Before the machine shows up
Most of a teardown happens on paper, weeks before any excavator is unloaded.
- Site visit. We walk the lot, measure the house, check the walls and the slab, and look at how a machine and a dump truck get in.
- Survey and asbestos. We gather the signed and sealed property survey and schedule the asbestos survey with a licensed consultant. Any abatement is done by a licensed asbestos contractor before we begin. Our asbestos survey guide covers when it applies.
- Utilities. FPL, the gas company and the water utility each send a disconnect letter, and a licensed plumber caps the sewer or abandons the septic tank. The order of those calls is on the utilities checklist.
- The permit. We file with the building department of the city where the house sits. Each city keeps its own checklist, so we pull yours before we start, using the Miami-Dade and Broward permit guide as the map.
- Fence and dust control. A construction fence with screen goes up around the lot. We bring water to keep the dust down, and when the city asks for rodent baiting, a pest control company does it and writes the report.
Machine work and cleanup
Once the permit is issued, the excavator comes in and the house goes down in a set order.
- Teardown. The roof comes off first, then the walls fall inward, away from the neighbors. The breaker takes out the slab and the footings.
- Sorting. Metal goes in one pile and clean concrete in another, both bound for recycling. Wood and drywall ride out with the old roofing as mixed C&D debris.
- Haul-off. The dump trucks leave the lot loaded until nothing is left on the ground.
- Rough grade. The skid steer levels the dirt so rain runs off and the next survey can be shot.
- Final inspection. The inspector checks the lot and the permit is closed.
How long each stage runs depends on the city and the house, and the demolition timeline guide breaks it down. The work on the house itself is described on our house demolition page.
What we do not do
We do not remove asbestos. That job belongs to a licensed abatement contractor. We do not build the new house, and we do not implode buildings or take down high-rises. The utility companies cut the power and the gas, and licensed plumbers handle the water side.
Who can demolish a house in Florida
Florida Statute 489.105 lists demolishing any building or residence as contractor work, so a house teardown here falls to a licensed contractor. The City of Miami goes a step further: only a licensed contractor may apply for its demolition permit.
To get your lot on the schedule, send a few photos through the free estimate form.
Frequently asked questions
Can the machines start early in the morning or run at night?
Not near homes in Miami-Dade without a waiver. Noisy equipment is restricted from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and working those hours takes a Temporary Noise Ordinance Waiver from the county plus certified mail to the neighbors 72 hours ahead.
How do you protect the houses next door?
The excavator pulls each wall in toward the slab, so the block lands on our side of the fence. The screened fence runs along the property line and a hose stays on the pile while the machine works. When a neighbor's wall sits a few feet away, that side of the house comes down last and slower.
What does the lot look like when the crew leaves?
Flat dirt, rough graded, with no debris and no slab. Some cities want more: Fort Lauderdale asks that the ground be covered with sod or another cover, with no exposed soil.
Reviewed
