Summary + Readers response to "4 Ways to Demolish a Building" by Juan Rodriguez draft 4

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In this article "4 Ways to Demolish a Building", Rodriguez (2018) discusses the four methods demolition experts use during demolition. The author begins with implosion, the detonation of explosives along the main structural components, causing the building to collapse onto itself. The second method is known as the high reach arm demolition, where a base machine attached with a demolition tool will tear down tall structures from the top down for a ground team that will clear the fallen debris. The author then moves on to its riskier counterpart, the wrecking ball method. Limited only by the surroundings and the size of the crane, a skilled crane operator can easily decimate the building either by striking a 13,500-pound wrecking ball repeatedly, producing dust, vibration, and noise. The author then ends with selective demolition, where builders recycle materials from old buildings, reducing overall cost while having a downside of higher labour demands and its incompatibility for light-framed buildings. Although the author discusses the four methods briefly, the article could be improved with further elaboration of the selective demolition method, and its social, monetary and environmental benefits.

According to the United States, Environmental Protection Agency, (EPA) (United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], n.d.) materials produced from demolition is classified as Construction and Demolition (C&D) materials. Selective demolition is a method that segregates and salvages these recyclable and reusable C&D materials. Some recycling methods include the crushing of concrete into gravel for recycling, and the use of magnets to separate scrap metals to be sold. Selective demolition helps reduce the project’s carbon footprint, waste production, and increases efficiency ("When is Selective Demolition the Right Choice?", 2017).

One of the social benefits of selective demolition according to the EPA government website was stated as “increasing business opportunities”. Selective demolition which requires a high amount of manpower generates more employment opportunities in the building industry, increasing the number of skilled workers in the industry ("Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials", 2018). Another social benefit that selective demolition provides is a source of low-cost materials for low-income societies (Couto & Couto, 2010).

Monetary benefits stemming from selective demolition is not limited to just large scale projects or tall buildings. A school in Denmark managed to shave DKK 200,000 off the total cost during the demolition of the school Brunhøjskolen. Prior to the demolition, a resource check was performed and all pure materials were sold to be reused. Up to 2000 tonnes of crushed concrete was also transported to Søbæk to be reused (Qvist, 2017).  Another similar project was done by a couple whose goal is to build their home from scratch. They managed to find an estimated total of $7000 in C&B from a decomissioned farm, reclaiming up to $2000 in the form of metal roofing and plenty of wooden posts in various sizes (Alyssa, 2015).

The environmental benefits of using selective demolitions should be the most important factor. The recovery of materials through selective demolition will help reduce the burden on landfills which are currently reaching their limit (Couto & Couto, 2010).The higher amount of materials being reused also decreases the need for raw building materials, thus reducing energy consumption and pollution produced in the manufacturing process (Sung et al, 2006).

In conclusion, I believe the selective demolition method should the demolition method practised extensively around the world. The benefits stemming from monetary, social and environmental factors outshines any other demolition method devised thus far. Selective demolition has allowed us to convert a channel which produces waste into a channel which produces reusable raw material for future repurpose. With its implementation worldwide, I believe it might even be a breakthrough for the clean and green industry.
(Word count: 608)


A. (2015, November 23). How We Found $7,000 in Reclaimed Construction Materials. Retrieved from http://purelivingforlife.com/how-we-found-reclaimed-construction-materials/

Couto, A., & Couto, J. P. (2010). Guidelines to Improve Construction and Demolition Waste Management in Portugal. Process Management. doi:10.5772/8456 Retrieved from https://www.intechopen.com/books/process-management/guidelines-to-improve-construction-and-demolition-waste-management-in-portugal

Qvist, S. (2017, August 01). Materials from demolished school reused. Retrieved from https://www.niras.com/projects/reuse-of-building-materials/

Rodriguez, J. (2018, June 29). There's More Than One Way to Demolish a Building. Retrieved from https://www.thebalancesmb.com/ways-to-demolish-buildings-844420

Sustainable Management of Construction and Demolition Materials. (2018, August 22). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/smm/sustainable-management-construction-and-demolition-materials#main-content

Sung, K.P., Liu, C., Langston C., Treloar, G., & Itoh, Y. (2006) Promoting the reuse and recycling of building demolition materials. World Transactions on Engineering and Technology Education © 2006 UICEE Vol.5, No.1, 2006 .Retrieved from http://www.wiete.com.au/journals/WTE&TE/Pages/Vol.5,%20No.1%20(2006)/Liu44.pdf

When is Selective Demolition the Right Choice? (2017, April 10). Retrieved from http://www.elderdemolition.com/when-is-selective-demolition-the-right-choice-04-2017/








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