northernriversdemolitionasbestos

3 Reasons Why You Need an Asbestos Management Plan for Your Business

Sun, 22 Dec 2019 20:32:00 GMT

Do you work with older buildings that have a risk of containing asbestos?

If this is the case, creating an asbestos management plan is absolutely essential for the health of your workers, surrounding residents, and for you.

An asbestos management plan will vary depending on your business. But in general, this plan will include:

Identification of any locations containing asbestos

Condition of existing asbestos

How you plan to remove asbestos (if necessary)

Strategy to minimise any risk of inhalation

Any other details relevant to your project

While this is a time-consuming task that’ll involve the cooperation of multiple parties to complete effectively, it is definitely time worth investing.

Here are 3 reasons your business needs an asbestos management plan:

#1. Avoid Expensive Ramifications

t’s easy to dismiss health hazards when the dangers aren’t in direct sight.

However, with miscommunication, it becomes far more likely that a mistake will occur and lead to unnecessary exposure to the asbestos in the area. But by creating a detailed asbestos management plan, you’ll have all considerations in writing.

And by sharing this with your team and other relevant parties, plus with the help of a lawyer, you can minimise any legal ramifications you could potentially face.

This can save you tens of thousands (even hundreds of thousands) of dollars. Plus, it’ll ensure the health of everyone involved is kept safe.

#2. Remain Legal

In Australia, it’s a legal requirement to have an asbestos management plan if you’re in charge of maintaining a building built before 2003 or have previously found asbestos in the premise (or is likely to contain it).

For more information, read Safework’s Asbestos registers and management plans.

#3. Stay Professional

The dangers of asbestos are well-known now.

If you’re doing business with other companies and you don’t have an asbestos management plan, you’ll be deemed unprofessional and a risk to work with.

Even if you’re working with residents and not businesses, you’ll raise concern that can tarnish your business’s image.

There’s no reason to not have an asbestos management plan.

Need help with your asbestos removal?
Get in touch with us today for a 100% free quote

Call us at 0403 427 262
Or email us at sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

Hazards of Improper Demolition Work

Fri, 22 Nov 2019 20:25:00 GMT

Demolishing a building is a big project. If done improperly, the lives of everyone involved could be at risk.

This danger includes both immediate dangers and long-term health effects.

But by working with an experienced demolition expert, you can avoid these life-threatening accidents from occurring.

Some hazards of improper demolition include:

Demolition dust and exposure

While demolishing a building, dust is an inevitability. However, when this isn’t suppressed and the materials being demolished aren’t considered, this becomes a major health hazard.

For example, some buildings will contain asbestos. If this is demolished without first being removed, the people in the surrounding area will be exposed to the asbestos fibres that have become dislodged and airborne.

Furthermore, it’s part of NSW’s law to minimise dust during demolition. You’re at risk of harming the lives of surrounding people and at risk of incurring significant fines.

Collapsed buildings

Engineers are very precise when constructing buildings. Specific support structures are required to hold a building up. If the building being demolished isn’t properly inspected, it’s possible for the entire building to collapse unexpectedly during demolition.

Working with expert demolition workers will ensure that every safety precaution is taken. This means specific areas will be avoided, certain support structures will be added, and other precautions will be taken.

Explosions or fires

Before any demolition, it is absolutely essential to cut off all utilities. This means cutting off all gas, electricity, and water.

However, even with these turned off, it’s important for the demolition experts to be wary of where any pipes or wires could be. For example, a pipe could still contain gas and any ignition could lead to a potential explosion.

The result of this could be injuries to workers and surrounding residents. Plus, this may damage surrounding structures and result in very costly repair costs.

Need a professional demolition service for your building?
Get in touch with us today for a 100% free quote

Call us at 0403 427 262
Or email us at sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

Tips to Identify Asbestos & What It Looks Like

Tue, 22 Oct 2019 20:00:00 GMT

Worried that your building contains asbestos?

If your building was constructed before the year 2000, there is a chance it may contain asbestos. Even if you only had your building renovated, you should still check for any asbestos.

For homes built before 1990, many buildings will contain cement materials with asbestos. This includes eaves, wall cladding (both inside and outside), and ceilings.

If you’re not sure if your building contains asbestos, we’re providing you with tips to help you identify it.

