How our crew handles it
Most of the residential work in our photos falls into three groups: whole houses taken down for a rebuild, fire-damaged homes and garages that have to come down before anything else can happen, and smaller structures like detached garages and rear additions. The approach changes with each one, but the order of work stays the same.
Before any machine arrives, the paperwork has to be in place. That means a Designated Substance Survey under section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, confirmation that gas, hydro and water are disconnected, and a demolition permit from Toronto Building. On an older North York bungalow, the survey is the step most likely to change the plan, because asbestos in plaster, flooring or pipe wrap has to be dealt with before general demolition starts.
Once the site is cleared to proceed, we usually strip a house in stages rather than knocking it over in one go. Siding, roofing and sheathing come off first, often by hand, which is what you can see on the garage where two of our crew are working from a ladder. That leaves the frame standing, as in several of our photos where only studs and rafters remain. Stripping first lets us separate wood, metal and mixed waste, and it keeps debris away from fences, trees and the house next door on a tight Toronto lot.
Fire-damaged structures need more care. Charred framing is unpredictable, so we keep the area taped off, as shown on the burned garage, and bring the structure down in a controlled sequence. We coordinate with the insurer's adjuster where needed so nothing is removed before it has been documented.
The last stage is loading out the frame and debris and leaving a clear lot, ready for the inspection that closes the demolition permit and for whatever gets built next.