Stories of Demolition Companies in Los Angeles
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Before you hire a demolition company you should get three estimates. How many times have you heard this advice. But how exactly do you request an estimate from a demolition company? In reality the process for getting an estimate from a demolition company is fairly straightforward (most of the time).

1. Call a Demolition Company 

When you call a demolition company have a fairly good idea of what kind of demolition project you need done. Don’t just call and say, Well I need … a thing demolished. What type of demolition do you need? How much square feet? If you have a project that requires heavy machinery do you have access for heavy machinery? You may need to write some fairly extensive notes. Give all the information to the demolition company and request an estimate.

2. Schedule a Time for Your Estimator

Remember you want an in person estimation. Don’t fall for a “internet estimate” or a phone estimate. 

3. Meet with Your Estimator

Meet with the estimator. Walk through the entire area that the demolition is to be performed in. Ask a lot of questions and take this time to express any concerns you might have. Also make notes about any concerns the demolition company’s estimator might have. Use this time to get a feel for how the demolition company that is doing the estimate works. Do they seem experienced? Do they seem knowledgeable? Are they professional and did they show up on time?

4. Request a Written Estimate

Remember you don’t want an oral estimate or a phone estimate. Sure, an estimator for a demolition company may say, Oh I think this will cost X.” But you want that in writing or it means absolutely nothing.

5. Review the Written Estimate

A written estimate should be thorough and contain a complete outline of costs. Don’t consider written estimates that are only a single figure. “This pool demolition will cost $10,000.” Well that may be the cast but how do those costs break out? The quality and detail put into a written estimate says a lot about a demolition company.

Remember for large or complicated  demolition projects you may need to solicit more than just three estimates. You may to get five or more before finding a demolition company you are happy with. 

 

One of the things we’ve harangued on constantly is the need to really closely examine your demolition contractor‘s reputation. There is a lot of competition for demolition jobs right now. And there are also a lot of small time scam artists operating as demolition contractors out there. One thing way you can check on a demolition contractor’s reputation is via internet review sites. But, whether you know it or not, internet reviews are not always accurate and sometimes are downright fakes.

Demolition contractors wh are desperate for business often will hire writers (either in the U.S. or overseas, mostly from India) to pump out hundreds of fake reviews to be posted on various review sites. Many demolition contractors will also ask their employees (or retain an employee full time) to write reviews for their company. 

So how do you separate out the fake reviews from the real reviews?

1. Generalities

People who have had a specific experience generally speaking have very specific memories to go along with that experience. Think back to losing your virginity. How would you describe it if your life depended on it. Would all you have to say is, “Well I lost my virginity and it was great. Highly recommend!”? Probably not.

Generalities and brevity are your first clues when it comes to spotting fake demolition contractor reviews. Regardless of whether someone had a great experience or a terrible experience, they’ll probably go into some fairly deep and sharp specifics relating to their experience with that particular demo contractors. A person who just had their pool removed and had a good enough experience to warrant taking the time to write a review will have more to say than just a single sentence.

A lot of unspecific, one or two line reviews is a pretty decent tell that you are dealing with a lot of fake reviews.

2. The combative good review

This scenario generally plays out something like this. A demolition contractor is hired by a homeowner to remove some concrete. He pulls a classic bait and switch, and charges her a lot more than what he estimated. That person, rightfully, goes to the internet to warn others off that particular contractor.

A day or a week later a new review pops up. And its from a guy who also had some concrete removal done and had a completely opposite experience of the last reviewer. Even to the point of calling that reviewer out specifically.

People are often oddly territorial about the companies they love and hate. I’ve seen grown men get into fights about whether Canon or Nikon made a better camera, for instance. But when it comes to demolition contractors this is often a swarmy tactic used to drag down a legitimate review and make their company look better than it probably is, which leads us into …

3. The Five Star bandit

Internet reviews are never perfect. People have outsized expectations of what a business can and can’t do. And when those expectations aren’t fulfilled they often take to the internet and holler about it. So when you are reading reviews of anything, even demolition contractors, its pretty normal to find one person that had a bad experience. However, a lot of bad reviews with similar complaints probably form a pretty accurate portrait of a bad contractor.

