What Backwell Handles
House demolition in Central New York involves more than knocking down walls. Older housing stock in Onondaga, Oswego, and surrounding counties almost universally contains asbestos materials, and rural properties frequently have septic systems requiring decommissioning before a structure can come down. Backwell handles the full scope: asbestos survey and abatement, utility disconnects, permits, structural demo, foundation removal, backfill, and site restoration. One contractor, start to finish.
Call (315) 810-9558 for a free written estimate.
What House Demolition Includes
A complete house teardown in CNY typically covers:
- Asbestos survey required by NYS DOL Industrial Code Rule 56 before any demolition begins
- Asbestos abatement if survey finds regulated materials (common in pre-1980 homes)
- Utility disconnects coordinated with National Grid, municipal water/sewer authority, and gas provider
- Demo permit from the town or city building department
- Structural demolition with excavator and demo shears
- Foundation removal (full excavation of concrete or block foundation)
- Backfill with clean structural fill compacted in lifts
- Topsoil and seeding to restore the site
- Debris hauling to a licensed C&D landfill
House Demolition Cost in Central NY
Pricing depends on square footage, stories, foundation type, asbestos findings, and site access. Typical ranges in CNY:
The single largest variable is asbestos. A pre-1980 home with original floor tiles, pipe insulation, attic insulation, and roofing shingles can require abatement at the higher end of that range. Send the address and photos for a firm written estimate in 1 hour.
Why People Need House Demolition
The most common reasons Backwell gets called for house teardowns in CNY:
- New construction redevelopment: existing structure is not worth renovating; tear down and build new
- Fire or storm damage: structure is unsafe and not rebuildable
- Blighted or condemned structure: town or county code enforcement requires removal
- Estate cleanup: heirs inheriting an uninhabitable property who want to sell the lot
- Lot clearing before sale: vacant structure depressing land value or creating liability
- Property consolidation: combining two parcels, one with an obsolete structure
House Demolition Process: Step by Step
Step 1: Asbestos Survey
Before any work begins, NYS Department of Labor Industrial Code Rule 56 requires an asbestos survey by a state-certified asbestos inspector. Backwell coordinates this. The survey identifies all regulated materials (floor tiles, pipe insulation, roofing, siding, joint compound, etc.) that must be removed before structural demo starts.
Step 2: Utility Disconnects
We coordinate with National Grid (gas and electric), municipal water and sewer, and any other utilities to obtain documented service disconnections. This has to happen before we put a machine on the structure.
Step 3: Demo Permit
We file for the demolition permit with the town or city building department. Permit requirements vary by municipality. Most require contractor insurance certificates, proof of utility disconnects, and owner authorization. In some cases a survey or site sketch is required.
Step 4: Asbestos Abatement
If the survey found regulated materials, abatement proceeds next. Our licensed crews remove ACM under containment, following NYS DOL Industrial Code Rule 56 and EPA NESHAP protocols. Air monitoring is conducted and a clearance report is issued. Backwell holds NYS DOL asbestos handler and contractor licenses and performs this work in-house. Most CNY contractors sub asbestos out to a separate firm, which adds weeks and a second mobilization. We do it ourselves, which compresses the schedule.
Step 5: Structural Demolition
Cat 320 or 336 excavators with demolition shears take down the structure. Crews sort debris into categories (metal, wood, concrete, landfill) during the teardown. Material is staged and hauled to a licensed C&D facility.
Step 6: Foundation Removal
Unless the owner wants to keep an existing foundation for a rebuild, we remove the full concrete or block foundation with the excavator. Crushed concrete is hauled off or crushed on-site for use as structural fill base.
Step 7: Backfill
The basement void is backfilled with clean structural fill, compacted in 12-inch lifts. This prevents future settlement and brings the site to grade.
Step 8: Topsoil and Seeding
We spread 4 to 6 inches of topsoil over the disturbed area and seed for erosion control. If the site is going straight to construction, we can leave it at compacted subgrade grade instead.
Asbestos Abatement: Why In-House Crews Matter
Most demolition contractors in Central NY do not hold their own asbestos licenses. When you hire them, asbestos abatement is subcontracted to a separate company, which means:
- Two separate mobilizations and schedules to coordinate
- Weeks of delay waiting for the sub to be available
- Markup on the sub's price built into your contract
- No single point of accountability if there's a problem
Backwell holds NYS DOL asbestos handler and contractor licenses. Our own crews perform survey coordination, abatement under containment, air monitoring coordination, and NYS DOL notification filings. The abatement is sequenced directly into our demolition schedule, not bolted on as a separate project. For most jobs this saves two to three weeks.
