Should Old Buildings be Preserved or Demolished?

While commercial building longevity depends on a variety of factors that may include geographic location, the level of craftsmanship and quality of materials used during initial construction, and more, most experts believe that a typical structure should last anywhere from 50 to 60 years before significant maintenance, or other intensive care or renovations are necessary to maintain its integrity.

With that being said, there’s a question of what’s to be done with older buildings – especially those older than 50 to 60 years old that may require more upkeep than what they’re actually worth. In this post, we’ll take a closer look at whether old buildings should be preserved or demolished, what to consider with each decision, and the pros and cons of each. Here’s a closer look:

When Should Old Buildings be Demolished?

Think of buildings similar to how you’d think of an aging car or other major appliance in that as it ages, it is going to require more maintenance – and more money – to keep in good condition. Eventually, it may come to a point where you’re sinking more money into the vehicle to maintain it than what it’s actually worth. At this point, many drivers will opt to purchase a new, less maintenance-intensive vehicle.

Buildings can be viewed through a similar lens. As we noted in the beginning, most have a 50-60-year shelf life before significant upkeep is necessary. Generally speaking, there are several situations demolishing a building makes sense. These include:

• When a building becomes a threat to public safety.

• When a building becomes abandoned or unkempt to the point where it’s negatively impacting property values.

• If the commercial building is not up to modern building codes, presents a fire hazard, or contains asbestos-containing materials.

• If the land or lot that a building resides on could be redeveloped for another, more beneficial purpose.

• If the building is inoperable.

Keep in mind that the demolition of an existing building doesn’t have to be a complete demolition. Partial demolitions, which only demolish part of the structure, can also be done if there’s only one area of the building that really needs attention. Partial demolitions are often done before remodeling projects occur.

When Should Old Buildings Be Preserved?

Perhaps the biggest reason to spend money on preserving an older building is to keep a certain area true to its past and strike the certain community look and feel that a municipality is striving for. Some properties may even try to reach a historical landmark status by continuously reinventing old structures so that they serve more modern-day purposes. Some other reasons for preserving rather than demolishing old buildings include:

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Both?

There are both pros and cons to preserving and demolishing older buildings. In this section, we’ll take a closer look at each route.

Contact Alpine Demolition Today

If you do make the decision to demolish rather than restore or renovate a historic building, it’s important to work with the right demolition contractor. That’s where Alpine Demolition comes in. As experts in all types of demolition and with a focus on safety, we make it a point to carry out demolitions in a safe, fast, and effective way. We’ll also sort through materials and salvage everything possible for recycling and reuse purposes. Contact us today to learn more and to schedule a consultation on your next demolition project.