Who does demo work?

[Beel]

Question for excavating contractors here... does anyone incorporate demo work into their business? Is is probable, or is is just best to leave this type of work to the demo specialists? :usa

 

[xcavate]

We do all kinds of work. If you can do it with a machine we own then we do it. We leave the super technical demos to the specialists but taking down single family homes or small commercial buildings is easy. The hardest part is finding places to get rid of the demo debris. I highly recommend a 30 ton machine or larger with a grapple if your going to get into this work although I did demo a single family house with a Cat 311 with a thumb before but it sucked loading the 100cy trailers.

 

[powerjoke]

We do it all the time, my machine of choice is a 315C it's small and fast and has almost as much reach as my PC200.

I really enjoy demolition because it is something that can be done in almost any weather and is pretty high yeilding as well,

We already have the Equipment so......why not?

Pj

 

[Beel]

Cool, I was hoping some of the other contractors exercised their resources in the demo field. How do the costs of higher wear and tear and the need for special attachments pan out from a business perspective? I am in Southern Florida so I am looking at quite a bit of reinforced concrete.....

 

[tuney443]

I make toothpicks and wood chips with my mechanical thumb on my 410G TLB.I've done many 2 story homes,sure it would be nice to have a huge excavator,but I know how to get er done with what I got.I use 30-40 yd. dumpsters and pack em so tight a snake couldn't bore his way in that rubble.All metals,block,and concrete go elsewhere.The last house I demo'd had $1K in metals[mostly copper] that I brought to the scrap yard.

 

[Keenan993]

Demo jobs are few and fare between, but like doing it when I can land them. The numbers have to work, there is always someone who can be way cheaper. But sometimes you can get lucky and bid against others that have to get similar numbers as you.
Last demo job for us was a larger swimming pool. 22 tri-axles of concrete removed, we figured 21, but they had us demo some additional concrete. We did pretty decent on the demo portion. The job also included excavation for the new pool and stormwater system for the new pool.

 

[DanRooks]

Cool, I was hoping some of the other contractors exercised their resources in the demo field. How do the costs of higher wear and tear and the need for special attachments pan out from a business perspective? I am in Southern Florida so I am looking at quite a bit of reinforced concrete.....

Beel, You are smart to recognize the the costs of higher wear and tear and the need for special attachments. More and more contractors are starting to look at cost being a variable both in wear and also fuel consumed. Many contractors have in the past, not had a way to calculate exactly how those costs change.

This is the function of Hourly Dynamic (changing) Life Cycle Cost calculation for Owning and Operating costs.

I see you are in South Florida, so you are most likely knowledgeable about sand and sandy soils. A contractor coming down from the north (without a way to calculate life cycle cost), with clayey soils would be shocked to find out how quickly you can go through a tracked undercarriage.

In Florida, we can go 20 miles and be operating in very different types of sand. Sand is not just sand. Some sand is much more abrasive than other types.

If you want more information on Dynamic (changing) Life Cycle Cost calculation for Owning and Operating cost, just let me know.
Dan Rooks

 

[DanRooks]

The Importance of Knowing Your Owning and Operating Cost

I am reminded of a quotation credited to the great contractor, Peter Kewit who headed Peter Kewit Son's from 1924 until his death in 1979. He once said "I can tell when a competitor will go out of business within two years," The person to whom he was speaking asked incredulously, "How can you do that?".

He said "I watch when he buys his first Twin Engine Aircraft. That plane will take him far enough and fast enough to change his Operating costs". Without a doubt Peter Kewit worked hard at knowing his costs. This may be more important than knowing what a competitor charges!
Dan Rooks

 

[digger242j]

If you want more information on Dynamic (changing) Life Cycle Cost calculation for Owning and Operating cost, just let me know.

Dan, HEF staff have communicated with you a number of times on the subject of our Forum Advertising Policy. The rule that applies is:

Advertising of goods and services are not permitted unless sponsoring heavyequipmentforums.com. A vendor of goods or services may start one introductory thread explaining their product or service and may answer questions about such within that thread. No further promotion of your product or service may be made without sponsorship.

Just so that there's no misunderstanding, when considered as part of your "body of work" here at HEF, even the quote above is beyond the limits of what is restricted by the ad policy.

