Common methods used for house demolition
In recent years, there has been a noticeable surge in Sydney homeowners opting for knock down and rebuild projects for their homes. Many homeowners find that purchasing an existing property, even if it requires substantial renovation, can be more cost-effective than buying a new home in the same area.
By knocking down an older, outdated structure and rebuilding a modern, energy-efficient home in its place, homeowners can tailor the new design to their exact specifications and preferences, often at a lower cost per square metre than purchasing a new home.
More rebuilds mean more house demolitions and, depending on your need, you can either select which parts of the house you’d like to demolish or knock down the whole thing.
Whether you need selective or complete demolitions, let’s look at the most common methods used to demolish houses in Sydney and which is most appropriate for you.
Mechanical demolition
Many house demolishers in Sydney consider mechanical demolition the fastest and most cost-effective way to knock down a home. Mechanical demolition usually requires heavy machinery like excavators and bulldozers to tear down the entire house or specific structures within it. It is often the preferred choice for large-scale projects or demolishing houses in poor condition. Skid steer and track loaders are then used to move demolished materials.
There are some drawbacks, however. Noise and dust can be a nuisance to neighbours and the local community, while damage to adjacent buildings or structures is a high risk if the demolition is done by an inexperienced or uncertified contractor without a solid demolition plan.
Manual demolition and deconstruction
Manual demolition and/or deconstruction relies on the sheer strength of human labour. Often used for partial demolition, demolition workers wield traditional and specialised hand tools like sledgehammers, jackhammers and pinch bars to dismantle the building piece by piece.
While it may be more time-consuming and labour-intensive (and sometimes more dangerous for workers), manual demolition is more precise than other methods and useful in situations where access to heavy machinery is limited. It is also more sustainable with manually removed materials more likely to be salvaged for reuse or recycling.
Manual demolition or deconstruction is commonly a more targeted form of demolition that removes specific sections of a structure while leaving the rest untouched. It’s a popular choice for homeowners taking on renovation projects or repurposing areas of their homes.
The goal is to remove only the targeted rooms or structures and avoid any damage to the rest of the building and leave the unaffected areas structurally sound and functional.
Saw cutting
Saw cutting is commonly used as a complementary process to other demolition methods to create clean, straight edges or to remove specific sections of a building. Saw cutting is especially useful when partial demolition is required of concrete, brick and block structures.
Saw cutting uses diamond saws, wall saws and core drills to cut through concrete and masonry. Diamond saws are the most common and use a diamond-tipped blade to cut through concrete. Wall saws are large saws that are mounted on a track and used to cut through thick concrete walls. Core drills are used to drill circular holes in concrete.
Robotic demolition
Some demolition companies use robots to perform more specialised demolitions. These robots can handle a number of different tasks, from breaking concrete to removing debris.
Robotic demolition combines the efficiency and safety of mechanical demolition with the precision and safety advantages of manual demolition. As the operator can remain distant from the work, the machine can work in an isolation zone so there is almost no risk of injury to human workers.
Robots are more compact and powerful than a lot of larger machines such as excavators and can be transported into areas where work would normally have to be done manually. This method is particularly useful in urban areas with limited space.
Conclusion
Despite the increasing trend to break down and rebuild houses, house demolition in Sydney is not a simple process. A qualified demolition company should be well chosen to help you through it. They should make sure you comply with safety and legal requirements, whether you use mechanical or manual demolition or more specialised methods like robotic demolition.
Your chosen demolition professional should also prioritise environmental considerations and responsible waste management throughout the demolition process to minimise impact on the environment and surrounding communities.
Noble Works Australia, who specialise in almost every aspect of demolition, is at the forefront of modern demolition techniques. Get in touch with us for all your demolition needs, from excavation to robotic demolitions.
