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Los Angeles Garage Demolition

March 20th, 2014 | Posted by admin in Demolition Company | demolition junk | Demolition Services - (Comments Off)
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Los Angeles Garage Demolition

Los Angeles Garage Demolition is one of the easiest thing a person can have scheduled by a professional company! There are literally thousands of Demolition Services Companies in the Los Angeles area that you might have a hard time finding one. Our blog is here to help you choose the best Demolition Services Company in all of Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, San Gabriel Valley and even the San Bernadino area! This hardcore set of dudes can demolish and destroy anything you need removed like Garage Demolition, Residential Household Demolition, Commercial Building Demolition, Concrete Removal, and many other demolition services are at your disposal. Los Angeles Garage Demolition services.

When scheduling your demolition services it is always best to let the company know ahead of time on what exactly you will need and by what time frame. this gives the Demolition Services Company a better idea on the job ad the estimate for your wallet. this can greatly help reduce the amount of time and frustration that can happen when expectations are not brought to the forefront. Once a time frame and fee are agreed upon, getting your demolition services completed at a guaranteed time is much easier.

This Demolition Services Company has got you covered and can do most any job as long as you give them an advance notice.

If you’ve decided to demolish your in ground swimming pool and want to understand the process, you’ve headed to the right place. Don’t worry, the procedure is not complicated. There are 3 different pool removal process 

1. Complete swimming pool demolition 
2. Partial swimming pool removal – Top layer 
3. Bottom 2 feet from the top removal

1. Complete swimming pool demolition 
Thinking about constructing a building on top of the pool? this pool removal procedure is your only option. In this process, you will completely demolish all the concrete (gunite) along with the re-inforced steel and back fill the pool with sand. Of course, with this option, your pool removal cost also goes up. Check with your city to see if you have to haul out the concrete, some cities don’t let you dump it in the pool. After the gunite is removed, pour dirt in the pool, and compress it periodically so that the sand is compact and ready for future construction at the site. 

2. Partial swimming pool removal – Top layer 
In this processs, you’ll be removing the top tiled layer of the pool walls. Once that is removed, holes are punched in the bottom of the pool. These holes are then filled with gravels that let water drain and then the entire pool is filled with dirt and compacted. 

This process lends itself to future landscaping on the site. But there’s a caveat here – On areas where only the top tiled layer has been removed, it’s not easy to grow anything, unless you add a lot of topsoil. 

3. Bottom 2 feet from the top removal
This is the most popular option for most pool removal procedures. Big holes are punched at the bottom of the pool which are then filled with gravel for water to drain easily. Then the top 2 feet of the gunite (along with re-inforced steel) is removed from the pool walls to provide enough room for future landscaping at the site. Check with your city to see if you have to haul out the concrete, some cities don’t let you dump it in the pool. Finally, the pool is filled with dirt and compacted.  

How do you prepare for demolition? Well there are many things you can do in advancement of an impending demolition service. Sometimes it is bed to dot your i’s and cross your t’s so there won’t be any issues at all. You would like to make your Demolition services as easy as possible and not only make it effective for yourself but also for the demolition company you have hired in advance. Many demolition companies appreciate when a customer gets involved and is checking every aspect of the job. It not only makes their job easier because you are keeping them on their toes but also lets them know that you expect great service.Below are just a few steps that you can follow for your demolition problems.

You can make sure that your demolition company is licensed and insured and up to date on all of their legal work. The last thing you want to do is hire a demolition company that does not take their business seriously.

Make sure you have your permits if you need them. For any demolition job you should check with your city ordinances and make sure you have taken out the correct permits if needed at all.

Make sure all equipment that is going to be used is in safe and working order. You DO NOT want an accident associated on your property for faulty equipment.

It’s time to demolish that old building, garage or structure when you see it leaning to the side! It can be a hazard to have freestanding structures that look like they’re ready to fall down on themselves. When that time comes, you can hire a demolition specialist company that can come over with a crew and do all of the hard work for you. 

With sledgehammers in hand and gloves ready to stroke, these companies have experience and know what they are doing. Once your structure is leveled and knocked down, they bring in the heavy machinery. Yes it’s time to pick up all the pieces with that bobcat and get the heavy duty job done once and for all.

Demolition is one end of the continuum of construction. For new houses or structures to be built many times old structures must be torn down. Or demolished. Demolition contractors do many types of demolition jobs. Some demolition contractors specialize in one type of demolition work. 

Demolition contractors do residential demolitions. Residential demolitions can incorporate many types of demolition. Demolition contractors who do residential demolition often demolish small structures like sheds or garages. Demolition contractors who specialize in residential demolition also usually do kitchen and bathroom demolitions. Demolition contractors also typically do concrete demolition and concrete removal to remove driveway, patio, and concrete floors. Demolition contractors can also do swimming pool demolition and swimming pool removal.

Most demolition contractors also do excavation work, and have hauling services to haul away dirt and concrete. 

There is always a temptation to do it yourself, especially when it comes to demolition. After all demolition is fairly straightforward and it appears, on first blush, to be easy. Maybe you’ve done some reading about swimming pool demolition and are saying to yourself, Hey, that doesn’t sound so bad. I don’t need to hire a pool demolition contractor. I can do it myself!”

But should you do your own pool demolition? Or should you hire a pool demolition contractor? Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you make that decision.

1. Can You Use Heavy Machinery Safely and Effectively?

Unless you have a very very small pool you are going to need to use either a bobcat with a break attachment or a backhoe with a hydraulic jackhammer attached to the arm. Are you familiar with how to safely use heavy machinery? If the answer is no than you should hire a pool demolition contractor.

2. Can You File for a Proper Demolition Permit?

Permitting is fairly straightforward. It usually involves filing out a application and paying a fee. You may be required to submit various plans outlining specifics of your demolition project, including how construction materials is going to be removed. If you aren’t comfortable with filing for a proper demolition permit then you should hire a demolition contractor.

3. Are You Familiar with Best Demolition Practices, including Safety

Swimming pool demolition can be dangerous if you are inexperienced or aren’t familiar with the best safety practices in demolition. If you are not familiar with proper demolition safety procedures you are better off leaving your demolition to the professional.

In most cases, despite the savings, you are better off leaving swimming pool removal in the hands of a qualified swimming pool demolition contractor. 

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.

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.