These days, it’s very rare to build a house on an empty lot. Most likely, existing structures on the lot need to be torn down first to make room for the house of your dreams. Even the rules and process requirements may very from municipality to municipality; there are several common steps.
Utilities and Hazardous Materials Assessment
- Before demolition, you need to disconnect all utilities connected to your house (water, power, and gas).
- Before demolition/excavation, you need to find the location of any underground services and utilities. That might save you a lot of grief and money down the road.
Before demolition, you need to get a Hazardous Materials Assessment. This assessment will clearly identify any hazardous materials in your old house and methods of their remediation. If any hazardous materials are found (for example asbestos or lead), we highly recommend hiring a professional and certified abatement company to resolve the issue. If you try to do it yourself, you not only going to risk your own health but also can hurt others and run into numerous and costly problems.
At Alair Homes, we exclusively work with the best tradesmen in the industry and can help you to choose the right one for your project. If no asbestos-containing materials were found, this report is still required for drywall disposal.
Remove and Sometimes, Reuse
- Prior to machine demolition, all drywall needs to be removed from the house.
Some municipalities run a wood-reclaiming program. This means that some of the lumber from the old house has to be re-used in the new one. That will increase the cost of demolition and add to your timeline. Because of the new recycling programs, you might see an increased number of disposal trucks/locations. Clean wood will be disposed at one site, concrete at the other, mixed debris at the third one, greens, and organics at the fourth and so forth. Again, it adds time and cost, but it’s good for the environment.
If there are any trees that need to be removed from your property, please make sure that you follow the required process to obtain a tree permit. These days, even one tree removed without permission can end up costing you a small fortune.
In Closing
So, despite the fact that the demolition might look very easy and straightforward, there are a lot of details you need to know and pay attention to in order to succeed. Alair Homes is here to help. Our professional oversight and years of experience in this industry make it possible for you to spend your time doing the things that you love while we take care of your construction needs.
Living Better Starts Here™!