#1. Check the surface

While you can’t tell for certain if a material contains asbestos without sending a sample to the lab for testing — some visual signs can indicate a higher chance of it containing asbestos.

For example, many materials contianing asbestos have a dimpled pattern on the surface. Inspect the surface of the material and see whether it has a texture or is smooth instead. More modern materials usually have a smooth surface.

#2. Don’t discount anything

Asbestos is usually mixed with other materials. Depending on what it was mixed with, the shape, colour, texture, and many other physical features will change.

If it was built before the 1990s, it’s worth getting checked.

#3. Check for an oily appearance

Tiles containing asbestos will usually gain a discoloured oily look. If you have older tiles that are looking uneven in colour and oily — you should contact an expert and have them help you send a sample to have tested.

#4. Check for manufacture stamps

Many companies stamp their information onto the material they make. However, this could be difficult to locate. If you’re struggling to find the stamp’s location, avoid moving the material around. This could dislodge the asbestos fibres and lead to you inhaling them.

Overall, identifying asbestos is a difficult task. Even for professionals, it’s impossible to know for sure if a material contains asbestos. However, experts have experience dealing with asbestos and will know what materials have a higher risk of containing asbestos. Plus, they’ll be able to take samples for testing while minimising your risk of exposure.

Need help identifying any asbestos in your building?
Get in touch with us today for a 100% free quote

Call us at 0403 427 262
Email us at sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

3 Factors That Will Determine Residential Demolition Cost

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 22:50:00 GMT

First time renovating a new home or having a demolition done?

Major renovation projects often require a demolition service to completely remove all the unwanted materials for the new build.

But this can be intimidating for first timers. Especially when you don’t know how much it costs and why it costs so much.

To make things a little less scary, listed below are 3 factors that determine the cost of a residential demolition project.

#1. The size and structure of the house to be demolished.

Typically, the larger floor area, the more expensive the demolition.

A 300 square meter house will take more time and may require more manpower to knock down compared to a 200 square meter one.

Likewise, the material of the house to be demolished is also factored into the cost. A house made from concrete or metal frames will be more expensive than a house made of wood or any other lighter material.

#2. Special permits in accordance with local regulations

A permit issued by your state is required before you can start with any demolition process.

The cost of these permits depends on the state you are in. They can get expensive and drive your demolition costs higher than estimated.

In addition to the residential permits, a special permit may be needed if the house is found to contain dangerous materials such as asbestos.

In older houses, asbestos was used as part of the insulation for floor tiles, walls, and ceilings. But its use has been banned since the 1980s due to its cancerous effects. Special tools and removal procedures are required to be used by the demolition company to remove them from the project site, which then adds to the total cost.

#3. The cost of clearing the debris from the demolition site.

The company that performs the demolition will be responsible for clearing up the site when the project is done.

The cost of this service highly depends on the amount of debris to be hauled and the distance of the disposal facility.

Having a renovation and need someone to help with demolition?
Get in touch with us for a 100% free quote.

Call us at 0403 427 262
Email Us sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

Demolition Failures And How They Can Be Prevented

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 22:47:00 GMT

Demolition activities need careful planning and proper implementation to be successful.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a residential home, an office building, or a skyscraper that’s going to be torn down. A well-thought-out plan that is properly put into action will reduce, if not totally eliminate, demolition failures.

With that said, let’s look at some demolition failures and how they can be prevented.

#1. Missing deadlines due to lack of communication and education of workers

The importance of properly discussing all the safety measures around the demolition site cannot be overemphasized.

Supervisors and managers should not assume that all workers already know all there is around the work area. It is always best to gather everyone before the start of the day and run through the days’ tasks and safety measures. Constant reminders help prevent memory lapses that could cause major fails.

In order to prevent miscommunication, make sure you are very clear with your instructions to the site manager. This way, they can communicate effectively with the workers.

#2. Projects suspended due to accidents that could have been prevented if a pre-construction site survey was performed

It’s always good practice to perform a pre-construction site survey prior to the start of any demolition.

The project manager or whoever is assigned to do the survey does a walk-through around the entire site to look for design and structural modifications that are non-standard that may pose a potential danger to the workers.

For example, a circuit breaker that is hot-wired to be always on the ON position can easily be located by a proper walkthrough, preventing possible electrocution. To prevent any problems arising, make sure your project manager does in fact do the site survey.

