Demolition industry continues to break down barriers
Adapt and adjust
Above all, the main reason the industry continues to push through a stretch riddled with challenges is its ability to adapt its way of doing business.
“The death of a business is six words: ‘We’ve always done it this way,’” Godek says. “What the public needs and wants is going to dictate. That’s part of embracing the new wave of doing things.”
One way the industry is adapting is by leveraging technology to improve efficiency and safety on jobsites across the country.
“[The industry] is completely embracing technology,” Godek says. “At my own firm, we had a bunch of people out working remotely. We were planning on getting them all back in here, but they’ve been so productive that ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’”
The sudden adoption of technology for an industry that is traditionally slower to embrace it is largely a direct result of COVID-19, as well as economic challenges caused by the pandemic.
“The pandemic has sped up a lot of things,” Godek says. “I think some of those boon things are the result of the pandemic, realizing we have to do more with less.”
NDA also believes the adoption of robotics, remote tracking and safety software will become more prevalent as the industry evolves.
Deconstruction has provided unique opportunities for demolition contractors in the absence of infrastructure funding. Photo: eyjafjallajokull/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images
“Robotics is going to be huge,” Lambert says. “I think when we come out the other side of this, safety – and rightly so – certainly will be front and center for regulators in different ways. Our members are already deploying these safety best practices – wearing masks, daily safety talks – it’s just going to be that much more heightened. I think those folks who are adapting to that technology right now and making investments in robotics and things like that will pay off for them in the long term.”
New year, new opportunities
One of the positive signs for the demolition industry heading into the new year is the state of the scrap metal market.
“There’s a strong market right now for ferrous metal and more pressure on the U.S. market, so scrap metal prices are starting to go back up,” Godek says. “That’s a really good thing for our industry. If scrap prices stay high, that makes it easier to do a project and, as we become more attuned to scrap prices, we start evaluating those prices into our bids. It may render more projects viable because of the scrap component.”
Another opportunity for the demolition industry, in the absence of infrastructure funding, is deconstruction. While often not as viable as other projects, deconstruction can help relieve shrinking backlogs and provide stability for contractors and employees alike.
“One of the bigger things that’s going to have to happen over the next couple months or year is the use and reuse of existing structures,” Godek says. “Deconstruction is not an easy process. The reason you may see more deconstruction is the inability to obtain materials right now. If people put their money into deconstruction, it will continue to grow our industry and expand things.”
As the calendar flips to 2021, Godek isn’t blinking in the face of potential headwinds – be it from COVID-19, infrastructure funding shortages or labor challenges.
“Hey, we got through 2020,” Godek says with a sense of optimism.
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