High Reach Demolition and Top Down Demolition

Whether you’re renovating a commercial property or tearing down an old home to make way for a new one, demolition will often be the first step. Read on to learn the difference between high reach demolition and top down demolition.

Thanks to it being a relatively high-risk part of the process and requiring specialised tools, demolition is a task best undertaken by the professionals. The question is, which kind of building demolition services is right for your project?

What is high reach demolition?

High reach demolition is a very precise, controlled style of demolition that starts at the top and works down. It uses a long-reach excavator that works from the ground and reaches up to dismantle the property.

This style is highly efficient, but the biggest bonus of high reach demolition is its safety. By keeping human operators on the ground to operate heavy machinery, it helps to minimise the risks involved with demolition work.

Thanks to this method’s efficiency, precision, and safety, PRO Environmental Services will typically recommend high reach for most tasks.

What is top down demolition?

Top down demolition also works to demolish a building by starting at the top, but with quite a different method. In this scenario, scaffolding is built up around the building, and machinery and operators are brought up to the top level to demolish each floor one after the other.

This method is typically used on high rise structures where high reach machinery cannot reach the upper levels from the ground floor. Alternatively, it might also be used when space on the ground floor is limited, therefore not allowing machinery to work at that level.

Once the top down demolition reaches a level where a high reach excavator can contribute to the work, contractors may bring in these tools and finish the job with a high reach method.

Which one is right for you?

For the majority of residential demolition services, high reach demolition will be the best option for you. It’s efficient and provides optimum safety for all those working on the site.

In some cases however, top down demolition will be the best option. This might be the case if you are looking to demolish a high rise apartment building or a tall commercial building, or if there isn’t sufficient space around a property for a high reach excavator.

PRO Environmental Services is able to provide both high reach demolition and top down demolition services all over the Wellington region, and across the lower North Island and upper South Island. We can offer our advice as to which method is best for the task at hand, and may even suggest using both methods in tandem in some cases.

We also offer free, no-obligation quotes so you can get a good idea of the costs upfront. Get in touch today for a quote or to chat through your options with our friendly, experienced team.