#3. Physical injuries sustained by not wearing the proper PPE

PPEs, or personal protective equipment, must always be worn by the workers around the demolition site.

Falling debris, equipment malfunctions, and human errors are all unexpected occurrences that could get anyone hurt. The PPEs are provided to protect the workers from these accidents and make sure that injuries are minimized, if not totally eliminated.

If you see any workers not wearing their PPE, tell the project manager.

#4. Structures collapsing because safety precautions were not implemented

Certain procedures should be made to ensure the structure is safe.

For example, It is important to construct proper wall braces on walls to avoid collapse. It is also important that all utilities such as electricity and water services are cut-off before starting any work around the area. Another example is that floor openings should be limited to no more than 25 percent of the total floor area to avoid total collapse.

Unfortunately, these precautions are sometimes overlooked and result in serious injuries and even death.

Want to have a safe and successful demolition?
Get in touch with us today for a 100% free quote

Call us at 0403 427 262
Email Us sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

Why A Strip Out Is Necessary Prior To Any Renovation Project

Mon, 22 Jul 2019 22:40:00 GMT

Getting ready for that major renovation project but can’t decide if you should first do a strip-out of the area or not?

Well, it shouldn’t be a hard decision to make. You see, the success of a renovation depends on how good the planning and preparation is made before it’s even started.

If planned correctly, your newly renovated property will last you decades. If not, you’ll end up with another renovation project just one or two short years after the first.

5 reasons why you should do a strip-out before starting any major renovation project.

#1. Avoid health issues caused by mould and bacteria

You never know where mould or nasty bacteria could be.

Mould is a toxic, living substances that poses a great danger to both you and your family’s health.

They can grow on almost any substance, but thrive in damp and dark places. Professional strip-out specialists can Identify and remove old walls and ceilings where mould is identified. This makes your renovated property safe for everyone, including future residents.

#2. Prevent fire hazards

Old electrical wiring with low amperage ratings should be removed and replaced with higher rated ones.

The number of gadgets now used in a typical household is greater than ever before, which means more gadgets need to be plugged in for power, and each one demands more of it.

This could present a fire hazard if not upgraded properly.

#3. Helps with planning

With a proper strip-out, all non-essential walls are torn down.

Because of this, it becomes easier to see the entire space. Now, it is easier to plan the renovation and it might be possible to make changes you previously thought wasn’t practical.

#4. Remove asbestos

Asbestos presents a serious health issue. It is commonly found in walls & ceiling sheeting, particularly in wet areas though it can also be found as fibre cement sheeting underneath floor tiles, old ‘supasix’ roof & fence panels, the glue under old vinyl tiles or the vinyl tiles themselves! There are also many many more potential places where is it found. This is why getting professional advice and testing before renovating is so important. This becomes exponentially worse whenever a person is exposed over a period of years.

Strip out professionals can identify and remove asbestos , making your newly renovated place contamination free. Make sure you use only licensed and insured professionals.

#5. Expose potential structural issues.

When you get a professional strip-out, we can quickly survey the property and provide guidance if structural problems are observed.

You don’t want to be renovating over an unsound foundation that can result in irreversible damage and even collapse.

A major renovation project is time-consuming and costly, so it is always best to do it right on the first attempt.

Need help performing a strip-out of your property? Or seeking professional advice? Get in touch with one of our specialists for a 100% free quote

Call us at 0403 427 262
Or email us sam@northernriversdemolition.com.au

3 Reasons Why Renovation Through Demolition Smashes the Alternatives

Tue, 28 May 2019 02:19:00 GMT

Are you torn between demolishing your home to build it from scratch and simply rebuilding parts of it?

If you’ve just bought a new property, or you’re thinking up upgrading your new one…

This is a decision that countless homeowners have struggled to make, time and time again.

But we’re here to help you out, so here are 3 reasons why demolition beats the alternatives:

#1. It’s more cost effective

If your property is really old, there may be structural damage to it. Because of the old materials that were used in the building of your home originally, repairing major damage is extremely costly.

This is both due to the materials required and the increased labour necessary in the effort to maintain the integrity of your home while working on improving the damaged parts.

In these situations, it may be cheaper to completely demolish the property and build it from scratch.

But if you’re unsure whether or not demolition will be the more cost-effective option for you, feel free to contact one of our experts for a free consultation.

