Demolition Tools: Basics and Advanced

Demolition tools can make a world of difference to the average demolition project. The better your tools, the more efficiently and safely you can generally perform the job at hand.

However, not everyone knows the best demolition tools or even the ones necessary for the average demo project. Out of curiosity or to cover all bases for your next big work project, you can learn more about some of the more commonly used ones below.

Cranes

Cranes are typically required for high-level demolition. They have wrecking balls attached to a cable linked to the crane, and this is swung into the side of buildings to push them down. Most cranes are equipped with chains, sheaves, wire ropes, and hoists and can be used for lifting and lowering all manner of materials.

Demolition Balls

We briefly mentioned wrecking balls above. These are also described as demolition balls and are cast steel weights with eyes and fixings. While they aren’t used on all demolition projects, they are commonly used on those where there are no concerns regarding neighbouring structures.

ANFO Explosives

ANFO explosives stands for ammonium nitrate/fuel oil, which is an explosive mixture sometimes used in demolition. Rather than spend countless hours breaking up concrete by hand, workers in the construction industry often turn to explosives.

However, there are also non-explosive products on the market designed to crack and break up rock and concrete.

Blast Mats

If explosives are required for a demolition project, you might also see teams installing blast mats. These are protective and absorbent coverings that can contain flyrock to keep workers and the general public safe.

Catch Screens

Catch screens are protective structures featuring planks and scaffold tubes. They are typically attached to a building’s face or fencing to catch any falling debris.

Cherry Pickers

Cherry pickers are elevating work platforms featuring cages or open cage buckets positioned on the end of vertical booms. Workers are able to use these machines to access the tallest areas of a building.

Concrete Cutters

When you have small demolition jobs, concrete cutters can be some of the best tools for the job. Whether you need to cut through concrete, stone, steel, asphalt, or similar materials, they can do it with ease. They are frequently used in both demolition and dismantling work.

Electric Tools

Demolition experts might work with heavy machinery, but they are also well-equipped with electric tools. It’s not uncommon to see their work vehicles loaded up with drills, disc grinders, electric hammers, blade-cutting appliances, and floor grinders.

Electric hoists and extraction fans might also fit into this category, allowing demo workers to perform their jobs more comfortably and safely.

Demolition Excavators

Demolition excavators are wheeled or tracked machines that have been purpose-built for demolition work. Typically, they have specialised cabs, high-reach configurations, and straight booms. You can also purchase a number of attachments for them, such as pusher arms, grapples, shears, buckets, and rock breakers.

Powder Actuated Tools (PAT)

Powder-actuated tools, or PATs, are hand tools that let you drive studs, bolts, and pins through building materials with explosive force. They also contain cartridges that function as explosives, which means anyone who operates them must be competent and certified.

Crawler Loaders

Crawler loaders are helpful machines that are typically used for moving materials and heavy piles of dirt. However, they are also quite common in demolition and construction, especially as they can be helpful for pushing down heavy structures.

Since they have metal tracks, you can also use crawler loaders to track onto large piles and clear narrow spaces.

Backhoe Loaders

If you have a small demolition project underway, a backhoe loader might be a machine you bring to the worksite. They have front buckets for use as wheel loaders and are also equipped with digging mechanisms similar to excavators at the rear.

Backhoe loaders even come with various attachments that you can use to break through concrete and rock.

Bulldozers

A bulldozer is easily the most common piece of heavy machinery to see at the average large-scale demolition site. Dozers are powerful machines that are used in most demolition jobs, as well as in the construction and road-building sectors. They are easily identifiable by their sizeable blades at the front, along with their tyres and tracks for easy navigation of challenging terrain.

Gear Up For Your Next Demolition Project

When you want your demolition project to go off without a hitch, you typically need access to a wide range of equipment. However, if you don’t have the access or expertise to arm yourself with bulldozers, backhoe loaders, cranes, and similar, you can always hire the experts who do. Now might be the right time to start exploring your demolition expert options.