R1125 - Demolition, dismantling

Operational Details
A demolition business is contracted to dismantle columns, timbers, facades, ornamental brickwork, railings, etc. before the building is demolished. A building may also be dismantled piece by piece and removed from the site, transported to another location, and erected by a general contractor (e.g. historical or government buildings).

Demolition, like dismantling requires the use of mobile equipment such as cranes, loaders, caterpillar tractors, forklifts, etc. A wrecking ball may be attached to a crane arm and swung into the structure breaking down structural members and walls. In some cases, dynamite may be used and implosion (collapsing against itself) is used to bring a building or structure down. Only large, multi-story buildings would have to be brought down using explosives. Most smaller buildings are either knocked down, using a caterpillar tractor with a dozer blade, or by a crane mounted wrecking ball.

Grain elevators are also demolished in a similar manner. A caterpillar tractor is used to break a corner of the structure down so that it will topple over. The removal of the lumber is incidental to the overall operations. This is done using a gravel or flat deck truck.

The removal of debris from a demolition site is also part of this industry and is undertaken using gravel and flat deck trucks as well. Some incidental sale of building materials may also be undertaken by demolition firms.

SIC Codes
000000661 - Demolition, dismantling