Demolition In Windsor, Ontario For Houses, Garages, Pools And Concrete

A Demolition Permit Comes Before Any Machine In Windsor

The City of Windsor requires a building permit before any building is demolished, and we apply for that demolition permit on your behalf. The application includes a demolition checklist, proof that the utilities are disconnected and a rat infestation review form completed by a licensed pest control company. That rat form is a Windsor demolition rule that surprises a lot of owners.

Demolition must start within six months of the permit being issued. Our demolition permits page walks through each form, the fee and the usual timeline.

Older Windsor Houses Often Hide Asbestos

A house built before the 1990s can hold asbestos in floor tile, pipe wrap, plaster or vermiculite insulation. Ontario law requires the owner to find out what designated substances are in a building before a demolition project begins. We book that survey first on older houses, so the demolition is never stopped halfway through by a surprise.

When asbestos is found, it is removed under Ontario's asbestos regulation before the demolition machines arrive. Our asbestos and hazardous materials page explains how the testing and removal work.

Garages And Sheds Are The Most Common Small Demolition Jobs

Old detached garages are everywhere in Windsor's older neighbourhoods, and many of them lean, leak or sit on a cracked slab. Garage demolition takes the structure, the slab and the footings out in one visit, and we disconnect the power line to the house before we start.

Shed, deck, gazebo and fence demolition goes even faster. Our shed and deck removal service clears the space and hauls everything away, often in a single morning.

Old Pools Take Up Half The Yard

An inground pool that nobody uses still needs to be opened, closed and repaired every year. Pool removal breaks out the pool, fills the hole with clean fill in compacted layers and leaves a level yard ready for sod or a patio.

Windsor's clay holds water, so compaction is the step that matters after pool demolition. Fill that is dumped in all at once settles for years. Fill that is placed and compacted in lifts stays flat.

Cracked Concrete Is Easier To Replace Than Patch

When a driveway, patio or walkway has heaved, sunk or broken into pieces, concrete removal is the first step toward a new surface. We break the slab, cut the rebar and load the pieces for a concrete recycler instead of the landfill.

Concrete demolition on a residential street takes planning. We protect the curb, the sidewalk and the city boulevard and keep the trucks off your lawn.

Flooded Basements Need A Fast Gut-Out

Windsor has seen basement flooding on a large scale, with about 3,100 homes reporting flooding in September 2016 and more than 3,800 basement flooding calls in August 2017. Wet drywall, carpet and insulation grow mould within days. Basement demolition strips a flooded or tired basement back to the concrete walls so it can dry and be rebuilt properly.

Renovations Start With Interior Demolition

A kitchen, bathroom or open-concept renovation goes faster when the demolition is done properly first. Interior demolition removes cabinets, drywall, flooring and fixtures while the rest of the house stays clean and protected.

When a project calls for removing a wall, an addition or a porch while keeping the rest of the building, partial demolition separates the old work from the structure you are keeping.

Commercial Buildings Need A Demolition Plan

Demolition of stores, plazas, warehouses and small industrial buildings comes with more paperwork, larger machines and a tighter schedule. Commercial demolition starts with a hazardous materials survey and a written plan for dust, traffic and the order in which the building comes down.

What Demolition Costs In Windsor

A standard 1,500 square foot house usually costs $7,500 to $22,500 to demolish, based on Canadian market figures. A detached garage often runs $1,500 to $5,000, and full removal of an inground pool often runs $6,000 to $20,000. Asbestos, a full basement, tight access or heavy concrete raise the demolition price.

See the demolition cost page for the full list of what changes the price. Try the estimator further down this page for a ballpark figure, then book a site visit to get it in writing.