25 Best Demolition Tools Equipment, and Machines

Here are the best demolition tools and equipment.

When it comes to performing any construction-related job, tools are highly essential.

There’s little you can do to achieve desired results without the right demolition equipment. This equipment has been carefully designed to help demolition contractors achieve desired results.

Of course, there’s a central place for skills, so it’s essential only to patronize licensed and experienced contractors. The proper usage of these tools can be directly linked to the results you get.

So, it’s essential to understand how to utilize them to obtain desired results fully.

Demolition Tools

Every demolition job requires getting the right equipment.

There are hand tools as well as heavy machinery or equipment. This section focuses on the different handles you can use for demolition work.

Not only are these mentioned, but we also briefly explain what they’re about.

Essential demolition tools include a hacksaw, sledgehammer, crowbar, snips & pliers, reciprocating saw, wrecking bar, and voltage tester.

Other hand demolition tools include air cleaner, cordless drill, angle grinder, circular saw, jackhammer, ladder, lighting, tapes, and protective gear.

You’ll also need to have contractor bags, as well as telescoping work poles. Simply stopping here won’t do justice to our discussion.

While the application or uses of some of these tools may seem obvious, we’ll still briefly discuss each for a more thorough understanding.

i. Hacksaw

During demolition, there’s likely to be a need to cut through structural components like metal or wood.

To be more exact, pipes, rods, wood, and another framing may need to be cut through. This is where hacksaws become handy. With this tool, you’re able to achieve your objective with ease.

ii. Sledgehammer

Most demolition jobs are hardly complete without the sledgehammer. This tool is specially designed to deliver significant force to targeted areas.

Sledgehammers usually come with long handles to make that possible. It’s essential to go for a quality sledgehammer that won’t chip. Drop-forged hammers tend to be more durable.

iii. Crowbar

During demolition projects, you’re likely to come across objects that need to be separated or torn apart. Also, wooden components may need to be loosed by removing the nails.

The crowbar allows you to easily dismantle stuff without taking the whole day. There are lots of other things you can use crowbars for.

iv. Snips & Pliers

Snips and pliers come in handy during demolition, especially when removing electrical wiring.

These tools combined help you get through the dismantling process within a short time. However, it’s essential to ensure that your lights are turned off from the mains before starting the job.

v. Reciprocating Saw

A reciprocating saw is a valuable demolition tool that may not be required for every job but serves your every need when needed.

As the name implies, reciprocating saws make a back-and-forth motion that helps cut through various structural components like steel, wood, shingles, etc.

vi. Wrecking Bar

A lot of times, wrecking bars are confused with crowbars due to their similarity.

The critical difference is in size. A wrecking bar tends to be more significant and ideal for bigger demolition jobs. Having both (wrecking bar and crowbar) will serve your demolition needs.

Also, consider picking the right product.

vii. Voltage Tester

This is an essential tool when dismantling or rerouting electrical wiring during demolition.

As the name suggests, the voltage tester enables you to carry out tests to determine if the current is passing through the wires or not.

Asides from helping your figure out what’s happening, it also serves as a safety tool.

viii. Air Cleaner

During demolition, it’s common to find a lot of dust floating around. Without the proper safety measures, such dust could pose significant health risks.

This is where an air cleaner comes in handy. It’s an important tool that serves to suck out any dust within the demolition area.

ix. Cordless Drill

Some types of demolition jobs require a more surgical approach. A cordless drill is one tool you can use to free up or unscrew items.

So rather than using a breaker bar or crowbar for such a job, a cordless tool might serve best if you want a clean job. A cordless drill may be rechargeable.

x. Angle Grinder

During demolition, several scenarios are likely to play out. Sometimes you want to sand wood or cut through rusted metal or a wire fence.

Whatever it is, an angle grinder effectively serves such a purpose. You’ll need to be skilled in using this hand tool to achieve desired results and avoid injury.

xi. Circular Saw

The circular saw doubles as a building as well as a demolition tool. It’s pretty versatile when it comes to its application.

The circular saw can cut through flooring, driveway, or slab. The circular saw helps you cut through a wide range of materials, thus helping you get the desired effect.

xii. Jackhammer

Jackhammers serve various demolition functions and are effective for use on masonry and concrete. These go by several names, including combination hammers or breakers.

Having this in your arsenal of demolition tools is necessary to ensure every project is handled professionally.

xiii. Ladder

The ladder is a common and versatile tool that gives you access to certain heights during demolition jobs. A lot of demolition jobs are performed in a top-down manner or approach.

Such an approach won’t be possible without the ladder. It’s good to have different ladder step extensions.

xiv. Lighting

Proper lighting is needed for demolition jobs. There are certain areas where natural lighting may not provide sufficient brightness.

Consider having artificial lighting sources to illuminate the area adequately. There are several types you can purchase or hire for your demolition project.

xv. Tapes

Tapes are also crucial to a demolition project—these help with patching up tarps and making water-tight connections.

These and several other functions of tapes make them a must-have during demolition projects. It would help if you took them along whenever you demo any part of your home.

xvi. Protective Gear

Protective gear help reduce the impact of accidents. Such gear includes nose masks to keep out dust, goggles to protect your eye, and a helmet for your head.

What more? It would help if you also had safety boots and gloves to protect your feet and hands. These enhance your productivity and limit the chances of injury.

xvii. Contractor Bags

After every demolition job, there’s a need to clear up the area.

Contractor bags are durable and helpful in clearing up debris. They’re designed to hold significant amounts of garbage without giving way.

Get as many as you can to serve all your cleaning needs.

Demolition Equipment and Machines

So far, we’ve focused on various demolition tools, mostly hand tools.

This section will focus on heavy equipment used in major demolition projects. Examples include excavators, dust machines, low loaders, tippers, HIAB trucks, and compact track loaders.

Other critical equipment includes dozers and roll-on/roll-off wagons. So what are these heavy machinery about? Let’s take a look at some of them.

i. Excavators

As the name implies, excavators are designed for severe excavation work. These are hardly a miss on demolition sites as they’re used for many demolition projects.

ii. Dust Machines

Dust machines serve to douse or minimize dust at construction sites. These machines shoot steady streams of water mist at targeted areas, thus preventing the spread of dust.

iii. Low Loaders

Moving demolition equipment from one location to the next will be difficult without low loaders. These carry heavy machineries like bulldozers, excavators, and crushers from one job site to the next.

iv. Tippers

Tippers come in handy during demolition projects as they help evacuate debris.

Such debris is conveyed to disposal sites, thus leaving the demolition area clear and ready for the next construction project.

v. HIAB Trucks

HIAB trucks are crane-mounted and help remove or deliver heavy objects. They come in handy during significant demolition projects.

They’re self-loading and unloading trucks.

vi. Compact Track Loaders

Have you ever heard of a compact truck loader?

This demolition machine is used for grading, loading, and digging purposes. They can be used in a wide range of terrains without a problem.

vii. Dozers

Bulldozers come in handy when heavy demolition work is to be done. These vehicles help with moving large materials. Dozers are also used for grading, ripping, and clearing work.

Here are the most commonly used demolition tools and machines.