Scrapping a building

[OldRedFord]

Looking at scrapping a building. Heavy fire damage. It was a auto repair shop. Not sure on exact dimensions but you can fit four cars end to end with room to walk between from front to back. Then three cars like that wide. The building is much longer but this is the amount of space that is going to come down.

It has steel siding, three aluminum studded dividing walls. Steel beam frame with a steel roof.

My big concern is getting the steel roofing off without walking on it. Its burnt through in spots. Maybe I can get a sawzall blade in between the roofing and the steel support beams?

I want to do this safely and efficiently. Ill be getting a scissor lift and a decent size forklift.

[fordman]

i wish i could come help with that. i like tearing stuff down and hauling it off. with a scissor lift it should be pretty easy. if the beams that hold the roof up are in good shape and not burnt. you could probably walk out them to get the roof metal off.

[flyboy71]

[fbomb100]

where is the pic of it!!!!!!!

[OldRedFord]

Ill get pictures

[1982 flareside]

i say use a cutting torch sawall gets stuck easy. The roofing metal brings a lot of weight and money.

[1971ford]

Torch it. sawzall will get old really fast.

As long as you are sure you will get enough money from scrapping it to cover costs of the scissor lift, the forklift, the tools (and tool rental if so), and your time put into it then go for it, and get pics!!!

And what are you hauling it away with?

[OldRedFord]

Place is owned by the same people I do lawn stuff fore. Im almost certain they will rent me whatever I need/want.

The only thing about torching the roof panels is that I believe they are galvanized.
Torching galvanized steel is a no no.

[70_F100]

The only thing about torching the roof panels is that I believe they are galvanized.
Torching galvanized steel is a no no.

As long as you have the right respirator, it's not a problem.

[Ranchero50]

I'd look into any required permits as well. When was it built? It may have lead paint or even asbestos. remember, when you rub old paint with a stick and it creates a grey line it's usually lead.

Get a contract writen up (legal document by a lawyer) with your limits of liability and the scope of the work. Make saure someone has insurance coverage for the demo and that's included in the legal document as well. Sounds like a PITA but since it's the company you contract yards for make sure you are both covered in case someone get's killed or just hurt.

Sounds like a 50x60' building. Is it free standing or attached? What's the roof height? How much room around it do you have to work? Have the utilities been removed? Overhead wires to work around? That's a lot of metal and just trash to deal with. You may be best off calling your local big scrappers and getting rolloff containers dropped off at site. Saves you the DOT hassle and the time of hauling the scrap. How much trash is left? One or ten hoppers worth?

Your customer should also look into the insurance coverage and what they will cover for demolision and cleanup. We had a printing press burn down last year and I bet the insurance claim is way over $100mil to get the place cleaned and the other machines around it rebuilt, much less the dismantelling of the machine. it's been over a year and we are still working on stuff that's fire related...

Biggest thing is cover your arse and whatever estimate you come up with tripple it.

Jamie

[averagef250]

Scissor lift? You may want to rethink that.

IMHO- The tin isn't worth squat. No yard wants a bunch of burnt 22+ gauge galv tin, they won't pay much for it. If the beams are 1/4"+ web thickness they are worth dealing with, but you still have to cut them up to the size the yards will accept. I would do like Jamie suggests and have boxes delivered. I would go a step further and rent a large excavator for the entire job. Get the biggest thing you can get. a 50 ton excavator can only give you 50 ton of down force (in reality, much less). If you need to crush many yards of junk burnt tin into drop boxes you will need some weight to do it.

[OldRedFord]

Its about a 50' x 50' section of the building. 16' I think at the peak.

In the attaced pictures...

In the first it is everything to the left of the red line.


In the aerial view it is everything above the red line.




Roll off containers from the scrap yard would be the best way to go.

[fordman]

your just doing the skin of the building right? and the roof metal. atleast that is what i thought at first.

and what is the rice haters club?

[1971ford]

I'ven ever seen so many windows open at once...


What's the plan for dividing the standing shop and the place you want to tear down?

[AlleyCat]

Along with all the other things that gave been mentioned here's a couple more. Wind is a concern with any kind of sheet materials up that high. Metal often has jagged edges that can snag clothing and you might find yourself hang gliding. Burning is an issue at any time. Ever get a spark inside a glove or a boot? Ever do a little dance trying to get it out? Dancing on a roof generally isn't a good idea. Fork lifts are made for material handling not demo work. The higher the forks the greater the chance for a rollover.