The Required Pre-Requisites of Residential Demolition
You cannot simply get up one fine day and decide to demolish your residential property by yourself. Demolition work is overseen by local authorities and requires permits for the job. Here’s more on the topic
Permits
You will need to obtain permits from your local building department or other regulatory bodies in your city. You will need to first find out where to obtain the permits. It is also possible for licensed contractors to go and obtain the permits for the demolition jobs they have accepted.
The purpose of demolition permits is to ensure the public’s safety from the work. The concerned government department needs to see that no harm comes to any person or property due to any demolition work. You can find out more about the process by searching for information online. Use search term with your location so that you receive information as it pertains to your municipality. Search keywords such as residential demolition Austin TX or something similar can help you find the relevant information about the permits.
You will need to submit a slew of information for the permit. The timeframe for the project completion is one such information. If the demolition work requires the closing of any nearby street then you will need to reveal this information at the time of obtaining the permit.
You will also need to mention the way the building will be demolished – manual or via heavy machinery. The contractor will need to furnish the demolition plan to obtain the permit. The manual labor plan will need more details as well. You will need to mention the walls that will bear the load during the demolition process.
The contractor who is overseeing the project will need to be licensed and insured. The contractor will need to reveal the license and insurance information to obtain the permit. The process of obtaining a permit also requires you to pay a small fee to the local municipal body that will grant the permit to you.
The insurance and bond requirement for those with private residences may differ from one municipality to another. When homeowners obtain the permit for demolition of their standalone properties then the need for bonds and insurance may be absent.
Paperwork
You will also need to contact the water, electric, and cable departments to temporarily stop their services in the demolition area. You might need to contact the sewer department too. If there are telephone lines under the building (very likely) then you will need to contact the appropriate service provider and inform them about the demolition work.
You will need to provide this information to the municipality body where you are applying for the permit.
Contractor
A licensed and insured contractor is absolutely necessary for demolition jobs. You may want to perform the job by yourself. But it is best to hire a contractor for the job who has good experience of demolishing residential buildings.
They will know how to obtain permits for the job. They will have access to all the tools needed for residential demolition. Residential buildings can be small or big. So, you will need to hire a contractor who can handle the task in terms of the demolition work. They should have access to the tools needed for the kind of residential property you wish to demolish.
A licensed contractor will have complied with the authorities to obtain the license. So, you can be sure that they are trained and have solid business practices. Shoddy and dishonest work can lead to a business losing its license. So, expect the work to be completed on time when you hire licensed contractors.
Insured contractors offer another layer of safety to the job at hand. In case of an incident on the site, you won’t be liable to make any payouts. Contractors will be able to handle it through their insurance.
Ensure that the contractor is experienced and competent to provide residential demolition services. Inquire about the cost of the service beforehand and get clarity on the services included in that cost. It is possible to find affordable demolition services offered by experienced, licensed, and insured demolition contractors by spending some time in researching the names of these professionals providing such services in your local area.