Principal Demolition Methods
Demolition methods can vary depending on the area where it will be held on, the building material, the purpose of the demolition and the way that debris is going to be disposed. In the article we present with some of the most used methods for demolition of structures.
Implosion is a violent bursting inward that allows the sequential elimination of structure supports. Enough explosives are used to eliminate the critical vertical structural supports. The placement of the charges and the sequential detonation timing is if vital importance, allowing the collapse of the building induced by the weight of the structure. Implosion demolition methods are used in urban areas and often involve large structures.
For a successful demolition a complete set of structural blueprints must be analyzed to study the main component of such building. Also another important step is to have the blaster crew complete an assessment of the structure of the buildings to identify other areas that need to be blasted, in addition to the ones identify on the blueprints. As a final step is important to decide the type of explosives to use, where to position them in the building and how to time their detonations.
High reach arm is another traditional method of demolition. The threshold for defining a high reach demolition is when it reaches a height of more than 20 meters. This method is usually formed by a base machine (excavator, tank, engine, counterweights), a demolition arm consisting of three sections or by a telescopic boom and a primary tool attached to the base machine (crushers, shears, hammers).
High reach demolition machines can be equipped with different tools to make them suitable for executing demolitions of structures. This method is used on reinforced concrete, masonry, steel and mixed material structures. The machines used in this type of demolition are not the only machines used in the process; there must be additional components used for secondary operations such as crunching of material. Several factors control the method like the height of the structure being demolished, site conditions and structure shape.
One of the oldest and most commonly used methods for building demolition, the ball and crane use a wrecking ball weighing up to 13,500 pounds to demolish concrete and masonry structures. During the process, the ball is either dropped onto or swung into the structure that is to be demolished. The ball and crane, however, is unsuitable for all demolition applications. Some limitations:
Also known as strip-out, this process is very popular right now. As recycling and salvaging of material are very attractive to builders during these days, allowing them to re-use material or recycle it. Selective interior / exterior demolition or recycle of wood, brick, metals and concrete are all recycled for future use in new structures blending the old with the new. This demolition process is not limited to removal of interior equipment, walls, floor, ceilings and exterior components. The main purpose of this method is to recover the maximum amount of primarily reusable and secondary recyclable material in a safe and cost-effective procedure. Although it is a labor intensive process and can be very difficult to achieve in a timely and economical manner for light framed buildings.
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Demolition Methods : How to Demolish Buildings - Construction
- Demolition begins, groundbreaking scheduled for convention center expansion - Indiana Public Media - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- McKinley Avenue to be Temporarily Closed due to IBM Demolition Work - wicz.com - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- City's DNAT Lawsuit Leads to Demolition of Blighted Apartments - City of Birmingham, Alabama (.gov) - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Longfellow alumni pay final visit to campus before its demolition - Dallas News - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Demolition of Lansing's Walter Neller building scheduled. Here's when it will come down - Lansing State Journal - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Nearly $377K demolition contract awarded for project at site tied to Jackson Bribery Scandal - WLBT - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Demolition & Recycling International April-June 2025 - Demolition & Recycling International - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- McCloskey expands dealer network in New Zealand and the Caribbean - Demolition & Recycling International - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Norway selects Amentum and Multiconsult Norge to support nuclear decommissioning plan - Demolition & Recycling International - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Demolition underway on former car wash in Rhinelander - WXPR - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Cortland receives money for Roundhouse Mill demolition - 607 News Now - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Bridgeport residents react to expected demolition of the Candy Cane Smokestack - fox61.com - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Neighbors happy to see and hear Vues on Prince apartments torn down - WVTM - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Cortland receives funding for demolition of former Roundhouse Mill (Press Release) - Cortland Voice - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Demolition of Modern Plastics to start soon - The Herald Palladium - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Demolition of the Old Somerset Apartments in Oakhaven has begun. Take a look - The Commercial Appeal - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Funding Awarded Through RestoreNY Towards Demolition of Former Roundhouse Mill on Elm Street in Cortland - WXHC.com - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Jims Place approved for demolition as part of site redevelopment - Jacksonville Daily Record - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Readers weigh in on Wilson Mall demolition setback - The Wilson Times - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Contracts: Think you know the risks? Think Again - Demolition & Recycling International - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- St. Pete to explore downtown waterfront makeover, demolition of Al Lang - Bay News 9 - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- On the Big Screen This Week: Iranian Women, Demolition Men, and Uncle Boonmee - Racket MN - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Expedited appeal filed to stop demolition of former ITC building - WOAI - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Old Feed Mill demolition marks start of revitalization project in Buchanan - WWMT - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Sheriffs office moves out of Courthouse Square, paving way for demolition to begin - Observer-Reporter - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Demolition Happening Wednesday at Future Knoxville Kwik Star Site - KNIA KRLS Radio - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Quick Take: Further Demolition at Mt. Kumgang Tourist Area - 38 North - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Progress reported on land bank's Building Demolition & Site Revitalization, Brownfield Remediation projects - The Highland County Press - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- PHOTOS