Accident-proof Demo

Most remodels require at least some demolition. Sometimes it's easier for professional contractors to focus on the completed projects. They forget tips and techniques for a cleaner, safer and sometimes quicker demolition phase. But careful attention to detail, safety and clean working practices can mean the difference between an unhappy customer and one who refers you to friends.

Protect Your Workers
Contractors and their employees always should adhere to safety guidelines published by the Occupational and Safety Health Administration (OSHA), but the simple fact is that sometimes they don't. That's why many contractors concerned with their crews' safety and work practices write their own guidelines (incorporating all OSHA regulations, plus some of their own) and follow up with regular job site safety meetings.

"We have a written safety plan that we make all our workers read and adhere to," says Joe Cracco, owner of Cumberland, R.I.-based Modern Yankee Builders Inc. "And we hold weekly safety meetings on every job site to make sure everyone is on the same page and has no concerns. That goes for jobs with or without demolition."

When there is major demolition required and you want to subcontract it to a firm better equipped to handle such tasks, you want to make sure it has an effective safety plan in place.

"We go through a checklist to qualify any trades that we hire," says Christopher Distante, CR, production manager for Mt. Sinai, N.Y.-based Legacy Builders and Remodelers Corp. "For major demolition jobs, one of the biggest things we look for is the Certified Lead Carpenter designation from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. They have a very extensive safety training program … to achieve that designation."

In addition to safe working practices, which should be a feature on all of your job sites, both Cracco and Distante recommend the following personal safety equipment for workers:

• Eye and ear protection, respirators or dust masks and hard hats that are all American National Standards Institute certified.
• Steel-toed boots and long pants when appropriate.
• Durable gloves when there is no risk of catching them in power equipment or machinery.
• Approved fall-protection devices, safety harnesses or hand rails when called for.

Protect Property
The most serious threat to property during demolition often comes when load-bearing walls, support beams or headers need to be removed and replaced. In many cases, Distante recommends that contractors hire a structural engineer or architect for help.

"Not only does the liability for any unintended damage shift from you to them, but they also will provide solid specifications for the new structural element and detail the best process for removal of the old one," Distante says.

Less serious (but more common) damage to your customer's property during demolition comes from dust and debris being released into the house and the banging around and heavy traffic that comes with construction work. To protect areas of the house that are not going to be demolished and renovated, Cracco and Distante employ the following methods:

• Rosin paper on finished wood floors (Distante likes to use foam mats on top of that when there is the possibility of denting or gouges from heavy objects) and stick-down plastic film on carpets.

• Door jamb and threshold protectors (these are often scrap pieces of cardboard adhered with painter's tape.)

• Poly barriers or Zip-Walls to cordon off the demolition area and keep dust and debris from other areas of the house.

"We also like to put at least a drop cloth from the crew's access point to the work area to soak up any dirt from foot traffic and hauling equipment," Distante says. "Plus, we tell the clients it is their responsibility to remove any objects from shelves or walls that may drop and become damaged."

Hazardous Materials
There may be times during demolition that you run into some type of hazardous material that can be very unhealthy if not handled and disposed of properly. Certainly the most common of these is asbestos and lead paint. Most of the time, special remediation and removal contractors have to be called in, but Cracco says it would behoove most contractors to become as informed as they can about these materials.

"It is definitely worthwhile to become as well-informed as possible about lead and asbestos," Cracco says. "It's easy to become a lead-certified renovator, and it not only protects your clients and your crews, but their families as well because they don't want to be bringing home these hazardous substances on their clothes."

Cracco says that most building professionals know where to look for and how to recognize asbestos-based products, such as old floor tiles, insulation and siding. Lead paint can be trickier. He says a good rule of thumb is that if the building was constructed before 1978, have the paint tested for lead.

"Testing for and safe removal of these substances can add to the complexity and cost of a project," Cracco says.