Frequently Asked Questions

Ask who pulls the permit, who arranges the utility disconnects, and how asbestos will be checked on a house built before 1980. Ask whether the price includes foundation and slab removal, hauling and disposal, fill dirt and final grading, or only knocking the structure down. A written estimate that lists each item makes it easy to compare bids.

Yes. Demolition permits in Memphis and unincorporated Shelby County come from the Office of Construction Code Enforcement, which lists a Demolition line at (901) 222-8365. Suburban cities such as Germantown also require their own filing. We confirm the requirements for your address and handle the application.

Memphis has 18 historic overlay districts, according to a 2021 Commercial Appeal report, and the Landmarks Commission reviews demolitions in them. You need a Certificate of Appropriateness before Construction Code Enforcement will issue a permit, and the certificate expires after a year if no permit is issued.

HomeAdvisor's national cost guide lists house teardowns at $4 to $17 per square foot, with most jobs between $6,000 and $25,000. Foundation removal, asbestos abatement and debris disposal are often extra. Your written estimate after the walkthrough is the price.

Often, yes. Old-growth lumber, brick, doors and fixtures from older Memphis houses can have reuse value, and there is local demand for reclaimed wood and used building materials. Careful salvage takes more labor than straight demolition, so tell us at the walkthrough what you want saved and we will price it separately.

Memphis Code Enforcement says owners have 30 calendar days after condemnation to demolish the structure before the city proceeds, and the city's cost is assessed against the property taxes. Owners can petition for an extension to make repairs. Call as soon as you get the notice, because permits and shut-offs take time.

Gas, electric and water have to be disconnected and the sewer line capped before a structure comes down. We coordinate the timing with the utility and the inspector so the job is not held up, and we tell you up front which requests have to come from you as the account holder.

We remove the debris, fill the basement, crawlspace or pool hole with clean fill, compact it, and grade the lot so water runs away from neighboring homes. From there it is ready for seed, straw, a new slab or a new build.

The tear-down itself is often one or two days for a typical single-story house. Permits, asbestos work and utility disconnects usually take longer than the demolition, so the full job runs a few weeks from the first call.

If you plan to build, sell or reuse the lot, yes. A foundation left in the ground gets in the way of new footings and can trap water. HomeAdvisor lists foundation removal at $1,000 to $5,000.

For an older house, plan on one. Materials such as floor tile, mastic and pipe wrap in pre-1980 buildings can contain asbestos, and it must be abated before demolition. A 2026 Landmarks filing for a Southern Avenue house included exactly that kind of survey.

Only after the Memphis Landmarks Commission approves it through a Certificate of Appropriateness. The certificate is not a permit; Construction Code Enforcement still has to issue the demolition permit before work starts.

Mobile homes come down faster and cheaper than site-built houses, but the frame, tie-downs, utilities and any added decks or porches still need to be removed and the pad cleared.

HomeGuide's guide lists removal including disposal at $3 to $8 per square foot, with a typical driveway at $1,200 to $4,500. Thickness, rebar and how far the truck has to travel to load out change the number.

Yes. We saw-cut a straight line and remove only the damaged section, which leaves a clean joint for the new concrete to meet.

Clean concrete without dirt or trash mixed in can usually be crushed and reused as base rock. We separate it on site whenever the job allows.

Rules vary by city and by whether the work touches the public right-of-way. We check what your address requires before scheduling.

If you might build over the spot or plan to sell soon, full removal avoids disclosure issues and settling. If you just want lawn and want to spend less, a fill-in on a concrete or gunite pool can work. We price both.

An above-ground pool often comes out in a few hours. An in-ground fill-in or removal usually takes several days, plus time for permits and any compaction testing.

After a full removal with compacted fill, yes. Angi notes a partial fill-in is not suitable for new buildings because of settling and drainage issues.

Angi lists partial removal at $2,500 to $10,000 and full removal at $4,000 to $16,000. Pool size, material, decking and access drive the price, and your written estimate is the number to go by.

Fixr lists interior demolition at $2 to $10 per square foot, with a kitchen at $500 to $3,000 and a bathroom at $550 to $1,500. Plaster walls, tile and hazardous materials push the price up.

Often, especially when walls, plumbing or wiring are involved. Fixr's guide says demolition generally requires permits. We check what your city requires for the scope of work.

For a single room, usually yes, with the area sealed off. For a full gut-out, plan to be elsewhere, since power and water will be off in parts of the house.

In a house built before 1980, yes. Floor tile, mastic, popcorn ceilings and pipe insulation are common places to find it, and it has to be handled by trained abatement workers before demolition.

Yes. We remove walls, ceilings, flooring and fixtures back to a shell while protecting the structure, storefront and any systems the landlord wants kept.

For commercial buildings, an asbestos survey before demolition is standard practice, and anything found has to be abated first. We build that step into the schedule.

By scope. Size, construction type, asbestos, neighbors and how much foundation and pavement comes out all matter. HomeAdvisor lists labor at $50 to $100 an hour and machinery at $100 to $250 an hour as a rough guide.

Yes. Partial demolition takes more planning, since the remaining structure has to be protected and closed in, but it is often cheaper than a full tear-down and rebuild.

HomeAdvisor lists garage demolition at $4 to $10 per square foot. Removing the slab adds to that; HomeGuide lists a two-car garage floor at $1,000 to $3,500.

It depends on the city and the size of the building. Some require a demolition permit for accessory buildings. We confirm what your address needs before scheduling.

Yes. Storm-damaged carports and garages are common after severe weather. We take down what is unsafe first and haul it off, and the rest can be removed or left as you choose.

If you want it gone, yes. We price the slab on its own line so you can decide whether to keep it for a new building or remove it for lawn.