Common Types of Commercial Demolition Equipment

Demolition may look and sound simple, but in reality, it’s a complex process that requires a lot of planning, a lot of labor, and various specialty equipment to successfully execute. We’ve covered the planning and technique that goes into each demolition job in other posts. In this post, we’ll focus on the specific demolition equipment that’s often brought on-site to get the job done. While some of the pieces don’t vary much from what you’d find on any construction site, what they’re used for may.

There are various reasons to select the right type of equipment for a demolition job. Selecting the right size of equipment related to the job site is imperative. So consider your choice based on the type of materials you’ll have to take down and clear. Selecting equipment that’s too small is going to sap efficiency. Yet selecting equipment that’s too large may lead to other problems, like a lack of ability to adequately maneuver throughout the site.

There’s also a safety aspect to choosing the right equipment. If a piece of equipment brought on-site cannot handle the specific loads or demolition requirements of the project, it could lead to dangerous conditions. The tipping of equipment is perhaps the greatest threat.

Read on to learn more about the various types of demolition equipment that are commonly used and the role each piece plays in a successful job and contact Alpine Demolition today to schedule your next consultation.

Machines for Demolition

There are two main categories of demolition equipment – those that help take a building or structure down and those that help assist with the cleanup after it’s taken down. We’ll start by covering some of the common equipment used to help take a building down.

Excavators

Excavators aren’t just common on construction sites, but demolition sites as well. Known for their power, stability, and efficiency, they’re ideal for taking down walls and even relocating debris. What’s nice about excavators is that they’re highly versatile pieces of equipment. Made up of a cab, boom, dipper, and also a bucket, they can use the boom to take down walls and other parts of the structure, and dipper and bucket can be used to pick up debris and move it onto loaders or trucks for removal from the site. Excavators are ideal for larger demolition projects due to their size and scope.

Hi-Reach Demolition Machines

Hi-Reach Demolition Machines redefine demolition efficiency with their powerful and stable design. Comparable to excavators, these versatile giants consist of a cab, boom, dipper, and bucket. Utilizing the boom, they skillfully bring down walls and structures, while the dipper and bucket efficiently collect and relocate debris. Their adept maneuverability allows for seamless debris transfer onto loaders or trucks for swift removal from the site. Ideal for larger projects, Hi-Reach Demolition Machines epitomize precision and power in every demolition endeavor.

Similar to excavators, skid steer loaders are also highly versatile pieces of equipment – albeit in a different way. While excavators have fixed attachments, skid steer loaders are a bit more versatile and can support a wide range of attachments, from augers to trenchers to buckets to rakes. On demolition sites, they’re often used for breaking up concrete.

Another key advantage of skid steer loaders is that they’re compact and able to fit into tight spaces that other pieces of heavy machinery cannot. Skid steers can also stop and turn on a dime, maneuverability that comes in handy on a tight job site.

Track loaders are also versatile pieces of equipment that can support a range of attachment options. Often used for breaking up ground, picking large pieces of debris, or moving debris around on-site, track loaders tend to be more compact and are ideal for smaller sites.

Machines for Demolition Cleanup

Now that we’ve covered some of the equipment that’s commonly used to take buildings down, let’s focus on some of the equipment often utilized to clean debris up. We should note that skid steers and track loaders can be outfitted with attachments that can assist with cleanup. Yet, there are more specialized pieces of equipment for such tasks. In this section, we’ll highlight three of them:

Articulated trucks are pieces of equipment simply designed to move large amounts of debris and other materials, which makes them so useful on demolition sites. What’s nice about these trucks is that they can travel on uneven ground and rougher terrain, so they’re able to capture debris and remove it from all over the site.

Next to excavators, bulldozers are perhaps the second most common piece of equipment on a construction site. And similar to excavators, their uses can extend to the demolition job site as well. Used primarily for moving material from one place to another, bulldozers are actually a bit more versatile than they may initially seem. In the rear, many models have rippers that can tear into concrete. They can also be outfitted with various attachments to make moving construction debris a bit easier.

One thing to note about bulldozers is that there are various different types. Bulldozers come in crawler, wheel, and mini versions. The size of your site will largely dictate what type of bulldozer model you select. Crawlers tend to be best for smaller sites, while wheel bulldozers are better for larger sites. Fitting to their name, mini bulldozers are best utilized in small, compact environments.

The final piece of equipment that we’ll discuss in this post is wheel loaders. Wheel loaders consist of a front bucket that can easily scoop building materials and remove them from the site. Like bulldozers, wheel loaders come in various different styles, like skid, track, and backhoe. Depending on the size of the demolition site and how much debris there is to remove will depend on the type of wheel loader to best serve it.

Contact Alpine Demolition Today

For more information on the most common types of commercial demolition equipment, contact Alpine Demolition today. As an experienced, professional, and high-quality demolition contractor, we pride ourselves on ensuring that we’re equipping any job site we’re on with the right type of equipment to carry out the work in the most efficient, effective manner. Contact us today for more information and to learn more about our work scope and project portfolio.