Home renovations are exciting, but also can generate many questions that will stress you out, such as what permits are needed, or where to deposit the waste. Home makeovers or demolitions can be hard to manage if you don’t know the answer to these questions.
Before starting your construction project, consider the below 3 questions when revamping your home to make it as gentle as possible:
1. Do you need a permit?
Before any construction job, you have to contact and check with your municipality which permits are required for your specific project. Depending on the conditions of your renovation or demolition, a permit may be needed.
2. Which hazardous materials are you dealing with?
Depending on the year of construction of your home, it may contain hazardous materials. If your house was made before 1980, your may find lead paint covering your walls. If your home was built before 1990, from the 20’s to the 90’s, asbestos was widely used in construction materials like reinforcing components or as material for thermal, electrical or acoustic insulation, and may be found when revamping your home. If your home was constructed after 1990, it is a newer construction and it is less probable that it holds hazardous materials. A Hazardous Materials Survey (HMS) is a legal requirement to identify any dangerous material in a house or building, and must be done by a qualified person; thus, the material can be managed in a proper manner during the project.
3. What should I do with the waste?
If any hazardous material was found after the survey, it is necessary to remove all items that can be refused and that are prohibited as waste like cardboard, drywall, and metal, and can be taken as recycled materials by landfills. On the other hand, if the inspector found hazardous materials on the construction site, they need to be separated from other waste to disposal or recycling. PCB ballasts and mercury thermostats are dangerous materials accepted for recycling. Other wastes have legal requirements like asbestos that must be double bagged in 6 mil poly bags, sealed with duct tape and label. According to Safe Work Practices for Handling Asbestos, as a homeowner, you can dispose asbestos waste by yourself if it is properly bagged and sealed, and if the residues do not exceed 1,000kg.
Now you know the 3 questions when revamping your home. In case you have decided to do your construction project by yourself, be sure to obtain the necessary permits and the relevant information before the beginning of the job. Remember that in the presence of hazardous materials you must wear the safety equipment required.
If you have a renovation project in mind, and you are unsure of how to handle it properly, A&D Demolition and Asbestos Removal is a North Vancouver-based company with over 10 years of industry background. You can rely on our experience to handle any situation of demolition and asbestos removal, eliminating any risk of the process. Your safety is our number one responsibility, and we offer a quality job at a reasonable price. We take care of every step from demolition to transport and disposal of all waste and hazardous materials. Our experience enables us to do a hassle-free demotion project without any environmental issues. Do not hesitate in contact us for a free quote!