#2. Your building may contain dangerous materials

It’s not uncommon for old buildings to contain asbestos. Instead of building on top of your asbestos, why not remove it, demolish your home and start fresh?

If your home is extremely old, the amount of asbestos it contains might be at such high levels that it’ll become impracticable for you to simply remove it. Click here to learn more about asbestos and demolition .

#3. You can make your home more modern

While it’s possible to make some aspects of your home more modern by simply rebuilding parts of it…

If the look of modern homes is to your liking — demolishing your existing home and rebuilding it from scratch is the only answer (apart from buying a new home).

Imagine walking into your heritage looking home and being surrounded by smart technology like automated shutters, automatic vacuums, and ambient lighting. Doesn’t really match, does it?

Thinking about renovating your home and not sure if demolition is the right choice for you?

Leave a comment below with any questions you have.

Demolishing Your Home? Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know

Tue, 28 May 2019 02:13:00 GMT

It can be a bit intimidating to imagine the beloved home that you’ve lived in for the past 10-years getting demolished. Especially, since you’re the one who decided to do it.

Maybe your house is too old and you want to rebuild it or maybe you’ve decided to sell off your land.

It doesn’t matter why you’re demolishing your home , it’s still a massive thing to do.

That’s why we’re making it easier for you.

Here are 5 things you need to know if you plan to demolish your home:

#1. You NEED to disconnect existing services

Demolition can not start until you cancel all your existing services. This includes your water, gas, and electricity.

The reason this needs to be done by you is because of your service providers safety measures. It wouldn’t be safe if anyone could just disconnect your electricity, would it?

#2. Choose between mechanical or manual demolition

While mechanical demolition is much faster (imagine bulldozers and wrecking balls), it completely destroys everything inside the home.

Often times, homeowners like to salvage different materials. This decreases the overall cost as they can re-use the materials for their new home. However, every situation is different and you should work out the best option for your situation with an expert.

#3. You must have your property inspected by a professional

If you’re demolishing your home, the chances are good that the building is rather old. This means that dangerous materials may exist within the building (such as asbestos). This is why it’s required for you to have a professional inspect your property and find out if there are any harmful materials that need to be taken note of.

#4. You need to organise cleaning

Depending on who you hire to demolish your home , you may have to organise a separate debris removal service. This is often by means of ordering a skip bin to the premises and hiring labour to clean up the area.

#5. Depending on what else you want to remove, you may need council approval

One commonly requested thing to remove are trees. They’re big and often in the way. If you could just have them removed, you might be able to make more use of your land.

But it’s not that simple.

Depending on the age, size, and other factors of the tree — your council might not allow it.

You must get your councils approval before they can be removed.

Have any questions? Feel free to leave a comment below and I’ll get back to you.

Demolition And Asbestos – What You Need To Know

Tue, 28 May 2019 01:59:00 GMT

So you’ve decided to demolish your home . But you know your property is old and you’re worried that it might contain asbestos.

Or you already know that it does, but you’re not sure what to do.

We’ll run over some things you need to know…

Remove Asbestos BEFORE Demolition!

Apart from ethical reasons for removing asbestos before demolition (like not getting asbestos in the air that your neighbours breathe), there are regulations to be followed.

According to Sections 452 and 453 of the WHS Regulation, you must remove asbestos before the demolition if reasonably practicable.

Unless your home is about to collapse and any attempt to remove the asbestos will make the building fall apart…

It’s probably practicable to remove your asbestos first.

It is illegal to dispose of asbestos in your bins

You can’t just go and remove the asbestos in your home yourself and dump it into your garbage bin. This is a health hazard to the council workers that dispose of your waste and may affect the location where it is disposed of.

And if you think it might be cheaper to just do it yourself and risk it…

You could get fined up to $7,500 and even up to $1,000,000 if you get taken to court .

Do you really want to put everyone’s health at risk and your bank account’s?

Of course you don’t.

Feel free to contact us for a free asbestos removal quote .

How much does asbestos removal cost?

If I could just give you specific guidelines for the EXACT pricing for every asbestos removal service, I would.

But it depends on so many factors, such as how complex the removal process will be, if the asbestos is still in one piece, and many more.

But if you’re after an indication, it can cost around $50 per square metre.

But for an accurate estimation of how much it’ll cost you, contact us .