Free Building!?

[KCMongo]

Came across the mythical Craigslist Free Building the other day.
"5000 SQ feet, Red Iron building, you take it down it's yours" These are the deals I've seen before but typically when you see em' someone else is ahead of you on the list, so this time I actually was the first guy to call and go take a look at it. As we all know Free is never really free, I realize it's going to cost some money to take it down.
Here's the Pics.
The building was built in the late 50's early 60's and they believe sometime in the 70's this Foam insulation was sprayed all over the outside, The **** is about 1-2 inches thick all over it including the roof, with a thick coating of gray paint over the top. This will prevent me from getting to any of the screws on the outside, to strip the skin without removing it in some way.
Anyway, it's the same type of building and same size as the one that used to set on my property that has a big empty concrete pad so I'm hoping if I can get it apart and moved over (12 short miles) that it will work out well, I realize I'll most likely be buying new metal for the roof and sides.

Anyway Lurked here for a long time and thought I'd get the opinion of some of you guys with a little more experience.

Specifically what are your thoughts on this foam? Good ways to remove it? Is it hazardous? (IE..am I gonna have EPA troubles).
The good things are that even with all the rain around here lately it had a small puddle by one of the doors so it's been a tight building. It's got a bunch of doors, A walk in vault, 2 big electrical panels and most of the inside is sheeted with barn style tin about 16 feet up.
Anyone taken one down before?

Thanks,
Mongo

 

[35mastr]

That thing is huge. How are you going to go about taking it down?

You goin to hire a demo crew or are you going top attempt this on your own?

 

[Kevin54]

If you have no intention of keeping the metal siding, then a Sawzall and a generator (if no power to the building) would be your friend. Cut the sides and roof out. Dismantle the skeleton. Either scrap out the remaining metal if you can with the insulation on it, or burn it off in a huge fire then scrap out the metal

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hi Mongo,
First I would buy a lot of sawzall blades,because with the foam on the metal you might have to cut the screws from the inside...kind of like "skinning".

If the budget allows a shooting boom forklift and a man platform would help 100%.

Being a equipment operator,I have torn down some buildings...but saving them to reuse takes a lot more time!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!BE CAREFUL!!!!!!!

 

[Schtauffer]

I would get in touch with a steel building contractor. They will have tools, equipment, and knowledge to do it. With construction being slow, they may be happy to take on the project for you.

 

[brownbagg]

only thing you want is the red iron, trash the skin. cheaper to buy new skin and with the red iron you can make the building smaller if you want

 

[A_Pmech]

BEFORE I decided to take that project on, I'd take a sample of the skin to a scrap yard and see if they will accept it with that foam stuff on there. If you can't find anybody to take it, I wouldn't touch it with a 50' pole.

Should you decide to disassemble it, be sure to make a numbered drawing for reassembly purposes.

 

[slicktoptt]

Pressure washer should take that foam off fairly easily without doing too much damage to the skin. Should be able to blow off a strip wide enough to get to all the screws so you can take it apart or just blow it all off on site and sweep it up.

Just an idea.

 

[Brad54]

Call a contractor and see about moving the whole building intact? I would think the construction style would make it easy to move. Might get it done that way and set on your pad for less than the cost of new skin.
A phone call to find out is free.

-Brad

 

[KCMongo]

Thanks for all the input guy's!
The plan is for me to do most of the work, I'll likely hire some help for some of the tedious stuff, and will likely hire a crane in to do the final disassemble of the red Iron. (Unless I find a good deal on a crane, I've always wanted a small one). Never done a project this big but have done some smaller stuff. Other than that dang Foam it seems like a pretty straight forward deal. The lead idea for the foam is the pressure washer one, I cut a big chuck of the foam off with my pocket knife and can see that the metal looks like new underneath so that's a possibility for reuse. The other lead idea is cutting the screws from behind with a saws all, I like that idea because It's less mess to clean up. Then I'd likely scrap out the shell if they will take it. I do plan on takeing a section over to my friendly neighborhood scrapper to see what he says. So TRTool, I might have to hit you up on some Bulk Saws-All blade pricing..
I plan on putting the building back up full size over at my place, with a new outer skin, and re-arranging the doors a little.
Since it's in the city limits the city is going to require me to get a demo permit, and I'll likely have to buy a business license since I'm not the land owner. My current thought is to do a quick LLC for the project with it's own Liability Insurance in case I drop a building on one of my helpers. From you guy's that are actually in Business, sound like a good plan?

Steve "Mongo"

 

[TRTOOLSUPPLY]

Hey Mongo,
If you need something just give me a holler(PM).

Secondly...A LLC will take a little more time and money such as filing,Secretary of State office etc...

I had not thought of the pressure washer idea....might be a great one!Also around here the salvage yards would NOT take Tin with foam stuck on it and if they would it would be for FREE..no money paid for it.

Some of the most expensive things start out as FREE!....Keep us posted

 

[timewarp]

If you aren't going to try and reuse any of the exterior metal then I would get an excavator with a thumb and enough reach to get to the top and just peel the skin off, an experienced operator would be able to pull the skin off there and put it in a big pile or in a truck to haul away very easily with out doing any damage to the structure. I agree that the skin with the foam will be the hard part(expensive part) of the move.

 

[babzog]

If you're putting it up in a place with space to allow it, just bury the skin/foam. Once entombed and weeded over, you'll never think about it again. But, if a recycler would take the scrap for at least free, then I'd jump all over that option first.

Nice score! I noticed you haven't been tagged yet.... You ****!