I have scrapped many demolition jobs and when you meet expectations of the demolition company you will create a network of contractors that will keep you busy.
The first question is can you keep up with the demolition. If you plan to cherry pick the valuable things and leave the rest, you will not get future business. Many companies allow employees to take the valuable items on their own time as a bonus. There is no benefit to allow an outsider to get the "goodies."
I use the land/lease agreement from the 1800's and it is still used today in agriculture. I promise to leave the site uncluttered, provide storage tubs out of way of their work, meet any OSHA guidelines, and provide scale sheets and pictures of all loads. They are paid with a check after each load. If they want cash it tells me the foreman or project manager is skimming from the company. I work as a subcontractor on the project.
The demolition company has already made a bid for destruction and removal of the materials. Sometimes they have someone to scrap the metal and if not they figure they will pay a dump fee. I save them the dump fee, keep the area clean, and provide a profit incentive. I sell myself and my company as paying them for my services.
I arrive at the job site before the crew and try to meet the foreman and project manager. I might wear my hard hat, steel toe boots, and have my equipment on hand to demonstrate professionalism. I have also shown up at the cooperate headquarters dressed in jeans, western shirt, and cowboy hat. One time I visited sites a company was working on wearing my cowboy hat to investigate them. I was caught on security camera's and everyone was trying to figure out who I was and what I was doing. I had my cowboy hat on when I met the president of the company, he told me the story, and hired me on the spot.
If I get a job the next step is to contact the local scrap yards and work a deal. This usually includes a tour of the job site, better prices, and complimentary roll offs with free pickup and delivery. The scrap yard gets free advertising with the roll offs and the demolition company is impressed by the professionalism. Sometimes this is enough to encourage their employees to fill the roll offs instead of stepping over things all day long.
In a nutshell, be yourself, be honest, make a good impression, sell your services, and most of all exceed all expectations. I would be happy to share insider secrets in PM's, but not on a public forum. What is provided above is common sense advice. Good luck.
Demolition work has started at my local YMCA: possible scrap metal salvage???
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Originally Posted by Pnutfarmer
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