But, wait, a minute, there is one guy who really loves this one demolition contractor! Could he be a lone wolf crying in the wilderness? 

No. Mostly likely that single good review was put their by  a demolition contractor who felt like his business was on the ropes from bad (and I would guess accurate) reviews. So he made an account (or his brother or his mother) and posted an accurate review … of himself. 

My rule of thumb is mostly good reviews mixed with some mediocre and one or two bad reviews equals accurate. A lot of bad reviews also equally accurate. One good review isn’t enough to shift the weight of the people’s gestalt.

4. Reviews Live from New Dehli!

One of the darker corners of the internet is the space where demolition contractors who want to quickly build a good reputation or combat a string of lousy reviews buy internet reviews. The going rate for skilled U.S. Based reviewers is around $25 to $50 a review, and these reviews can be hard to spot.

But bad demolition contractors typically didn’t become bad demolition contractors by spending money, so instead of opting for good old American English Majors turned Yelp Fakers, they spend $200 on an Indian content farm that promises them hundreds of internet reviews that read better than the King’s Speech.

And what they get is, “Hello good sirs of the Pages that Yellow. I hired the above nice gentlemen to demolush a pool in my bath room. His work was of a superlative nature. Would highly recommend upon the altars of Vishnu. Praise be to the four stars!”

One immediate tip off of a fake review is misspellings and tortured phrasing. Misspellings aren’t uncommon on the internet (gasp) but look for obvious 8th grade and under misspells. Then look at the phrasing.  Grammar was assassinated a long time ago by that coward known as the internet but people have a distinct way of talking about things in America. And typically this colloquial phrasing is completely lost to the reviewers in New Dehli.

5. The copy paste

The copy paste review has gotten rarer because internet review sites realized that their existence hung upon their credibility. But every so often a proton torpedo slips past and lands in the reactor shaft of life. Every so often copy and paste internet reviews get posted.

These are easy to spot.

For instance, “I love these guys! I would high recommend! Very professional pool demo!” — Gary

Followed by, “I love these guys! I would high recommend! Very professional pool demo!” — Larry 

Yeah, that’s a fake.

In conclusion, there is no real way to verify every review you read. Chances are that some of the best reviews you read may be carefully constructed bits of artifice made in the foundries of a copywriter’s forge. But if you practice a certain amount of discernment and a skeptical eye, you can keep from getting fooled 80% of the time.

Crossposted from 911Demolition

 

There is no shortage of demolition companies in Los Angeles. You can find a demolition company for nearly every job. But with the good comes the bad. How do you know when you are dealing with a bad demolition company in Los Angeles? Here are 5 Warning Signs of that frequently indicate it is time to find a new demolition company in Los Angeles.

1. A demolition company in Los Angeles that won’t give an estimate

Estimates are pretty common in both construction and demolition. Be very wary of a demolition company that won’t provide an estimate or will only provide a free “phone estimate”. Either one is completely unacceptable. You should get an estimate in writing an accept no substitute.

2. A demolition company that’s “new” or doesn’t have a lot of years of operation

While new demolition company doesn’t necessarily mean “bad” you should be wary of a demolition company that is brand new and hasn’t done any recent demolition projects. Demolition is built on years of experience.

3. A demolition company in Los Angeles that isn’t licensed.

An unlicensed demolition company puts your home, your project, and yourself in harms way. Unlicensed demolition contractors often inexperienced and do shoddy work.

4. A demolition company in Los Angeles that refuses to provide references

Providing references is a standard part of any demolition work. If a demolition company can’t or won’t produce references it is time to find a new demolition company.

5. A demolition company that demands money up front

Never pay a demolition company up front and stay away from demolition companies in Los Angeles that demand payment up front.

Whether you are doing a partial demolition or a complete pool demolition, pool demolition in Los Angeles is a fairly straightforward process. How straightforward? We’ve condensed swimming pool demolition into five easy steps just to show you how easy it is.

1. Drain the swimming pool

Before demolishing a swimming pool you’ll need to drain it. You can either open the drains and let time and gravity do their job, or pump out the water. Once a pool has been complete drained, you will need to drill an array of holes in the bottom of the pool. Holes will allow the pool to drain properly and constantly once its been filled in.

