What You Should Know When Choosing To Demolish Or Deconstruct That Old House

In many cases, old houses can benefit from a good remodel. However, when the internal structure of the house is compromised, it is often better to just tear it down and build a new one or sell the land alone. When it comes to tearing down a house, there are two ways: deconstruction and demolishing. If you're ready to tear down that old house, learn the difference between these two options to help you determine which the best choice is.

Demolishing Is Fast and Easy

Demolishing is probably the most fun way to tear down an old house. You can smash it to bits with a sledge hammer or ram it with a bulldozer. The process is fast and easy because your only goal is to completely destroy the house. You don't care what gets destroyed. A complete demolition can be completed in a few short days.

That being said, you can't just start smashing a house without the proper steps. To demolish a house, you generally need a permit. You'll also want to remove any hazardous materials, such as asbestos before you start working. Lastly, before the demolition begins, the utilities must be disconnected, and that doesn't just mean turning them off. They must be properly disconnected or cut off at the source.

Deconstruction Allows You to Save Materials

Unlike demolition, deconstruction is a careful and slow process. The goal of deconstructing a house is to salvage as much material as you can. This material can then be used when you rebuild the house. Deconstruction allows you to save interior fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, countertops and cabinets. However, you can also save much of the actual building materials, such as windows, doors, flooring, wood and stone. This is a long process, so make sure you have enough time to commit to doing it properly.

Because deconstruction lets you save materials, it is great for the environment. When you demolish materials, more waste is sent to landfills, but deconstruction allows you to reuse those materials. If you demolish, you can recycle some of the materials, such as the metal, but deconstruction still generates significantly less waste. This also helps reduce energy usage because less new materials are needed when you reuse the materials from a deconstructed home.

Deconstruction Initially Costs More Money

Deconstruction doesn't just take more time; it also costs more money. For example, a typical 2,200-square-foot-home may cost about $10,000 to demolish, but it would cost $24,000 to deconstruct. Of course, the price for both varies depending on many factors, including the location of the house. This can be a major factor in your decision-making process, especially if you are on a tight budget.

If you do choose to deconstruct the house, you can expect to save money in the long run. If you plan on rebuilding the house, you save money on that project because you don't have to buy as much materials or fixtures. Depending on how much you manage to salvage, a deconstruction could end up costing you less than a demolition. If you aren't rebuilding the house and have no need for the materials, you can donate them and get a big tax credit. If the house doesn't have much salvageable materials, however, it may be more cost effective to just demolish it.

When it's time to tear down a house, you have two options. While demolition is fast and less expensive, deconstruction allows you to reuse valuable materials, which could save you money in the long run. If you have a house that needs to be destroyed, contact a demolition or deconstruction professional in your area today.