until a municipal permit has been obtained. Generally, this is part of a building permit, but in some cases a special demolition permit can be obtained to start deconstruction in advance. It is the property owner’s legal responsibility to have permits in place, but their general contractor can be employed to obtain them on their behalf. There are always fees and time required to create the documentation and paperwork to apply – and there are always municipal fees associated with obtaining them once they are accepted.
Prior to heavy demolition starting, it’s worth considering taking time to salvage anything of value for reuse. In many cases this adds to the project schedule, but if done extensively the salvage time may reduce some demolition costs. There are often people willing to spend their time removing certain items from an old home for free. Everyone wins – they save on buying new materials, you save on disposal, and the world is better for your sustainable building practices.
What to Expect
Once demolition is cleared to start, you’ll need to jump in with both feet. The Demolition Phase is possibly the scariest and most complication fraught stage, but it’s also the exciting starting gun before the great race to the finish line.
If an entire building needs to be removed, heavy equipment and machinery will be brought in to crush the structure and haul it away to be sorted and disposed of. Municipal services would need to be disconnected or capped off prior to a complete building demolition. There are often service fees charged by your service providers for disconnection and reconnection. Once the demolition starts, it all comes down and is removed in the span of only a few days. Generally, a lot of the same equipment can stay on site and be used to continue to the excavation stage.
If you’re undertaking a renovation, your demolition is going to be a lot more manual. Depending on the type of renovation, a crew will come in to strip out every part of the structure necessary to prepare for the new construction. This could take one person a single day, or many people many weeks, depending on your project requirements.
Demolition is loud, it’s messy, and it’s highly disruptive – even for small projects. For mid to large renovations (and all full demolitions), the home will lose power, water, sewer, and potentially other services for extended periods of time. Most renovation projects of mid to large size will require that you move out of the home before demolition starts and until all construction work is completed. Personal belongings will need to be packed away and in many cases, removed from the house entirely.
Now that we’ve cleared out the old, it’s time to bring in the new!