Demolition Contractors London Articles

Top 11 tips for choosing the best professional demolition contractor

Choosing the best professional demolition contractor for your building Demolition work can be tricky if you are unfamiliar with construction and demolition. You should ensure the contractor has a good track record, advanced equipment, and proper licensing. The following discussion will provide 11 most important tips for choosing the best contractor for your demolition work.

1. Define your goals and objectives

Before you select a demolition contractor, you must have a defined objective for your work. You should be able to clarify to the contractor if you want a partial or complete building demolition. If the building has reached the end of its lifespan, complete demolition is the best option; otherwise, you can opt for soft strip demolition.

2. Evaluation of previous work

It would be best if you chose a contractor based on his previous work experience and quality of work. Before selecting a contractor, ask for reference works that he has previously completed. You should evaluate the contractors’ commercial or residential demolition works by contacting previous clients. You'll be able to gather first-hand knowledge of the demolition contractors’ work quality and professionalism.

3. Comparing personalised quotes from different contractors

Most contractors provide free and personalised quotes for the service they will offer. You should compare and contrast quotes from different contractors to evaluate cost and quality of service. If you have the capability, choose the one offering premium quality service; it may cost you more than other contractors. However, selecting the contractor with the lowest bid price may not be the best decision. There is a risk of compromise with service quality. You should choose a demolition contractor who balances cost and service quality.

4. Licence and insurance coverage

Before selecting a contractor for your demolition work, you should check if they have the required licence and insurance. Appointing a licenced demolition contractor ensures the safety of the individuals and the environment. On the other hand, if they are covered by insurance, you can claim any damages done by the contractor to other properties.

5. Ensure they use modern tools and equipment

You should ask the demolition service provider if they use modern tools and equipment during the demolition work. Every expert contractor knows the possible noise and dust pollution during demolition. Advanced tools will ensure minimum sound and dust pollution. Hence, you should check the type of tools and machines they use before selecting a demolition expert.

6. Safety and precautionary measures

You should check if the contractor uses proper safety and precautionary measures during demolition. It ensures the safety of workers and protects them from hazardous elements. If the contractor does not follow appropriate protective measures, the surrounding environment and neighbours' lives can be endangered. Hence, you should always choose a demolition contractor who carefully adopts protective measures.

7. Safe removal of hazardous materials

It is necessary to ask the potential demolition contractor about their strategy to remove hazardous materials from the site. Your contractor must remove chemicals, asbestos, and other dangerous materials from the site. You should ensure that your contractor provides hazard removal service to ensure overall safety.

8. Do they provide waste management and removal services?

A demolition contractor must provide waste management and removal services. According to UK rules and regulations, the site owner should ensure the safe removal of waste materials to dedicated waste disposal. You should ensure the demolition expert has the knowledge and expertise to manage construction waste and safely remove it from the site.

9. Sustainable approach to demolition

You should enquire if the contractors adopt a sustainable approach in the demolition process. Recycling waste materials may reduce environmental impact and help you save costs. Electrical equipment, doors, windows, and sinks can be recycled to reduce construction costs for the next phase. Selecting a contractor who understands and implements sustainability practices will benefit you.

10. Ability to finish work within the deadline

You should ask the demolition contractors and their previous customers if they can meet the project deadline. Choosing a demolition contractor who can meet deadlines while maintaining work quality will benefit you. Your demolition work will be finished quickly, and the following construction work will start soon.

11. Ask questions to your potential contractor

Finally, asking questions is essential to select potential contractors. Such as:

-How many years of experience do you and your crew have in demolition?

-Are you licensed for this type of work?

-What type of safety measures will you take during the work?

-Are you certified to remove asbestos?

-Do you provide waste removal services? These questions will clarify the contractor's capability and help you choose the best demolition contractor.

Conclusion

The top 11 guides to choosing the best professional demolition contractor will help you find a valuable expert for your demolition work. If you are looking for an expert demolition contractor, you are at the right place. Demolition Contractor London has a team of experts who can offer you best-in-class demolition services. Contact us today for a personalised quote.

Soft strip demolition involves removing non-structural elements from a building. It may include removing elements inside or outside the building during the process. The soft strip demolition process is the initial step in demolition, refurbishment, or reconstruction of the building.

If you are planning to refurbish the apartment or are willing to demolish a building to construct a new building in the same place, first learn about soft strip demolition. It may influence you to alter the decision to demolish the old building and opt for a soft strip demolition service.

The following discussion will provide you with a guide to the soft strip demolition process, helping you understand its benefits and challenges. You will also learn the necessary precautions to remove hazardous materials like asbestos during the process.

Why do you need soft strip demolition?

If you plan to refurbish your existing building with a new design and added decoration, a soft strip demolition service can help. It can remove all the non-structural elements of the building, such as fittings and fixtures, internal walls, ceiling, floor panels, windows, doors, electrical wiring, etc. Careful stripping down of these materials allows you to reuse them in future construction work. Even if you do not require these materials, you can sell them to others for reuse. The sustainable approach of limiting materials' wastage helps add environmental value.

Can soft strip demolition harm the environment or the persons involved in it?

Yes, soft strip demolition can harm the environment without taking proper precautions. Your chosen contractor may alert you of the possible environmental impact of dust generated during the process. Demolishing inner walls and removing fittings and fixtures may create dust particles. Using covering materials and controlled water spray to prevent the spread of dust are the most effective. Otherwise, hazardous elements can spread in the environment and pollute the surrounding environment. If dust particles include wood dust, silica, or asbestos, they can critically impact individuals involved in the project. Asbestos, in particular, has been banned in the UK due to its harmful health impact if individuals are exposed to asbestos clouds for longer.

Why careful removal of asbestos is necessary during the soft strip-out process?

Asbestos is a natural mineral that has been used in UK construction in the past due to its excellent heat resistance. However, the element was banned in UK construction after its carcinogenic characteristics were discovered. In the UK, asbestos removal is regulated by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012.

A skillful soft strip demolition contractor will carefully remove asbestos from an old building during the soft strip-out process. Using a controlled water spray on asbestos-containing materials helps to reduce the risk of its spread. The workers should also use protective respiratory masks to prevent exposure to asbestos clouds.

The best process to complete soft strip demolition

The Health and Safety Executive controls the UK's strip-out process and demolition works. The best method for conducting the soft strip demolition is to follow the Assess, Control, and Review model provided by the Health and Safety Executives.

First, assess the amount of material being removed from the site and the type of waste materials. A soft strip demolition process produces significant dust; it may harm workers if it contains wood dust, silica, or asbestos clouds. Hence, assess the necessary risks.

Secondly, the control phase identifies possible measures to control the spread of dust and other particles that can impact workers and the environment. Water suppression or on-tool techniques can help reduce the spread of dust control.

Finally, the review phase focuses on regularly monitoring workers' protective equipment and its effectiveness. A responsible soft stript demolition contractor should periodically check for damage to the equipment used for the work. It would be best if you also communicated with the contractor to remove the waste materials generated during the process safely. It requires careful removal by following government guidelines that your contractor is better aware of.

Conclusion

A soft strip demolition service can help you renovate a building without completely demolishing and maintaining its integrity. This process is suitable if you renovate or refurbish your existing structure. It is also sustainable and economical, and stripped-out materials can be reused for construction work, reducing waste generation. However, the contractor needs to be careful when handling waste materials, especially hazardous materials. We provide the industry's best soft strip demolition services at Demolition Contractor London. Contact us today for a personalized quote.