Why our demolition engineers?

Taking Clasp type school building, Redhammer set-about a delicate dismantling of the steel framed structure. Located in a live school environment and within a few metres of retained school buildings, quality of execution to the highest levels of health & safety was of paramount importance.

Redhammer employed Kobelco SK300 and SK270 zero-swing excavators to undertake the work. The use of scaffold was considered to introduce unnecessary risk as well as interfere with the day-to-day operation of the school, so a suspended protective screen was introduced to shield the retained structures from the demolition works. All material arising from the works was removed and recycled off-site, producing an overall recycling rate of 98%.

Taking on the role of Principal Contractor on this project, Redhammer have successfully stripped bare the internal fabric of a large retail unit within the Grafton Shopping Centre in Cambridge. Working to a tight programme and inside of a live retail environment, the team have excelled in achieving their goal of a snag-free, accident-free project with little or no complaint from shoppers and adjacent storekeepers.

During the project, Redhammer engaged with our partners at Globechain to offer and distribute items with potential upcycling value to other stores and charitable organisations, at no cost to the end user. An appreciative nod goes out to the client team of 2110 Consult Limited, Brian Buffin Associates Limited and Gardiner & Theobald for their proactive approach and swift decision making.

Redhammer returned to this huge redevelopment at Sheerwater, Woking to carry out our third phase of demolition work on the scheme. After clearing the site of fly tipping, discarded sharps and asbestos materials, the team proceeded with the demolition of 41 units of terraced housing, 4 blocks of 3 storey flats, and half a residential care home. The project was phased to accommodate the main contractor’s ongoing development on the adjacent site.

Using a team of 4 heavy excavators, ranging from 21 to 30 tons, Redhammer diligently went about removing the post-war residential settlements in readiness for an exciting range of modern housing. All hardcore and concrete debris was recycled on site to be incorporated into the new construction.

Works involved the partial demolition of a Victorian terrace in conjunction with an extensive façade retention scheme. Structures at the rear of the site were also demolished completely, including slabs and foundations.

Also included as part of the demolition package was the removal of licensable asbestos materials and the clearance of pigeon guano before demolition works could commence.

Many of the stock bricks and roof slates were recovered and left on site for use in the re-construction process, helping our client to meet their sustainability goals for the project as well as addressing our own desire to operate within the waste hierarchy set out by WRAP.

Demolition works included the internal strip out of the administrative building at ground and first floor levels, including the demolition of internal and external masonry walls. Work was required to be carried out around live services and data cabling while the upper floors remained in occupation throughout.

Even more challenging was the demolition of the three-storey concrete and steel framed east wing, located on the east flank of the live building and in close proximity to the adjacent river. Demolition was successfully carried out using a combination of remote robotic demolition at roof and second floor levels and the use of a 20-ton excavator with pulveriser for the lower levels.

By anticipating our clients’ needs early, we could adopt and implement methods that would create the smallest impact on the buildings' occupiers and local environment at little extra cost.

The demolition of a 4 storey, RC framed office and retail building, along with subsequent site clearance was necessary for the construction of the proposed new Woolwich Leisure Centre. Directly bordering the busy Woolwich New Road, and within a stone’s throw of Woolwich Arsenal Railway Station, this project required meticulous planning and sensible design. Redhammer had previously cleared the former Wilko retail store to the rear of the site in phase 1, and now works could get under way to finish the enabling process.

The demolition work involved a partial scaffold envelope to the street-side building facades, which enabled a top-down approach by building-based machines to second floor level, followed by a ground-based machine process to completion. The adjacent, newly refurbished Tramshed Theatre building was carefully protected and navigated to ensure a seamless separation. Large pad foundations were removed to a depth of 5m below ground level, and all arising hardcore and concrete material was crushed and recycled on site.

Redhammer were contracted to fully demolish this 9 storey RC frame office block to make way for a new hotel in London’s Marylebone neighbourhood. The works were undertaken in a top-down manner using building based machines supported by a Raptor 184 articulated tower crane, and involved a full scaffold envelope to provide protection to pedestrians and the adjacent properties.

Basement structures and foundations were removed by introducing a series of temporary shores to support surrounding ground level roads and footpaths. This may sound challenging enough, however, when you factor in the prominent immediate neighbours of Westminster Magistrates Court and a Chinese Consulate building, it is fair to say that jobs don’t often get more sensitive than this one. Works were completed on time and without complaint.

Redhammer Demolition Ltd were contracted to clear the former industrial site for re-development. A large proportion of the work involved licensable asbestos removal in the form of AIB to the existing warehouse and extensive pipe lagging within the boiler house. Non-licensable asbestos removal in the form of approximately 2400m2 of double-lined roof sheeting was also undertaken prior to demolition of the structures.

On completion of the asbestos removal, the buildings were demolished piecemeal by excavator and all materials were crushed and laid to form a temporary hard-standing.

In addition to the heavy demolition, a steel gantry - in close proximity to a live area - was dismantled and cleared. This work involved piecemeal demolition work and lifting operations over a car park.

This involved the complete demolition and site clearance of single- and double-storey school buildings, including the removal of slabs and foundations and the subsequent crushing of waste material on site. The project was planned to be conducted in two phases to enable the school to remain in operation throughout the works. Phase 1 demolition was followed by a reduced level excavation of approximately 2500 tons of inert and non-hazardous material, as well as back-filling to form a hardstanding via site-derived crushed material.