Demolition Starts At Old CCMS Building - WKDZ - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Demolition of historic Berkeley theater moves forward - MSN - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- This is irreplaceable: Locals fight to save historic East Bay theater from demolition - The Mercury News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Berkeley group makes one more appeal to city to stop demolition of UA Theater - MSN - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Cedar Hill Middle School hosts last chance to walk through before demolition - Victoria Buzz - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Preparing for Demolition, Portsmouth Electricians Cut Cables They Installed Years Ago - Energy.gov - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Bronson residents fight before the demolition process of a historic gym begins - WCJB - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Demolition reaches a milestone on Lafayette Bridge in Bay City - WJRT - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Cheswick power station demolition goes awry in Springdale - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Hotel O hits the dust: Watch the demolition of the longtime Jackson eyesore - Clarion Ledger - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Demolition wraps up at former Manitowoc mall sites, paving way for redevelopment to begin - Fox11online.com - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- The Controlled Demolition of the US Dollars Reserve Status [Podcast] - Schiff Sovereign - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Demolition takes place at the Talbot County Business Center - The Star Democrat - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Viably teams with Turmec on materials processing systems - Construction & Demolition Recycling - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Moving Pillsbury Forward marking five years with demolition of all buildings in sight | First Listen - NPR Illinois - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Mammoet on the job at Montral Olympic Stadium project - Construction & Demolition Recycling - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Knocking down abandoned buildings has a lot of benefits for Detroit but its costly for cities - The Conversation Indonesia - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Demolition scheduled after former Girl Scouts building burns overnight (VIDEO, UPDATED) - Chronicle Telegram - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Adrian Mall ownership directed by city of Adrian to demolish section of structure by June - The Daily Telegram - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Community reacts to partial demolition of Cheswick power plant boiler house - WPXI Pittsburgh - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Historic house on Route 1 set for demolition, produce stand set to be rebuilt - CoastTV - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- PPA garage in prime Center City location to be demolished and redeveloped - The Business Journals - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Fernandina Beach officials say Bretts Waterway Caf will be demolished. But the locations future remains unclear - WJXT News4JAX - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Arsenal's PSV demolition could lift mental handbrake - Pain In The Arsenal - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Which Cars Are Banned From Demolition Derby Events? - MSN - March 9th, 2025 [March 9th, 2025]
- Demolition Of Former E2 Nightclub Underway After City Reverses Decision - Block Club Chicago - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- From the C/D Archive: Demolition Derby Driving at the Chelsea Fair - Car and Driver - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition Progresses at 1140-1152 Second Avenue on Manhattans Upper East Side - New York YIMBY - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition clashes with memories of South Bend Y. But John Wooden's 'Pyramid' is saved. - South Bend Tribune - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- View Photos of the Demolition Derby Driving at the Chelsea Fair - Car and Driver - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Indianapolis begins demolition of long-troubled Towne and Terrace housing complex - IndyStar - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition resumes on 8 buildings at troubled Towne and Terrace housing complex - FOX 59 Indianapolis - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Opinion Sally Giddings Smith: The imminent demolition of the cathedral in Burlington - VTDigger - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Old Brooklyn Historical Society concerned over building demolition to preserve church - Cleveland 19 News - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition begins on pink Splash of Life building, plagued with fires and other challenges - KCTV 5 - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- NDA to offer certification test at convention - Construction & Demolition Recycling - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition of OVMC and Wheeling parking garage done ahead of schedule - WTRF - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Wheeling Officials Signal That Clay School Demolition Is Imminent - Wheeling Intelligencer - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Wave of demolition orders for towns in Judea and Samaria - JNS.org - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Cedar Co. wind turbine demolition fallout ongoing amid cleanup concerns and new regulation - KGAN TV - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Century-old pillar of Austin Black history saved from demolition - mySA - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Cambridge Demolition Halted After Building Partially Collapses - WBOC TV 16 - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Another demolition phase begins at Towne and Terrace; 23 buildings remain - WRTV Indianapolis - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- The Museum of London: Exploring the Brutalist Landmark Facing Demolition - ArchDaily - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- Demolition begins on former Chicago nightclub where stampede killed 21 - KTVZ - December 21st, 2024 [December 21st, 2024]
- A Massive Rockford Eyesore Is Coming Down; What's Next For Rock River Elementary School? - q985online.com - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Holding On To History: St. Mary's time capsule found as old hospital demolition continues - Northern News Now - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Demolition team faces protest at Faidan, forced to turn away - The Tribune India - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Loop 1604 at Blanco Road set to be closed for bridge demolition this weekend - KENS5.com - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Demolition Permits Submitted For 562-564 West 171st Street In Washington Heights, Manhattan - New York YIMBY - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Original Roadhouse Grill in Santa Maria undergoes demolition this weekend - KSBY News - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]
- Demolition Permits Filed For 379-381 Vernon Avenue In Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn - New York YIMBY - November 12th, 2024 [November 12th, 2024]