Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Use These Recycling Container Sizing Guidelines for Commercial Renovation Projects

Image of a recycling truck
A recycling container is a renovation cost that might be overlooked in a company's budget. However, a place to store debris during the project for easy removal later is an essential item to keep any project running smoothly. Determining the right size for a specific project can help save money and time when renting this type of container.

Standard Container Sizes


Most dumpster companies offer containers in several standard sizes, including 10, 20, 30, and 40 cubic yards. Although the volume is standard, two containers of the same volume can have different dimensions. In general, a standard-size stove has the volume of a single cubic yard. This comparison can be used to visualize how much debris will fit in each dumpster.

Choosing the Right Size


A container measuring 10 cubic yards is suitable for cleaning out an office or two, removing a deck or a single layer of shingles from the building, or renovating a small room. Upgrade to 20 cubic yards for larger clean-up jobs, such as removing all the carpet or flooring from a business or removing a layer of roof shingles. The 30-cubic-yard container is appropriate for major projects, such as building an addition on a current location, building a new franchise location, demolishing an unused storage space, or replacing the siding and windows of an office. Those who have substantial properties can use the 40-cubic-yard container for jobs like window and siding replacement. This size is also appropriate for commercial roof replacement, commercial building clean-outs, or any other project that produces large amounts of recyclable debris.

Additional Considerations and Yannuzzi Group Advantages


It makes financial sense to choose a container that's slightly larger than the estimated need. If a larger size is needed in the middle of the project, the business owner will accrue additional cost and wasted time. Yannuzzi Group offers a container measuring 15 cubic yards as a cost-saving option for those who need to upgrade from 10 cubic yards but find 20 too large.

In the Kinnelon, NJ area, call the Yannuzzi Group at (908) 218-0880 for convenient rentals of recycling containers. We provide containers in a range of sizes suitable for concrete, block, brick, fill dirt, asphalt, and rock. Easy drop-off and pick-up services make recycling debris a seamless part of any project. We pride ourselves on offering sustainable construction solutions, including site work and infrastructure building as well as demolition services.

Tuesday, April 3, 2018

Four Ways to Maintain a Safe & Compliant Worksite

A construction staff may produce some of the most competitive, impressive and revolutionary results, but without safety, there's nothing to take pride in. Here's how to ensure safety on small remodels, federal projects, and everything in between!

Hire Selectively


A Yannuzzi Group worker practicing the highest safety standards

Although many people may apply for jobs in construction annually, it doesn't mean that they are all qualified for the work. Looking for workers who have physical strength may seem like the most important part, but it's also vital to have workers with strong attention to detail, patience, and the requisite skills. Even if this means workers must be paid a bit more, it will pay off with fewer on-the-job accidents.

Train Thoroughly


Even for those with all of the right qualifications, training is absolutely vital. In fact, training may be the most critical way to ensure a safe worksite, as safety comes from knowledge. Even for workers with experience in specific fields, ensure they are trained with all of the most up-to-date information and anything that will be specifically necessary for their job site.

Keep It Clean and Functional


It may be easier to leave things a mess in between construction efforts, but it's a recipe for disaster. By keeping things organized and clean, workers can be familiar with their surroundings, reducing chances for accidents. It's also vital to ensure that all work equipment is properly functioning and maintained, which means putting the time in for any necessary repairs and maintenance.

Recognize and Reward Safety Standards


Workers who are rewarded are often more likely to continue performing optimally. Many work sites will reward high production targets, but that may encourage rushing and cutting corners. Instead, recognize and reward those who emphasize safety. Safety emphasis also requires work sites to be more generous with time, as working on a short deadline can indirectly encourage workers to rush through jobs that should be taken slowly and carefully. Although things may take more time, a reduction in on-site accidents is a fair trade-off.

At Yannuzzi Group, we value our worksite safety and efficiency above anything else, whether we're working on a residential demolition or storm drain system. To get started on your project, give us a call at (908) 218-0880 today!