Equipment
Backwell runs Cat 320 and Cat 336 excavators equipped with demolition shears and hydraulic thumb attachments, a Cat D6 dozer, and a fleet of dump trucks. This is production demolition equipment, not a rental-yard machine sourced for one job.
Estimate in 1 Hour
Send the address and a few photos of the house. You get a written fixed price in 1 hour. Ron handles estimates personally.
Counties Served
Backwell handles house demolition across 8 counties in Central New York:
- Onondaga County (Syracuse, Camillus, Manlius, Cicero, Salina)
- Oswego County (Oswego, Fulton, Pulaski, Constantia, Central Square)
- Madison County (Oneida, Canastota, Cazenovia, Morrisville)
- Oneida County (Utica, Rome, New Hartford, Whitesboro)
- Cayuga County (Auburn, Weedsport, Moravia)
- Cortland County (Cortland, Homer, McGraw)
- Wayne County (Newark, Lyons, Macedon)
- Jefferson County (Watertown, Adams, Carthage)
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to demo a house in Central NY?
$9,000 to $18,000 for a single-story home. $14,000 to $28,000 for a two-story. Add $5,000 to $30,000+ if asbestos abatement is required, which it usually is for pre-1980 construction. Send the address and photos for a firm written estimate in 1 hour.
Do I need an asbestos survey before demolition?
Yes. NYS Department of Labor Industrial Code Rule 56 requires an asbestos survey by a state-certified asbestos inspector before a building is demolished in New York State. The survey must be performed by a state-certified asbestos inspector before work begins. Backwell coordinates the survey as part of our process.
How long does house demolition take?
Most residential teardowns in CNY take two to four weeks from permit issuance to site restoration. If asbestos abatement is needed, that typically adds one to two weeks. Because Backwell handles abatement, we sequence it directly into our demo schedule rather than waiting for a separate sub.
Do you handle the permit?
Yes. We file the demolition permit application with the town or city building department and handle all inspection coordination. We also file the required NYS DOL asbestos notifications.
What happens to the foundation?
We remove it completely and backfill the void with compacted clean fill. If you are planning new construction and want to keep a poured concrete foundation, we can work around it. We will confirm the plan before starting.
What about a septic system on the property?
If the property has an on-site septic system, it needs to be decommissioned before demolition. This involves pumping out the tank, crushing it in place or removing it, and properly abandoning the leach field per county health department requirements. Backwell can include this in the project scope.
Recent House Demolition Work
Photos from Backwell house teardowns: roof and walls down, debris loaded out, foundation removed.
House Demolition by Town
Local pages with permit, utility and soils notes for each town:
Onondaga County
Baldwinsville, Brewerton, Camillus, Cicero, DeWitt, East Syracuse, Elbridge, Fayetteville, Jamesville, Jordan, LaFayette, Liverpool, Manlius, Marcellus, Minoa, North Syracuse, Skaneateles, Solvay, Syracuse, Tully
Oswego County
Central Square, Constantia, Fulton, Hannibal, Hastings, Mexico, Oswego, Parish, Phoenix, Pulaski, Sandy Creek
Madison County
Canastota, Cazenovia, Chittenango, Hamilton, Morrisville, Oneida
Oneida County
Boonville, Camden, Clinton, Marcy, New Hartford, Rome, Sherrill, Utica, Verona, Waterville, Westmoreland, Whitesboro
Cayuga County
Auburn, Fair Haven, Moravia, Port Byron, Union Springs, Weedsport
Cortland County
Cortland, Homer, Marathon, McGraw
Wayne County
Clyde, Lyons, Macedon, Newark, Palmyra, Sodus, Williamson
Seneca County
Jefferson County
Lewis County
Herkimer County
Herkimer, Ilion, Little Falls, Mohawk
Monroe County
Broome County
Chemung County
Related Pages
- Garage Demolition
- Barn Demolition
- Mobile Home Demolition
- Fire Damage Demolition
- Commercial Demolition Contractor, Central NY
- Commercial Demolition
- Asbestos Abatement
- Concrete Demolition
- Pool Removal
Get a written price: send the address with the form below. Estimate in 1 hour.