When you think of a demolition company, you picture people using big wrecking balls to destroy a building. While it’s true that businesses offering demolition services in NZ do demolish buildings, that’s not always the extent of their talents. Sometimes, they offer some of the following lesser-known services to take care of their clients’ every need.

 

Interior Demolition

Building owners don’t always want to destroy an entire structure. Sometimes, laws even say that they can’t. In Auckland, if properties were built before 1944, they can sometimes be protected as heritage buildings. This means that various councils can stop property owners from demolishing an entire structure.

However, that doesn’t mean a building has to be left to rot away. In some situations, property owners can be given the approval to proceed with interior demolition. As long as they keep the original structure, they can demolish the non-structural internal components, such as the floors, walls, and ceilings. In some situations, they might also be allowed to remove beams and structural walls.

This is a task the average DIYer can’t manage on their own, especially where structural elements are involved. Many companies in NZ offering demolition services typically offer internal demolition as a service, taking care of everything from demolition to waste removal and site clearance.

 

Deconstruction

We know that demolition involves destroying an entire building and transporting the waste away. But what does deconstruction mean? Deconstruction is the process of selectively dismantling parts of a building so it can be repurposed, reused, or recycled. Essentially, it’s like construction in reverse.

Deconstruction experts take buildings apart piece by piece, taking care not to damage building materials that might be useful for other construction projects. There can be many benefits associated with deconstruction, such as:

• More affordable building costs on a new project

• Reduced need for virgin resources

• Contributing to the circular economy of repurposing materials

• Unique aesthetic in new buildings

• More jobs for locals

• Less material ending up in landfills

 

Reconstruction

Reconstruction is not a new thing. St Mark’s Campanile in Venice collapsed in 1902 and was reconstructed 10 years later. The Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow was also reconstructed after it was destroyed on political leader Joseph Stalin’s orders.

Therefore, it’s not unusual for this service to be offered in New Zealand in today’s modern age. Most businesses offering reconstruction services can provide several options for how they carry out a reconstruction project, such as:

• True-to-the-original – Using the same materials and methods as were used on the original. This option is popular with culturally and historically significant buildings.

• Modelled – Reinventing the building with similar materials and features to the original

• Replicative – Imitating a particular style rather than retaining original materials and features for functional or safety reasons

 

Preservation

Demolition experts know how to pull buildings apart while preserving surrounding properties. However, they also know how to preserve a building that might otherwise be demolished in the future.

If you’ve been toying with the idea of demolition or preservation, talk to your local demolition experts to discuss the most appropriate option for your unique situation. Your chosen company might be able to assist with many preservation tasks, such as seismic strengthening, façade retention, and heritage restoration.

 

Recycling

While some buildings can be in such a state of disrepair that no materials are salvageable, that’s not the case for all of them. Some structures are demolished because they’re not fit for purpose in their location, or the land has been earmarked for development.

In that case, recycling can be a service you request from your local demolition company. Once they’ve taken care of hazardous materials like asbestos, they can put plans in place to recycle a number of demolition materials like wood, brick, metal, concrete, brick, and block.

If all fixtures and fittings are still in place, you might also be able to recycle:

• Appliances

• Doors

• Kitchen cabinetry

• Light fixtures

• Marble

• Sinks

• Toilets

• Bathtubs

• Windows

• And more…

 

As time-consuming and labour-intensive as recycling might seem, it’s a worthwhile task for a number of reasons.

• Give new materials a new lease on life

• Save money on future construction tasks

• Prevent good building materials from ending up in landfills

• Minimise waste removal costs

 

Demolition Companies Do More Than You Think

It’s easy to assume that your local demolition company can only assist with explosives and wrecking balls to destroy a building and make room for a new one to take its place. However, they can do so much more. Some of the best demolition companies in Aotearoa New Zealand can also prioritise recycling, preservation, interior demolition, deconstruction, and reconstruction.

Of course, if you still require demolition services, they can also help with the demolition of residential, commercial, and industrial structures so your development project can get underway.