What is site demolitionin construction?

Site demolition covers improvements outside the building footprint: pavement, curbs, sidewalks, fences, site utilities, and minor structures, usually a sitework scope measured in sf, lf, and each. Building demolition takes down major structures and brings structural engineering, utility disconnect permits, and frequently hazardous material abatement into play, typically priced lump sum by a licensed demolition contractor. Many redevelopment projects carry both as separate bid packages with separate insurance requirements.

Convert measured removals to volume or weight, then to loads. Pavement area times thickness gives cubic feet, divided by 27 gives cubic yards, divided by truck capacity gives loads, each carrying haul and tipping cost. Keep concrete, asphalt, and mixed debris on separate lines, because clean concrete and asphalt often go to recyclers at lower rates than landfill. Demolished material also bulks up versus its in-place volume, so carry a swell allowance.

Only if the demolition plan says so, and the keynotes are where it is spelled out: remove versus abandon in place versus cap at the main. Removal means trenching, disposal, and backfill; abandonment may mean grout filling pipes; capping involves the utility owner and possible fees. On older sites, estimators often carry an allowance for unknown buried items, because the existing conditions survey rarely catches everything underground.