If you require demolition for any reason – one of the most common being to knockdown and rebuild your home – it is vital that you choose a qualified demolition company.  It can be hard knowing what to look for so we’ve put together this guide, so that you can be confident that you’ve made the right choice.  Read on for what you need to know.

Check What Equipment the Demolition Company Has

One thing that you should look for is a demolition company that has a range of equipment that they use for demolishing houses. This is important as the company having a range of equipment means that they can use the items that best suit your property (access, the type of home that you have etc). 

Will the Demolition Company Remove Rubbish?

Demolishing a home inevitably creates rubbish and rather a lot of it!  Any good demolition company should be able to remove and dispose of this rubbish for you.  Such rubbish includes building materials, rocks, dirt, and so on.  In many cases, the demolition company will give you a discounted price if you allow them to salvage materials from your demolition project.  This could be windows, doors, timber, steel, bricks, and so on.  Not only will your demolition end up being cheaper, less waste will go to landfills.

Can the Demolition Company Handle Dangerous Materials?

If you are demolishing an older house, the chances are that asbestos is present within the home somewhere, either in friable or bonded form.  If this is the case, you will need to be sure that your demolition company is licensed and capable of removing asbestos containing materials safely, as well as decontaminating the entire site so that no asbestos is left behind.  They should also dispose of the asbestos as required by law.  Your demolition company should have an asbestos removal expert on staff to handle these tricky situations correctly.

Can the Demolition Company Provide Other Services?

If you are doing a knockdown/rebuild on your property, it is often likely that demolition alone just isn’t enough to prepare your site ready to build a new home.  You may need other things such as tree cutting or removal, excavation or levelling of the site, cut and fill, and so on.  A good demolition company will be able to provide these additional services to you or, at the very least, be able to refer you to someone that will be able to do these tasks for you.

How Much Will the Demolition Cost?

The cost of the demolition is something that you also need to consider. The demolition company should provide you with a detailed quote on the entire demolition project – from the initial planning stages, right through to the salvage and rubbish removal stage. They should outline in the quote exactly how the demolition will be carried out, what equipment and labour will be required, if there will be a discount in exchange for them being able to salvage materials, the cost of rubbish removal, the cost of asbestos removal if it is required, and the cost of any additional services that they foresee as being necessary.  The quote should also include a timeframe in which the demolition will be carried out.

Are They Properly Qualified?

As demolition is a dangerous process, you should always ensure that you choose a company that holds all of the proper licensing, qualifications, and insurances.  Also look for a company that is very experienced in carrying out different kinds of residential demolitions.