There are many ways to demolish a building when it has reached the end of its life cycle. Implosion dramatically brings large buildings down and that may be the method that comes to mind before any others. However, there are four other ways a business can take down a building:

• Interior demolition
• Specific (or selective) demolition
• Deconstruction
• Obliteration: mechanical, implosion, or by wrecking ball and a crane

Interior demolition involves removing the interior--walls, ceilings, etc.--while preserving the exterior of a building.

Specific (or selective) demolition involves taking down a specific part of a building while working to preserve the nearby structures of the rest of the building.

Deconstruction is dismantling a building piece-by-piece so that parts can be reused in some way. This takes much more time, care, and labor than the blowing up of a building takes.

Obliteration of the entire building by mechanical means, implosion, or by wrecking ball and crane.

• Total mechanical demolition involves specialized excavators and attachments that can effectively break steel and concrete.
• Implosion uses explosives to blow the building up so that it doesn't hurt its surroundings. Although implosion is what we usually see in the media, it actually is rare, accounting for just one percent of demolitions.
• Wrecking balls and cranes are largely outdated due to the lack of precision that you can find from more specialized and computerized tools of demolition that are safer.

Demolition must be accomplished with the utmost care and safety in order to be able to utilize the site after a building is gone. Every demolition process involves regulations that must be followed. Permits need to be secured, owner and police communication must ensue, structural surveys need to be done, as well as checking for asbestos in older buildings.

Demolitions that are done without checking for asbestos, and remediating it if necessary, will contribute to the 12,000 to 15,000 workers who die every year in the United States from diseases like mesothelioma caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Every demo method requires planning and care in its execution.

After Demolition Comes Clean-Up

After demolition, no matter what kind of method you use requires clean-up. Your demolition contractor can get rid of debris that can endanger others. There will be a lot of sharp rubble, dust, and possible toxins that need special handling after demolition. Even smaller demolition projects like specific interior demos may still be difficult to clean up without specialized equipment. Large demo projects like implosions will require specialized debris removal equipment as well as extra time and care to remove debris safely without endangering the public.

For more information on demolition services, contact a professional in your area.