Everything to Know About Demolition
From a backyard shed to interior walls and old concrete, we tear it out and haul away every bit of debris.
What Demolition Includes
Demolition here means small to mid-size structure and material removal — sheds, interior walls, concrete, decks, fences, and similar jobs, not full commercial teardown. We break it down, load it out, and leave the site clear.
- Sheds, outbuildings, and small structures
- Interior walls, flooring, and fixtures
- Concrete slabs, walkways, and driveways
- Fences and gates
- Decks and patio structures
- Above-ground pools
- Detached garages
- Dirt, fill, and excavated material
Tearing down a backyard shed that's rotted past saving
Stripping a room down to studs before a remodel
Breaking out an old concrete patio to make way for new landscaping
Who Books Demolition
A homeowner
Tearing out a shed, deck, or old concrete before a landscaping or remodel project starts.
A contractor
Bringing in demo and haul-away as one piece of a larger renovation job.
A homeowner clearing space
Getting rid of a structure that's past saving, like a rotted deck or a collapsing shed.
Someone prepping a property for sale
Removing a structure or old pool that's become a liability before listing.
How Long Demolition Takes
Demolition timing depends far more on material than size — a wood-frame shed or a fence comes down in a couple hours, while block, brick, or concrete work takes longer because it has to be broken up before it can be hauled. Square footage sets the starting point, but what the structure's actually made of decides how long the crew's on site.
- A single small structure
- A shed, fence, or small deck usually clears in a few hours.
- A mid-size job
- A concrete slab, garage, or larger deck typically runs most of a day.
- Multiple structures or a full property
- Combining jobs, like a pool and a shed together, takes longer and may need more than one visit.
How Pricing Works
Demolition prices differently than a standard junk haul. What moves the number is what's coming down — a wood-frame shed breaks apart fast, while block or concrete work takes longer and hauls heavier — plus the square footage of the job and how much of the debris is heavy material.
What's coming down
A wood-frame shed breaks apart fast; block, brick, or concrete structures take longer and load heavier.
Size of the job
Square footage of the structure or slab sets the starting point for the quote.
How it's broken down
Hand-demo with sledges and pry bars is different work than concrete or block that needs equipment.
Debris weight
Concrete, tile, and dirt carry higher disposal fees than wood framing or drywall.
Send photos or walk us through what's coming down, and we'll give you one price for the demo and the haul-away before we start.
Demolition vs Renting a Dumpster
A dumpster gives you somewhere to put debris, but it doesn't tear anything down — you're still swinging the sledgehammer and loading every piece yourself before the bin does anything.
| Factor | Demolition with a crew | Renting a dumpster |
|---|---|---|
| The demo itself | Our crew tears the structure down as part of the job. | A dumpster only holds debris — you still have to demo it first. |
| Heavy material | We break down and load concrete, block, and dense debris. | You're loading dense material by hand, which fills a bin fast. |
| Site cleanup | We clear the pad or site down to bare ground. | Leftover debris around the bin is still yours to deal with. |
| Timeline | Most single-structure jobs finish in one visit. | Rented by the week, often longer than a straightforward teardown needs. |
A dumpster makes sense if you're doing the demo yourself and just need somewhere to put the debris — for anyone who'd rather not swing the sledgehammer, that's the part a crew actually replaces.
What We Can and Can't Take
We take
- Wood-frame sheds and outbuildings
- Interior drywall, framing, and flooring
- Concrete slabs and walkways
- Fencing and gates
- Wood or composite decking
- Above-ground pool structures
- Detached garages
- Dirt and excavated fill
We can't take
- Hazardous waste
- Paint and solvents
- Asbestos-containing material
- Tires
- Medical waste
- Propane tanks
Solvents, paint and similar containers are handled free through PaintCare. For hazardous material and electronics, the county runs an appointment-only drop-off at the Miramar facility.
Where Your Load Actually Ends Up
Demolition debris skews toward material that gets recycled or landfilled rather than donated — wood framing, drywall, and concrete don't have much of a resale life. Concrete and similar heavy material typically routes to recycling where it's accepted, while mixed debris like drywall and framing goes to a transfer station.
Donated
Rare for demo debris, though intact fixtures or hardware sometimes qualify.
Recycled
Concrete, metal, and similar dense material where a local recycling route exists.
Landfilled
Wood framing, drywall, and mixed debris that isn't recyclable.
How to Get Ready for Demolition
- Check with your local building department on whether the job needs a permit.
- Confirm plumbing, gas, or electrical is disconnected first if the structure has any.
- Clear a path from the structure to where the truck will park.
- Point out anything nearby — fencing, plants, a neighbor's property line — that needs to stay untouched.
None of this is required to get a quote, but a permit check and a disconnect can affect the schedule, so it's worth doing early.
Demolition Near Me — How Our Coverage Works
Demolition near me means a crew and truck coming to the property, not a yard you haul debris to — we work sites across the county rather than out of a fixed location. What matters is whether we've got a crew free for your address that week.
Send your address and what's coming down, and we'll confirm the timeline.
Where We Offer Demolition
Here's where we're currently running demolition crews.
Also available
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for what I'm tearing out?
It depends on your city and the scope of the job — a shed teardown and an interior strip-out aren't treated the same way everywhere. Check with your local building department before you book.
Do you disconnect plumbing, gas, or electrical before demo?
No — those need to be disconnected by a licensed trade first. We can work around a scheduled disconnect, but we don't do it ourselves.
What if the wall I want removed is load-bearing?
We don't provide structural engineering sign-off. Get that confirmed before we touch anything if there's any question.
Can you tell if an older structure has asbestos in it?
We're not an abatement crew, so we don't test for or remove suspected asbestos material. Get it tested first if the building's age makes that possible.
Do you offer demolition near me for smaller residential jobs, not just larger teardowns?
Yes — most of what we do is small to mid-size residential work, like a single shed or a section of concrete, not full commercial teardown.
Tell us what needs to go
Send a photo, get a fixed price, pick a window. No charge for the estimate.
(858) 859-0089