Five Benefits of Hiring a Professional Demolition Contractor

If you’re planning a building demolition project, you need to put your project in the hands of a trusted company that are experts in demolition. Whether you’re demolishing a building or removing certain obstacles from a landscape, you need to hire a professional team for the job.

What is a Demolition Company?

A demolition company is usually needed for any type of demolition job, as it is not the kind of project an individual takes on themselves. A demolition company offers the expertise that is essential to making sure the project runs smoothly.

Gowrie Contracts Ltd can offer you an experienced demolition team for all your construction needs in Scotland. We work with clients to help your demolition project run as smoothly and as safely as possible. Read on to find out how hiring a professional demolition contractor can help your project.

Planning Process

By law, all demolition must be carefully planned to limit the potential for danger. A range of reports and surveys need to be acquired to check for certain things, such as the presence of asbestos, structural stability and location of live services. A structural survey will determine the age of the structure, its previous use, the type of construction and any nearby buildings or structures. With this survey, a method of demolition can be planned that will prevent any accidental collapse.

Every site is unique, so a professional demolition company will provide a unique plan tailored to the size of the job at hand. For example, mapping out a property's boundary points will help identify areas to leave intact or keep safe.

Safety Is Key

Before demolition starts, it must be carefully planned to make the process as safe as possible. Using a professional demolition contractor will involve appointing a duty holder who has the relevant skills, knowledge and experience to ensure the site is as safe as possible. Some of the risks they may try to mitigate are:

●     Falls from height - Demolition jobs often contain many hazards where a worker could fall and be injured. Duty holders will assess these risks and either eliminate or control them.

●     Falling materials - Premature and uncontrolled collapse may occur during demolition, so systems must be put in place. These can include constructing covered walkways, hardhat use in all areas and reinforced machine cabs.

●     Traffic - Routes around the site should be put in place to avoid workers being at risk of being hit by a vehicle.

●     Clearing hazardous material - An assessment should be carried out to ensure there are no hazardous materials on-site such as acids, paints or flammable liquids. Dust and asbestos also count as hazardous materials.

●     Connected services - Any services such as water, gas, electricity and telecommunications must be disconnected before any work begins. If not possible, they should be marked clearly to prevent disruption.

●     Protecting workers - Workers should be provided with the necessary safety equipment to prevent coming to harm on site. This could include high-visibility wear, hardhats and noise protection.

●     Fire Safety - Fire routes should be clearly established and known to all staff on site and an effective way of raising the alarm must be available to all. The fire plan must be updated regularly as the structure of the building may change during the process of demolition.

By hiring a professional demolition contractor, you won’t have to worry about the demolition crew's safety, as they will strictly adhere to any measures and standards to provide you with peace of mind.

Demolition Equipment and Methods

A professional demolition contractor will have all the necessary equipment on hand to complete your job, no matter how heavy-duty. Having the best quality equipment will make sure the job goes as smoothly and efficiently as possible. This can help you save both time and money, meaning your site is clear faster for whatever you have planned for it next.

Every job is unique, but Gowrie Contract Ltd knows tried and tested methods that can be tailored to the job at hand, meaning no challenge is too big or small for our team.

Legal Issues

Demolition jobs can be a difficult task in terms of legalities. Your project must be in line with the current regulations established by the Building Act 1984 and the construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015. By working with a professional demolition contractor you don’t need to worry about this, as they should have the experience and training to work in line with any and all regulations. They should know about any licenses and permits needed to ensure compliance with regulations, prevent hazards and perform the required services. So by using professionals, you will help to protect yourself from any consequences or penalties that might arise.

The Local Authority Building Control (LABC) may specify conditions that need to be met when beginning your demolition. These will be to minimise the risk to the public and adjoining properties so will be different depending on what and where you are demolishing. Six weeks prior notice should be given before demolition begins and the LABC may issue a notice with these conditions after this time.

Waste Disposal

A professional demolition contractor works hard to dispose of all waste. This can include but is not limited to; concrete, bricks, wood, glass, soil, insulation and paint. 62% of waste generated in 2018 came from the construction, demolition and excavation industries so it is vital to dispose of it properly.

It is a legal requirement to control your waste, so Gowrie Contracts Ltd aims to recycle and reuse as many materials as possible from the demolition work we carry out before disposing of any remaining waste safely. This will help lower your costs by reusing materials that would otherwise need to be bought again. Gowrie Contracts Ltd will dispose of the waste generated for you, meaning you don’t have to worry about disposing of it yourself.

A site waste management audit can be carried about before the work begins, which will assess and consider three key factors:

1. What the most common materials are on your site that could become waste.
2. How different stages of the project may affect the type of waste generated. For example, asbestos materials may be removed at an earlier stage while concrete is removed later on.
3. How you can prevent materials from becoming waste through figuring out how to reuse them and improving your purchasing process

The Waste (England and Wales) Regulations 2011 require businesses to apply the waste management hierarchy when dealing with waste. The hierarchy is: reduce, reuse, recycle, dispose. You should therefore start by choosing what you buy carefully to reduce the buying extra that could be wasted. Then you must reuse as much leftover material as possible. Thirdly you should attempt to recycle what you can. Finally, if you have worked your way through the hierarchy and still have materials left over, they should be disposed of correctly.

Gowrie Contracts Ltd for Your Construction Demolition Needs

Here at Gowrie Contracts, we offer a highly professional service for your demolition needs. Founded in 2007 and boasting staff with over 30 years of experience, we are a specialist team who aim to help with projects across Scotland. As members of the National Demolition Training Group and the National Federation of Demolition Contractors, our staff put your safety first, making sure every project we do complies with all laws and regulations so you don’t have to worry about anything. Visit our website now to find out how we can assist in your demolition project

We don’t stop at demolition. If you need assistance with asbestos removal, land remediation, reclamation or building strip-outs, contact us today on 01382 237854. Known for our reputation for quality and professionalism, we are highly regarded by many clients throughout Scotland and offer services in both the public and private sectors. So whatever your needs, we’re here to offer our five-star service.