Top 7 Signs to Know It's Time to Demolish Your Old Building

An old building might have historical values or memories attached to it, but demolition is the best way out once it shows signs of decay. You might think repairing the old building might be helpful, but some old buildings might be beyond repair. The more you invest in it, the more you lose money.

This blog will discuss the top 7 signs that it is time to demolish your old building. However, it might not always be the age of the building, but not following building standards or any accidents may also lead you to demolish your building. We will discuss that as well.

Structural Instability

If the building structure is not strong enough, living in it can be dangerous for you or your tenant. So, how do you know that your building is not stable or strong enough? You might notice a long line of cracks along one of the walls deep into the foundation. A horizontal crack along the wall also suggests structural instability. Even if you see floor settlement at the ground level, your building might have serious issues.

A professional engineer might help you understand the risk level. You can decide whether to demolish the building based on the risk assessment. Living in a danger zone is better than investing in a new property following all the safety standards.

Fire or Water Damage

Suppose you constructed your building in an area lower than the surrounding ground. When it rains, waterlogging can occur. Excess water weakens the soil under the building's foundation, and eventually, the soil will lose the building's load-carrying capacity.

The result is ground settlement or cracks developing in the property. An accidental fire damages property so much that it is impossible to demolish the building. The concrete, the roof, the flooring, the water, and the electricity line are all damaged from an accidental fire. In such cases, demolishing the old building and constructing a new one is the best choice.

Hazardous Building Materials

Sometimes, old buildings have intricate electrical wiring systems. Hazardous elements in the building, such as asbestos or lead-based paint, might also make it difficult to live in. As per UK government regulation, hazardous materials like asbestos must be safely removed from your home or office.

In the 90s, asbestos was used in UK homes as a roofing solution, in painting, and other ways. However, long-term asbestos exposure might cause fibrosis or lung cancer. If you ask for our opinion, living inside a Paradise of carcinogenic elements makes no sense. Demolish such old buildings and construct a new one in that place.

The Building No Longer Meets Current Standards

As technology evolves, new building standards are formed. In the UK, strict regulations must be followed to build a new structure with advanced construction technology. If your old building does not meet the new construction regulations, you might want to consider demolishing the old building.

High Maintenance and Repair Costs

Your expenses do not stop once you construct a new building. Instead, new expenses start to deplete your savings—the maintenance cost for the building. Usually, you don't need to spend too much on building maintenance at the beginning. However, with time, the maintenance cost increases. If that is the case with your building, you must make the hard decision -continuous repair or complete demolition. If your repair cost is soaring gradually, demolition might be a better solution for your building.

The Land Value Exceeds the Building Value

In the UK, some places have high property values, and you can rent out your spare room and earn good money. For example, if you live in East Ham, Abbey Wood, Thamesmead, etc., in London, you might earn significant money from building rent. However, tenants look for well-furnished properties in good condition. Offering them an age-old building with structural issues might not attract rent as expected. In such a scenario, you must continuously repair or demolish the building to construct a new one.

Redevelopment or Change of Use Plans

This particular sign is not related to the building's manufacturing quality. It’s your purpose to change the building into something new. Suppose you want to convert a residential building into a commercial one. In that case, you must demolish the old building and build a new one. Keeping in line with modern trends, the building should be redeveloped for contemporary purposes.

Conclusion

Demolition of your building does not have to be simply an act of destruction; it is instead a process of developing a clean slate for the next construction. If you see structural failure, partial damage to the building, or damage due to an accident, demolishing the building is best for your safety.