NOVEMBER 2019 NEWSLETTER

A pre-demolition audit allows professionals to assess the non-hazardous materials that require removal from the structure and calculate their potential value. Some of the materials may be recyclable or reusable in the building’s renovation while others may need to be disposed of in the appropriate fashion.

Another purpose for this type of audit, though, is to identify hazardous materials in order to plan the necessary removal and disposal methods for them. Any partial or total demolition calls for one of these audits and certain types of internal strip-outs may also merit one. In addition, local building regulations can mandate the execution of these audits before the demolition can proceed. 

We have been working on a big project in Darling Point over the last few weeks. The job included demolition of the majority of a two storey house (fixtures, roof, floors) by hand followed by the demolition of the brick walls with machinery. Due to restricted access, and the entire front section of the property being heritage protected, we had to set up a tower crane to bring in machinery and load out material/waste.

ARE COFFEE BRICK HOMES THE FUTURE?

Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne have found a way to use coffee grinds in building materials. The research group, led by senior lecturer in the School of Engineering Dr Srikanth Venkatesan, found that coffee grinds can replace 10 per cent of the sand in concrete mix.