The History of Asbestos in Manufacturing and Construction

Nowadays, asbestos is a word associated with cancer, health concerns, and lawsuits. Although asbestos now fills landfills, merely a century ago it was considered an affordable and effective technological advancement. How did the public's view of asbestos change so much over the years?

The Beginnings of Asbestos


A Yannuzzi Group dump truck hauling away asbestos

Many would believe asbestos is a marvel of the modern age. In reality, it has been around for hundreds of thousands of years. Archaeologists have even discovered asbestos use in the stone age, roughly 750,000 years ago! Experts believe that humans were using asbestos fibers for wicks in lamps and candles as early as 4000 BC. This material was used to embalm bodies of Egyptian pharaohs in 2000-3000 B.C., make clay pots in Finland in 2500 BC, and wrap bodies before funeral processions in Greece in 456 BC.

Asbestos in the Modern World


When the world began to industrialize rapidly, asbestos was at the forefront of modernization. It flourished in the 1800s at the start of the Industrial Revolution and was used as an insulator for steam engines, electrical generators, and turbines. However, as its use increased, so too did the negative health effects experienced by those using it. Unfortunately, these negative effects would not be understood for some time.

Asbestos Hazards Revealed


In 1897, an Austrian doctor first attributed pulmonary issues in a patient to inhalation of asbestos dust. It wasn't until 1906 that the first documented death of an asbestos worker from pulmonary failure was recorded by Dr. Montague Murray at London’s Charing Cross Hospital. However, this did not stop asbestos use from being a part of American modernization and federal projects. In fact, roads built between the 1930s and the 1950s in the U.S. contained asbestos-laced asphalt!

Public Awareness


It wasn't until the late 1970s that the public became aware of the health risks associated with asbestos. Not until 2003 were partial bands placed on asbestos use in 17 countries, including Austria, Poland, Chile, Denmark, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia. Despite several bills in Congress seeking to create a mesothelioma registry, there is currently no asbestos ban in the United States, and asbestos is still a legal commodity.

Since asbestos is still in many products and buildings in the United States, asbestos abatement is a necessary part of ensuring public health. To get started, call Yannuzzi Group at (908) 218-0880 today!

Essential Equipment We Rely on for Earthwork and Site Preparation

Conducting earthwork for construction site preparation is a big job, but it lays the important groundwork for what's to follow. The ground has to be cleared, and a level surface must be created to build upon. These steps require the use of the following essential equipment.

Excavators


A Yannuzzi Group demolisher in action

Also called diggers, excavators do the heavy job of moving dirt around. They're used to dig holes, such as for basements, create trenches, and do the preliminary grading.

Loaders


Loaders pick up and move earth, gravel, and other material from one place to another. They can be used to fill in areas or to carry soil and other material out of the way. They look like tractors with large, front-mounted scooping buckets.

Skid Steers


A type of loader, skid steers are smaller machines with lift arms. They come in handy when ripping up road surfaces. These versatile machines take on different functions when the front bucket is replaced by other attachments, such as a trench digger or an auger.

Bulldozers


Also known as a crawler, a bulldozer pushes large volumes of soil, gravel, and other material out of the way to smooth areas quickly. They're especially useful in road building and land clearing.

Rollers


A roller is a type of heavy equipment that compacts the soil. The weight of the vehicle presses down on the ground as the roller moves forward.

End Dumps


These trailers on wheels are used to collect and move debris from a construction site. Essentially, they're long dumpsters on wheels. They can hold everything from sand to large boulders.

Lulls


A lull is a forklift with a long arm extending from the back of the vehicle. It can be used to move flat objects, such as sheets of rock, from one level to another.

Forklifts


Used to hoist materials over short distances, a forklift can move a variety of objects, including bags of sand or gravel, for instance.

Trucking Services


Once earthwork is done, or even during the process of site preparation, trucking services move debris, rocks, and soil away from the site.

The Yannuzzi Group specializes in earthwork and site preparation, along with deconstruction, demolition, paving, and grading. Call us at (908) 218-0880 to discuss your site preparation n