2. Demolish the Top Two Feet of Concrete

Demolish the top two layers of concrete around the pool and take the pool down to ground level. This is done usually with a Bobcat with a pneumatic drill attached to it. A bobcat can quickly demo a pool and the associated concrete.

3. Fill in the Pool 

Once the top to three layers of concrete have been demolished use the demolish concrete as fill and dump it into the bottom of the pool. 

4. Top the Concrete Fill with Fill Dirt

Fill in the pool with extra fill dirt, and then grade and compact. 

5. Landscape

After your former pool site has been compacted, call a landscaper and have sod planted.

Demolition and demolition contractors are surrounded by misconceptions. People tend to think of demolition as a business of brute force and big bangs. When in reality being a demolition contractor requires a knowledge of the law, technology, and best workplace practices. 

1. Demolition Contractors Just Blow Things Up.

Implosion (and technically buildings are imploded, not blown up) account for less than 2% of all demolitions. Actually most commercial demolition contractors do not do implosion demolitions. And residential implosion demolition is almost unheard of.

2. Demolition Contractors Just Dump Everything in a Landfill

This used to be true but more and more demolition contractors recycle at least some percentage of construction debris recovered from a demolition project. Depending on the project that number can creep as high as 90%. Demolition contractors recycle because recycling saves them money and preserves the environment.

3. Demolition Contractors are All the Same

Demolition is a skill. A demolition contractor who is inexperienced can cause massive and sometimes unrepairable damage to a home. So no, not all demolition contractors are alike. 

4. Demolition is Dangerous.

A good demolition contractor knows how to limit the dangers of a given demolition project and control the risks. While demolition is never 100% safe, most demolition contracts spend a lot of time and a lot of effort minimizing the dangers of demolition.

5. Demolition Contractors Don’t Pay Attention to the Law

Demolition contractors actually need a very thorough knowledge of the law to do their jobs. From work place laws to basic contractor laws. A good demolition contractor is one who is a student of the law.

Deconstruction is a type of demolition that has gained more and more traction across the country. More and more demolition contractors are opting to use deconstruction methods instead of full on demolition.  But what exact is deconstruction?

Deconstruction is  a demolition service where parts of a building (or all of a building) is un-constructed or deconstructed. A demolition contractor looks at a building and says, OK, how can we slowly and methodically un-construct this building? Then asks, how many of the building materials can be reused? Then a demolition contractor begins a slow process of recovering materials from a home.

An experience demolition contractor removes fixtures from a home. A demolition contractor may also remove tile and flooring to be reused elsewhere. Beams and lumber can be recovered as well. So can copper piping and even wiring. Anything that isn’t damaged (and even a few things that are) can be recovered from a building or home under deconstruction.

Deconstruction is a slower process than traditional demolition. But demolition contractors often realize substantial savings from deconstruction because they can oftentimes reuse or resell items in other projects. Deconstruction is also more environmentally friendly than traditional demolition techniques that dump huge amounts of construction debris in landfills. Some cities (the city of Los Angeles for instance) are even offering expedited permitting for those who choose deconstruction over demolition. 

Is deconstruction for you? It’s hard to say. You should consult with your demolition contractor. Not every building or house demolition is a candidate for deconstruction. Your demolition contractor can advise you further about the advantages and disadvantages of deconstruction.

 

When it comes to demolition there are a lot of demolition services you can’t or shouldn’t do yourself. For instance you probably won’t want to do your own house demolitions. But there are plenty of demolition services you can do yourself. These are the top 5 demolition services you can do yourself.

5. Small structure demolition — Often times small structures like sheds and free standing garages outlive their usefulness and become broken down beyond repair. Luckily these structures are often fairly easy and straight forward to teardown. Save yourself money and tear down a shed yourself.

4. Kitchen demolition — Kitchen remodeling is actually fairly straightforward do-it-yourself project. The key to kitchen demolition is a Go slow approach and a patient hand when removing cabinets, counters, and fixtures.

