Who Can Demolish a House?

If you’re ready to tear it all down—literally—a demolition professional or deconstruction contractor can help you demolish your home. This step may be necessary after a natural disaster or if you’ve purchased a “tear-down” property. Here’s what you need to know about hiring a demolition professional.

Benefits of Hiring a Demolition Service to Demolish a House

If home improvement is a big project, home disassembly is an even bigger one. It’s not as simple as taking a sledgehammer to the walls and hoping for the best. 

Depending on where you live, you may need permits for a demolition project. Demolition professionals will know more about the process of obtaining these permits, and the pros may be able to expedite the process. No matter where you live, your local demolition professional can turn an overwhelming and (seriously) physically laborious project into a much more straightforward job. They’ll also help you dispose of any hazardous building materials that are discovered during the demolition.

Can I DIY Demolishing My House?

In some places, especially major urban centers, your city may legally require you to work with a certified deconstruction contractor. In rural areas, you may be able to demolish your own house legally, but that doesn’t mean that you should do it. This job comes with serious potential health and safety hazards, including the risk of death if you don’t know what you’re doing, so always rely on a pro to handle it for you.

Can I Hire a General Contractor to Demolish My House?

You shouldn’t hire a general contractor for large-scale demolition work. The best professionals for home demolition are those who specialize in demolition and deconstruction (as opposed to contractors who usually build things up). A demolition pro can also help you calculate the costs of the demolition and explain ways that you can save money on the project.

How Do Demolition Professionals Demolish a House?

There are two main ways to demolish a building: Taking it apart by hand (deconstruction) or mechanical demolition (the kind that uses heavy machinery). Mechanical demolition is much more effective for fully tearing down a home. The pros will ensure all your utilities are turned off and disconnected. Then, they’ll secure the entire property, cave in the roof, and knock down each wall one by one with machinery.

In either case, the pros may be able to help you salvage building materials that you can use in the future. They can also cart away the trash and hazardous materials the process is likely to yield.

If you’re considering demolishing a house that you don’t yet own free and clear, be sure to contact your mortgage lender for permission first. Get all the necessary legal permits beforehand, too.