True, you can’t demolish your garage by just snapping your fingers, but you shouldn’t find it overwhelming either.
All it needs is a systematic approach, some sensible work starting from the top and going down, and keeping the framing intact as long as you can.
A big and vital part of the job is how you dispose of the debris. There will be recyclable material among what you reclaim carrying some value. They require careful handling.
Before you proceed with your garage demolition, here are a few handy tips that you would do well to consider.
Start With the Paperwork before Demolishing Your Garage
The very first step you need to take before the demolition of your garage begins is arranging the necessary papers.
“A stitch in time saves nine,” goes the saying, and if you are wise enough to secure the necessary permits on time, you’ll save yourself a lot of headaches later.
You’ll have to spend quite a bit and you’ll also have to engage with a building inspector. However, it’s worth taking the trouble since you don’t want to end up being told that you’ll have to demolish your new garage since you don’t possess the necessary permits.
Therefore, you start with the first things first—getting the necessary permits from your respective city authorities like Montreal, Dorval, Lachine, Hudson, or any other.
Turn Off the Gas, Water, and Power Connections
Once you’re done with all the necessary paperwork, it’s time to switch off the connections for gas, water, and electricity. If your garage has a sub-panel, you should begin by turning off its breaker present in the main panel.
The next step is disconnecting and capping off all branch lines that supply gas and water. It includes all the water lines feeding the hose bibs outside your garage.
Finally, you’ll have to tear down all the wallboards you need so that all the wiring and pipes in the walls can be pulled out. Make sure that you set aside most of these materials as many of them are recyclable and capable of being reused.
Such materials include-
- Gas fixtures
- Electrical wires
- Electrical fixtures
- Metal and PVC pipes
- Plumbing fixtures
Removing the Roof and Sidings
Remove the roofing by pulling it off piece-by-piece simply because it’s the easiest way to do so. If you have one, you should pile the roofing on the bed of your truck so you can dispose of it without any hassles.
Was your roof in good condition? If yes, the plywood sheathing may be reusable and so, if you needn’t use it right away, you may as well store it. To remove the siding, pry off every single window and door trim.
Similar to the roof sheathing, if you can manage to have it removed with minimum damage, you may get some value out of the siding. You needn’t waste any time removing the drywall on the interior walls as it isn’t recyclable.
Pulling Down the Doors and Windows
Removing the garage door is likely to turn out to be one of the biggest tasks in the entire project. If the door’s of wood, two people will have to be put to work.
It’s not so difficult removing the other doors and windows and you can do so with just one person since the trim and siding have already been removed.
Make it a point to wear protective gear like gloves and goggles when you’re pulling down windows to avoid accidents.
Call the local recycled building material dealer who’ll surely be more than happy to pick up the doors and windows after you have stored them in a safe and dry place.
Taking Down the Framing
When you dismantle the frame, you’ll need to use a pry bar and a hammer and therefore, also protective clothing and eyewear. You’ll need to take down the pre-built roof trusses as you stand on a ladder.
That’s when you are likely to need a helping hand since they are pretty heavy, and difficult for one person to handle.
Support the walls with two-by-fours to prevent one of them from coming crashing down if you prefer disconnecting the walls from each other before you take them apart. De-nail each framing member while removing it as it’s important for your safety.
You will also be able to stack the wood easily after de-nailing.
Do drop by at the metal recycling section of the local waste facility in your city, big like Montreal or West Island or the smaller ones like Hudson as you’ll have lots of nails, screws, and other fasteners you would want to hand over there.
What Do You Do With the Slab?
Whether you want to rebuild your garage or not decides what you should do with the slab if there is one. Your demolition job is complete if you simply seek to rebuild a new structure atop the slab.
However, you’ll need a jackhammer to break up the concrete slab if you are planning to plant grass seeds or have a garden where your garage once stood.
It involves very laborious work and you’ll need to make arrangements for careful disposal separately. You’ll need a separate concrete dumpster for it.
Waste Removal
You’ll generate a lot of bulky waste and useless stuff when you demolish a garage or any other structure for that matter. Ensure that all the waste is removed to the bin after you have pre-arranged a garbage bin delivery.
You have got to make the job site safe by ensuring proper waste removal. Failure to do so shall also be seen as a serious violation of your local laws.
Conclusion
Demolishing your garage is, therefore, a step-by-step process and you need to make your way through the job by passing through each step. Get started by arranging the paperwork.
Then turn off all the connections—gas, power, and water. Follow that by removing the roof and sidings, the doors and windows, and the framing as well.
Properly handling the slab comes next and finally, you’ve got to dispose of the waste carefully.
Yes, it’s a cumbersome job involving meticulous planning, but one that you needn’t tear your hair over.
