Where does demolition fit your project?
Pick the closest match. Each one shows how we handle that kind of job, then you can go deeper or book a visit.
Interior demolition: Demolition
Strip finishes, walls and fixtures inside the house before a renovation.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
Exterior demolition: Demolition
Remove decks, porches, sheds, garages and cladding before an addition or new build.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
Full demolition: Demolition
Take the building down to the foundation for a teardown and rebuild.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
Fire and large loss: Demolition
Remove burned or water-damaged material safely, then prepare for the rebuild.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
Selective demolition: Demolition
Remove only the marked parts and keep the rest of the house standing.
- Scope agreed in writing before any work starts
- One lead on site from start to handover
- Clear records at handover
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Demolition is the first real step of most projects, and the one that decides what the rebuild can do. We plan it decision by decision: what comes out, what stays, what is hidden behind the finishes, and what the site needs before the crew starts.
How demolition is planned, decision by decision
Decision 1: Which demolition is right for your project
Demolition is not one job. The method depends on whether the structure stays, which finishes come out and what is hidden behind them.
| Type | Scope | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Interior | Finishes, walls and fixtures inside the house | Gut renovation, basement finishing |
| Exterior | Decks, porches, sheds, garages and cladding | Before an addition or new build |
| Full | The building taken to the foundation | Teardown and rebuild |
| Fire and large loss | Burned or water-damaged material removed safely | After a loss, before the rebuild |
| Selective | Only the marked parts removed | Opening a wall, changing a layout |
Our pick: Start with the plan of what stays. Everything else is the demolition scope.
Decision 2: Testing before anything is opened
Houses built before the 1990s can contain asbestos, lead and other hazards. Ontario rules require an asbestos survey before most demolition work, so we test before the first wall comes down.
| Hazard | Where it hides | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | Old flooring, pipe wrap, popcorn ceilings, drywall compound | Sampled and lab tested; licensed removal if found |
| Lead | Old paint on trim, doors and windows | Tested, with containment set before work |
| Mould | Behind finishes after leaks | Sampled and treated under our mould process |
Our pick: Test first. A wall opened before testing cannot be closed back up the same way.
Decision 3: Permits and utilities
A building permit is needed for structural changes, and some demolition needs a permit from your municipality. Power, gas and water are shut off or isolated before any cutting starts.
| Item | Who handles it | When |
|---|---|---|
| Building permit | Our team, with you | Before structural work |
| Utility shut-offs | The utility and our crew | Before any cutting |
| Shared-wall coordination | Our team | Before work touches a shared wall |
Our pick: Confirm the permit and the shut-offs before the first cut.
Decision 4: The structural check
Load-bearing walls, beams and posts carry the house. Before anything comes out, we identify what holds the structure up, and temporary support is in place wherever the load will move.
| Element | Check | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Load-bearing walls | Position and direction | Engineer review where needed |
| Beams and posts | Size and bearing points | Temporary shoring before removal |
| Foundation | Cracks and movement | Recorded before work begins |
Our pick: Support first, remove second. The load moves before the wall does.
Decision 5: Containment and dust control
Demolition makes dust, debris and noise. The work area is sealed and the rest of the house is kept clean, so the parts you live in stay usable where possible.
| Measure | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Plastic barriers | Seal the work area |
| Negative air | Pulls dust out through filtration |
| Protected floors and stairs | Keep the rest of the house clean |
Our pick: Seal the work area before the first cut. Dust travels further than you expect.
Decision 6: Sorting, salvage and removal
Debris is sorted as it comes out. Clean wood, metal and fixtures go to recycling, and doors and fixtures are salvaged where they can be reused. Waste is hauled off site in bins sized to the job.
| Material | Route |
|---|---|
| Wood and metal | Sorted for recycling |
| Doors and fixtures | Salvaged where reusable |
| Drywall, insulation and finishes | Hauled to disposal |
Our pick: Sort as you go. It lowers the disposal cost and keeps the site clear.
Decision 7: Protecting what stays
Demolition removes only what is marked. Adjacent rooms, finishes and systems that stay are protected from damage during the work.
| Item | Protection |
|---|---|
| Adjacent rooms | Barriers and covered floors |
| Wiring and plumbing that stay | Marked and kept live where needed |
| Exterior surfaces near the work | Covered during the work |
Our pick: Mark what stays before the first tool comes out.
Decision 8: Handover to the rebuild
The site is cleaned to a rebuild-ready state. Framing is checked, exposed systems are inspected, and the rebuild trades start from a clear point.
| Check | Result |
|---|---|
| Framing | Checked square and sound |
| Systems | Inspected before the walls close |
| Site | Cleaned and ready for the next trade |
Our pick: Hand over a ready site. The rebuild starts on time when the site is clean.
Decision 9: What drives the scope and the timing
The size of the job, the access to the site, the materials and any hazards decide the scope and the schedule. Each is confirmed in writing before work starts.
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Size and access | Crew, bins and time on site |
| Materials and hazards | Testing and removal method |
| Structural changes | Permits and engineering |
Our pick: Confirm the scope in writing before the crew arrives. No surprises on site.
Questions we get asked
Do you handle the asbestos testing and removal?
We test first and coordinate the work. Asbestos found in the scope is removed by a licensed contractor, and the clearance is recorded in the project file.
Do I need to move out during demolition?
For interior and selective work the living space is often kept usable behind barriers. For full demolition or a structural change, the house is usually vacated for the work.
Is the debris removal included?
Debris removal is part of the scope we confirm in writing. Sorting and salvage are used where they lower the cost.
Book a site visit
A site visit confirms the type of demolition, the testing needed and the permits. You get a written scope before any work starts.