Partial residential demolition might be essential if you are planning on remodelling your house extensively. For instance, this process might be needed when building home extensions or restructuring the interior living space. Unlike complete demolition, partial demolition involves the selective removal of certain parts of the building. When done correctly, the selective demolition work will not compromise the integrity of the building. However, if you are careless, you might incur a lot of losses and experience inconvenience. Here are simple tips to help you avoid problems during your partial demolition.
Check the Service Connections
The most common mistake made during partial demolition is damaging the utility connections in the house. In simple terms, selective demolition aims to preserve all the critical elements in the home to minimise the remodelling costs. If you are not cautious, you could damage the electrical wiring or plumbing pipes in the structure. This will translate into costly repairs during your rebuilding project. It is also essential to note that damaged live electrical wires could harm you or destroy your property. In addition, leaking pipes will cause water damage to your home. Therefore, when preparing for your demolition, you should take note of the areas with electrical or plumbing lines. Additionally, remember to disconnect power and water supply in case of an accident.
Plan on Salvaging Elements
If there are certain building elements that you would like to salvage during the demolition, you should make your plans in time. Simply speaking, the area that you intend to demolish for your remodelling work could have some beneficial building components. If this is the case, it is not advisable to destroy everything. Where possible, you should attempt to deconstruct as opposed to demolishing. Once you recover the materials, you can reuse them in your remodel. Alternatively, you can recycle or resell. You should note that it is difficult to recover building elements after beginning demolition. Therefore, identify the parts worth saving and prioritise their safe removal.
Know Your Structure
The most dangerous mistake that you can make during a partial demolition is damaging a structural element. In general, structural elements are parts of the house which are designed to provide building support. If these are affected during demolition, the integrity of the entire home might be compromised. This could mean extensive structural damage and even personal injuries for the people around the house. Moreover, the repair costs will be high. Therefore, when demolishing your building, you must protect the load-bearing elements from harm.
For help with your demolition project, contact a demolition contractor in your area.