3. Bathroom demolition — bathroom demolition is much the same as kitchen demolition. Bathroom demolition requires a bit more knowledge of plumbing but can be easily accomplished by a do it yourselfer 

2. Concrete demolition — concrete removal is easy and hard work. 

1. Swimming pool demolition — At first glance you wouldn’t think you’d be able to do your own swimming pool removal but with the right equipment swimming pool demolition becomes an elaborate concrete removal job.

 

Swimming pool removal in Los Angeles requires only a grading permit. A grading permit in Los Angeles can typically be obtained for a few hundred dollars. Either you or  your pool removal contractor  can obtain the proper permit. Most pool demolition contractors obtain a grading permit for a job and then pass the cost of the permit along to you.

However, if you live in a gated community or a community that has a strict homeowner’s association, you should check with your Homeowners Association before beginning your swimming pool removal. Your Homeowners Association may have specific by-laws about how a swimming pool can be removed in your area.

Never do a swimming pool removal with the proper permits and permission. Demo’ing without a permit can lead to extra costs if you are later forced to legalize your swimming pool removal, and can also result in fines from the city of Los Angeles.

Whether you are doing a complete swimming pool demolition or a partial swimming pool removal, swimming pool demolition is one of the simpler demolition jobs you can do. Here are 10 Tips to help you in your swimming pool demolition.

10. Use heavy machinery … While you can do a swimming pool demolition with a jackhammer I would highly recommend using heavy equipment to demo a pool. Either a bobcat with a hydraulic drill attachment, or a backhoe. Either one can quickly break up and bust up concrete. 

9. Obtain a permit … Typically you would need some type of permit for a swimming pool demolition. For instance, in Los Angeles, you only need a grading permit. Other municipalities may require a demolition permit or a series of permits. Obtaining a permit now ensures that your swimming pool removal is legal from the start.

8. Make a plan for construction debris disposal … Even if you are filling in your pool you can expect a certain amount of construction debris. Develop a plan beforehand on how you are going to dispose of that construction debris. Whether you are renting a dumpster or calling a hauling service, when, etc.

7. Get rid of pool accessories in advance … Pool toys, pool furniture, and portable pool filters can all become flying projectiles during a swimming pool demolition. 

6. Cover your windows … If you have glass doors and windows overlooking the pool, you may want to cover those doors and windows with heavy duty plastic or plywood boarding to prevent them from damage.

5. Lock up the cat, board the dog … It should go without saying that you need to isolate and lock up your pets during any kind of demolition work. 

4. Drain your pool… Before you begin your pool demolition be sure to remove the drain plugs and completely drain your pool. You may want to use a compressor and hose to drain the pool completely.

3. Drill drainage holes … Drill an array of drainage holes in the bottom of the pool so that once the pool has been filled in ground water will drain normally.

2. Buy extra fill … You will need fill dirt to layer on top of the demolished pool once the top layer of concrete so make sure you have some dirt on hand to complete the fill in. 

1. Recruit friends … doing your on swimming pool demolition can be a herculean effort so get some friends to help you. 

If you use these tips your swimming pool demolition will go smoothly.

Pool demolition is a fairly straightforward form of demolition. But you still need to hire a qualified pool demolition contractor that knows the proper way to demolish a pool. Hiring an inexperienced pool demolition contractor can damage your property and cost you a lot of money in the long run. So how do you choose a pool demolition contractor in Agoura Hills

Pick a pool demolition contractor that has a lot of experience, both in general and specifically when it comes to pool demolition. You want to find a pool demolition contractor who has a couple years of experience under their belt. You also want to only hire pool demolition contractor that is licensed by the state of California, bonded, and insured. You also want to find a pool demolition contractor that has current and verifiable references.

The easiest way to obtain a lot of this information is to get an estimate. Actually you should obtain at least three estimates from pool demolition contractors. Use these estimates like you would a job interview. Ask lots of questions and take the opportunity to get a feel for how your pool demolition contractor works.

Be wary of any pool demolition contractor that refuses to openly provide you with standard information like California Contractor’s license, proof of insurance, or written estimates. Legitimate pool demolition contractors are more than used to providing this sort of information to potential customers.