Demolition work has started at my local YMCA: possible scrap metal salvage???

Hello,

Plans have been in the works for years to replace our aging YCMA pool/gym. I just noticed that demolition has started. Of course my scrap brain has been going into overdrive. Just think of all the potential water pipes, boilers, wires, lighting fixtures, and so on. I don't know what the deal is with this company who is doing the demo work. It could be subcontracted by the builder?? Has anyone approached a demolition site to try to acquire the scrap metal? Any tips on how to negotiate scrap metal removal rights?

Cheers,

David:recycle:

Demo company's place bids on the job, tare down and removal of "junk" so its part of there business plan.

Similar story.... earlyer this spring my town had a house to tare down. Tri state Disposal had the winning bid, it was $10,000 to remove the house. they tore it down and had the appliances, steel, alum, wires and copper all sorted out in the grass. I ran across my scrap rival and he said lets go see if they will let us have the scrap. I said they wont, they are ganna take it. anyways we went over there, he asked and we got the boot.

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.

Start by keeping an eye on the tenders being put out and who won them, some of the jobs are sub contracted out you maybe the next candidate for scrap removal.

Too bad M&M in Chilliwhack closed down along with the Army base, a lot of good stuff from the base ended up there. I bought a lot of stuff from Murray. The last guy to own the scrap yard has the property up for sale, the yard consists of three lots and the middle lot was a lease from a third party.

When the Wosk yard closed it was a day to rejoice.

I suspect that the YMCA contractor will just have Amix place a roll off for the scrap metals.

If you want to register to keep an eye open for upcoming tenders the link below is a good place to start your journey David, are you related to Hawkins. If so to give you a clue to who I am, you borrowed my cutting torch then gave me a sample of the metal from your job when the torch was returned.

Bid / Tenders - City of Chilliwack

my advice is similar to whats already been said by others here:
dont just take the goodies- u have to show them its worth allowing you to take the scrap bcos u will clear out ALL the metal for them
if u take just the copper & brass etc, it creates the impression that youre just using them.

obviously, this depends on whether they allow u at all.
just be polite & respectful & clean up the area u pick up the metal from, properly.

and let the supervisors etc know that youre available to do the same thing for them if they have any other work in the area.

Hey Chwkcleanup I heard that the guys who had the yard out at Bridal Falls on the reservation which is now the Motocross track started up another yard, any truth to that rumor.

If a demolition contractor won't let you get anything, it may not be his idea to be stingy. I am a demolition contractor and several of the jobs I've had stated in the contract that we must submit an estimate of the amount of money we will make in scrapping the metals and subtract that value from our final bid. It's aggravating when city governments do that, but I have to work with what I'm given.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Pnutfarmer

If a demolition contractor won't let you get anything, it may not be his idea to be stingy. I am a demolition contractor and several of the jobs I've had stated in the contract that we must submit an estimate of the amount of money we will make in scrapping the metals and subtract that value from our final bid. It's aggravating when city governments do that, but I have to work with what I'm given.

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don't forget to figure in the added labor for separating the scrap from trash, and converting it into sell-able form