I'll be the first to admit that you what bring to the forum is a working knowledge of an aspect of the business that many of our members lack. We're very strong on the technical aspects, the nuts and bolts, if you will, and I think that we're equally strong in the particulars of operating methodolgy. The black art of Equipment Costing, maybe not so much. For that reason, you've been given quite a bit of slack with regard to the contents of your posts.

All of that notwithstanding, you need to realize that as infromative as you may be, an infomercial is still an advertisement, and a suggestion to contact you for more information, whether the term "PM" is used or not, is still a solicitation.

It's has become critical that you demonstrate an understanding of these concepts.

 

[DanRooks]

Thank you for your Post. Believe it or not I am trying to comply. When I posted this comment, I mentally congratulated myself for finally meeting HEF' s rules and CM1996 and your suggestions.

So... needless to say, I was surprised to see your post. Perhaps I have have not been clear in communicating with you that when I use the sentence "If you want more information on Dynamic (changing) Life Cycle Cost calculation for Owning and Operating cost, just let me know." I am NOT advertising nor placing an Infomercial as this is very generic name and not a product name. Our product is DecisiveCost.

DecisiveCost is one of a number of programs that claim to due Dynamic Life Cycle Costing. I say claim because I have not been able to review in depth, other peoples products. I am NOT selling this information. Every infomercial that I have ever seen always mentions a product brand or name. I did not mention my products.

I am now at a complete loss of how you would have me post any messages whatsoever.

By this way, just this afternoon, I directed another client to join HEF. I think HEF provides an important service and I want to be a good member and comply with its rules. I requested but have not received information on sponsorship.

If I am allowed to say this...Please respond by PM

 

[digger242j]

If I am allowed to say this...Please respond by PM

Yes, in this case it is entirely appropriate, and I have done so.

 

[col]

Hi Digger242j,


I have been reading over the forums since joining and previously before joining HEF to try and find what the industry standard is for charging a particular machine out. After reading numerous chats around the subject, the only one who has made any sense is Dan Rooks. Its not about what the next guy or gal is charging out, it all comes down to your bottom line, - know exactly what your machine is costing you as an individual.

I have contacted a few different persons over the time to ask the same question that has bugged me for a number of years -" How do you know what your machine is costing you - How do you work this out"? its always been the same answer, "Joe blow down the road is charging this amount and ned is charging this amount- so somwhere in between you should put your rate" well that just doesnt cut it for me- how do they come up with their answer ?? its by going on what the next guy is doing.

So I made my decision to contact Dan after numerous readings of his replies & others over this Forum and I cant begin to tell you what this has opened up for me. Dan is extremely knowledgeable in this industry, and if by reading his replies arent enough for all you guys out there , drop him a line and see for yourself, you will be glad you did.

If you want to learn all about your true costings and put it into practise- he is the guy to speak to.

I really thought the idea of this forum was a net working tool, we could all use to find such people as Dan Rooks -am I mistaken? It would be such a shame to see such people as Dan Rooks not given the opportunity to help others in this industry - His tools and knowledge help give you the competetive edge, talk to him, it will not be a waste of your time.

 

[digger242j]

Welcome to Heavy Equipment Forums, col.

I really thought the idea of this forum was a net working tool, we could all use to find such people as Dan Rooks -am I mistaken?

Opening paragraph of the Forum Rules:

Site Objective

It is the intent of this site’s administration to offer professionals of the heavy equipment industry a forum and a comfortable enjoyable environment in which to exchange ideas, questions, answers and comments regarding heavy equipment and related topics. Anyone involved in any aspect of the heavy equipment industry, be it a company owner, owner/operator, operator, repair technician, safety officer, training officer, etc., is encouraged to register and participate.

Certainly, networking can be seen to come under that umbrella.

At the same time, the other parts of the rules apply just as strongly.

While it may occasionally be beneficial, for everyone's edification, to point out where a member has strayed beyond the limits of the rules, we make it a policy not to discuss member issues except between the given member and the staff.

If you'd like to have a generic discussion of the forum's advertising policy, send me a PM.

Another function of the staff is to keep threads from straying too far off topic. Let's get back to "Who does demo work?"

 

[Wolf]

Do you just save the scrap from the old houses, or do you save any of the antique stuff like old doors and lighting fixtures. Big money for claw foot tubs these days. You see any of those wrecking old houses upstate?