A home demolition is about more than knocking down some walls and taking away the debris. There are other things involved, such as ensuring utilities are shut off and similar issues, but some of the most important aspects of a home demolition actually take place underground. Specifically, we’re talking about oil tank removal NJ.
When you first prepare to begin down the road to home demolition, there are a lot of bases to cover before the actual work begins. First, you’re going to have to find a licensed and insured demolition contractor, because this isn’t a job you and your friends can do on a weekend. After that, the house is going to need to be inspected for hazardous materials. If you think your house is free of them, think again. From the asbestos used in flooring, ceilings, duct work and siding to pain that contains lead to old diesel and oil tanks, many homes have materials than must be disposed of in the proper way.
Even then the work is just beginning. Ever see those posts and markers you see all over warning about underground gas and electric lines? They are there for a reason. Your utilities must be turned off by a professional.
And then there is the matter of underground oil tanks. For many reasons, you don’t want to do a demo when there is still an oil tank in the ground. The heavy equipment could accidentally rupture the tank, causing a sinkhole or spill. Thankfully, oil tank removal NJ is a painless process. The oil tank removal contractors you hire will locate the tank, determine if they can use a backhoe in the removal process, and then start digging. The actual job can take as little as three to four hours. After that, the oil tank will be hauled off and properly disposed of, leaving you free to knock down your home and (presumably) built a newer, better home.
Homeowners shouldn’t have to worry about facing big costs, either, because they can secure grants via the New Jersey Underground Storage Tank fund program to assist with oil tank remediation costs.
Once any tanks on your property are removed, demolition can move forward, but don’t expect it to happen overnight. Even with a small home, a job like this can take several days and will involve some heavy equipment. The walls and structure of your home will be torn down and put into large piles. From there the debris will go into dumpsters brought to the site by your contractor, up to six or eight of them in all, and will then be removed.
Just as oil tank removal NJ is a booming business these days thanks to a real estate market that is again on the rise, so is home demolition. That’s because in the way of Hurricane Sandy, many are knocking down their damaged homes and starting fresh. But remember, before you make the move to knock down your existing structure, be sure your plans for a new home are finalized, submitted, and approved. You don’t want a problem with your new construction to slow the entire process.
It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it to get a fresh start or to build your dream home.