Home Demolition Services LA

Buildings, regardless of their size, will not last forever. When a house that is too old, too worn down, or simply not right, it must come down. Fortunately, demolishing a house is typically not complicated. A successful demolition begins with choosing the right company to get the job done. Once you've done so, the process will begin. At Nielsen Environmental, we want our clients to know exactly what they can expect when they choose our home demolition services in LA.

What is the process of demolishing a house?

Reviewing Your Demolition Needs

When it comes to a house demolition, or any kind of demolition for that matter, there will be a number of factors to consider. Before a demolition can begin, Nielsen Environmental must assess the site and your needs so we may develop a custom plan that works.

Developing the Plan

Once everything has been assessed, the demolition company will create an in depth plan. This will include how the demolition will be carried out, and what equipment may be used. The objective will be to complete the demolition as safely as possible, and within the budget. These discretions could reflect of various factors including the location and size of the building, materials that make up the building, whether or not asbestos is in the building, and the reason for the demolition. Depending on these things, the demolition company may choose a method such as:

• Deconstruction
• Selective demolition
• Implosion
• Excavation
• + More

Once this plan is in place, the demolition company may discuss with you the cost, equipment to be used, clean up, recycling, and the timeframe. A backup plan might also be developed just in case something goes wrong.

If you or the demolition company believes there to be any type of hazardous waste/material in the building, you may need to have it inspected before the demolition process goes any further. Should these materials be confirmed, there may be a completely separate process involved in their safe removal. At Nielsen Environmental, we’re experienced with handling hazardous materials like asbestos and lead.

Obtaining Permits

In general, you cannot demolish any building without getting a permit. This is because in doing so the landscape could be changed, and the Los Angeles property value and taxes could be affected. A demolition company will likely organize the permits with your local government.

Preparing the Demolition Site

Before the demolition can begin, the site must be prepared. This could include cleaning out the building, turning off all the utilities, stripping out any gas and water tanks, and removing hazardous or recyclable materials.

The Demolition Begins

Once everything has been carefully planned, the demolition will be scheduled and carried out. This can take anywhere from one to several days depending on the type of demolition. Once the demolition has been completed, the company will remove all the debris from the site. Typically this means "down to the dirt."

Choose a Home Demolition Services Company in Los Angeles

Demolishing a building signifies that a new beginning is about to take hold. Once everything has been completed, you can prepare for whatever comes next.

Deconstruction Versus Demolition

The Difference

If you own a property and have decided that any existing structure needs to be removed or changed so that you can create something new, you will have to figure out if deconstruction or demolition is the best option for you. There are many home demolition services in LA that offer deconstruction as an option as well. Nielsen Environmental can help you distinguish which service might be best for you. The main difference between the two is that in deconstruction different parts of any structure can be saved or salvaged and used in the creation of your new building, but demolition usually means removing everything.

Cost Savings

Both demolition and deconstruction have varying cost variables to consider. Some might believe that home demolition services in LA will always be the cheaper option because of the use of mainly mechanical power to quickly demolish any structure. That can sometimes be true, but on occasion, it might cost more to completely demolish something because of any safety or other risk factors that have to be considered during the demolition.

It's tempting to believe that deconstruction could offer considerable cost savings because you are able to reuse different building materials. However, saving those older materials could end up costing you more because of the amount of manual labor needed to keep them intact during the deconstruction. Nielsen Environmental can walk you through all the different costs associated with demolition and deconstruction to help you determine which overall price best suits your budget needs.

Environmental Impact

Another point to consider between demolition and deconstruction is the overall environmental impact. You may deeply care about the amount of waste involved with your new property. You may also have a situation where some things that need to be discarded have more environmental risk. If you are eager to conserve as much as possible then deconstruction might be the best moral choice for you.

The End Goal

Perhaps the biggest point to help you determine if deconstruction or demolition is right for you is to consider the end goal. Look for some experienced home demolition services in LA to help walk you through what is feasible for your new construction ideas. An accomplished company will understand your vision and the best path to get you there. There are some instances that to truly make what you want, you have to completely start over and demolish an older structure completely.

Do I Need to Hire a Demolition Company For My Next Project?

Many people have a preconceived notion about demolition, that is just involves destroying a building aimlessly and then disposing of the crumbled piles that are left. However, LA home demolition services are much more than simply taking down walls without thought, and throwing the remnants in the trash. In fact, most building materials can be reused, recycled, or salvaged. Home demolition services in LA often include several detailed steps, building evaluations, careful planning, safety precautions, and employees who are trained to work around hazardous materials.

Q: Why may I need demolition services?

A: Demolition is not something the average person wants to take on themselves without any prior experience. Demolition crews often have received education on demolition techniques, and someone who is not trained could end up seriously hurting themselves or others by trying to do it alone. Certain projects may require equipment like wrecking balls and cranes, in addition to an environmental impact evaluation if hazardous materials are involved.

Q: What if I don’t want my entire property demolished?

A: Home demolition services can include helping to remove only part of the LA property, such as floors, walls or a fireplace. Those who are thinking about doing internal home redecorating, making room additions or upgrading, may want to talk with a demolition company before starting. There may be materials in the walls of your home that are hazardous to occupants once exposed. It may be best to consult with a professional before jumping head first into an at-home projects solo.

Q: What if I don’t want the materials to be thrown out?

A: In general, a LA demolishing company not only offer home demolition services to remove materials from the destroyed property, but can send them out based on whether they are recyclable, reusable or savagable. Items that can be converted for a second use are wood, roof materials, plasterboard, insulation, ceiling tiles, carpets, brick, porcelain, soil, concrete, and more. If recycling materials means something to you, inquire about these services before hiring a demolition company to assist with your project.

Q: Are demolitions bad for the environment?

A: When people witness demolition happening right before their eyes, they may think it is severely harming the environment or ecosystem. But, many demolishing companies understand the importance of safeguarding the natural world, and act with environmental stewardship. This means working on projects in such a way that local wildlife, residents, families and business owners are not negatively impacted.

Q: I have also heard of deconstruction, what is that exactly?

A: While deconstruction and demolition are similar in essence, the former entails a more thorough process with the goal to recycle or reuse as much of the materials as possible. Deconstruction is commonly done by hand and takes longer, while demolition can involve heavy machinery and less precise strategies. Depending on the type of property being taken down, either deconstruction or demolishing may be better suited. Nielsen Environmental can answer any additional questions you have about the difference between these two approaches or any other questions you may have about home demolition services in LA.

Choosing to demolish a building is a big decision that involves many considerations. To learn more about hiring home demolition services LA residents trust, call Nielsen Environmental today.