Demolition Contractors in West Memphis, AR

West Memphis sits at about 213 feet of elevation, with the Mississippi River just 0.2 to 2 miles from city limits. Demolition contractors in West Memphis work on floodplain ground, under Arkansas rules, in a city whose history includes levee failures, a deadly tornado and a major flood. Those conditions affect how we plan everything from truck access to how the lot is left.

Built behind the levee

The area usually flooded each spring until the St. Francis Levee District was formed in 1893. The main levee broke in 1912 and 1913, and the 1913 flood was the last levee break in Crittenden County. The city itself grew from land cleared of virgin timber: Zack T. Bragg bought 300 acres in 1914, and clearing it gave way to farmland and eventually the town. Most of what stands today was built after that, with many houses and commercial buildings from the mid-20th century.

December 1987

An F3 tornado on December 14, 1987, killed six people and left about 1,500 homeless in West Memphis. On December 25 of the same month, about 12 inches of rain caused flooding. Storm and flood damage are still common reasons we are called. When a building is a total loss, we wait for the insurer's documentation, confirm utilities are off and take it down safely.

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Backswamp soils

The western part of the city lies in the Northern Backswamps ecoregion and the eastern part in the Northern Holocene Meander Belts. In practical terms, much of West Memphis sits on heavy, slow-draining floodplain soil. It is firm when dry and very soft when wet. We schedule heavy equipment for dry weather when we can, use mats when we cannot and backfill foundations with material that will not hold water.

Arkansas rules

West Memphis is in Arkansas, so demolition permits come from the city and the state rules are different from Tennessee's. Arkansas 811 requires two working days of notice before digging. Older commercial buildings may need an asbestos inspection before demolition, and we arrange one when the building calls for it.

Commercial and truck-stop corridors

West Memphis is a crossroads for I-40 and I-55, and it has a lot of commercial property along those routes. We take down small commercial buildings, strip interiors for new tenants, and break out old parking slabs and pads. Jobs near busy roads need traffic control for trucks, and we plan that before we start.

Vacant and condemned buildings

Some of our West Memphis calls come from owners who have been told a building must be repaired or removed. Vacant houses and storefronts deteriorate fast in a humid river climate, and a building that sits open is a safety concern for the neighborhood. We look at the building with you, explain the permit and utility steps, and give you a written plan and a date. If the city has given you a deadline, bring that paperwork to the site visit so we can plan around it.

West Memphis services

• House demolition for damaged and vacant homes
• Garage, carport and shed removal
• Small commercial building demolition
• Slab, parking lot and pad removal
• Interior demolition for tenant changes

Call (901) 677-1382 to set up a site visit.