Demolition contractors cost and hiring guide

Project guide

Hiring demolition contractors

Demolition contractors take down houses, garages, commercial buildings and foundations, then sort and haul what is left. The teardown itself is the fast part; most of the schedule is the paperwork that has to happen first. Gas, electric and water are disconnected and capped at the main, an asbestos survey is completed by a licensed inspector and any friable material is abated before the excavator swings, and the demolition permit is posted. A residential house typically comes down in one to two days with a 30 to 40 ton excavator; hauling and backfilling the hole can take a few more. Selective demolition, such as removing a wing or gutting an interior for a remodel, is priced by labor hours because it is done with hand tools and small machines around what stays.

GradeLine lists 4,740 demolition contractors.Compare their work and equipment, then confirm availability and service area before requesting a quote.

Listed businesses are based in Kalamazoo, Westover, Diana, Sherwood, Lincoln City, Paterson, though most crews travel well beyond their home city.

What demolition work costs

Residential demolition typically runs $4 to $10 per square foot, so a 1,500 square foot house lands around $8,000 to $18,000 including haul-off, more with a basement. Detached garages and outbuildings commonly cost $2,000 to $8,000. Asbestos abatement, when needed, is billed separately and can range from a few hundred dollars for pipe wrap to five figures for siding or floor tile throughout.

Ranges are national and approximate; regional labor rates, material prices and site conditions move them in both directions.