House Demolition Cost in Alabama: What Moves the Price

The cost to demolish a house in Alabama is set by the size of the building, what it is built of, whether it sits on a slab or a crawl space, how easily trucks get in and out, how far the debris travels to a permitted landfill, and whether asbestos has to be dealt with first. Down South Land Solutions gives a free estimate after looking at the house and the lot.

Demolition is four jobs, and a quote should price all four

Demolition is not finished when the walls are down. The debris has to leave. The slab and footings have to come out. The septic tank, cistern or old well has to be dealt with. Then the hole has to be filled and compacted, or you have traded a derelict building for a soft spot in the yard. When two demolition prices are far apart, one of them usually stops at the first job. So before you compare totals, check that each quote covers taking it down, loading it out, removing the concrete, and filling and grading the footprint. Our house demolition page shows that full scope.

Size, materials and what it sits on

A bigger house is more debris, more loads and more machine time. What it is built of matters as much. A frame house on block piers comes apart quickly and loads light. Brick, block and plaster are heavy, and landfills charge by weight. A slab has to be broken and loaded. A crawl space has piers and footings to dig out. A basement has walls to pull and a deep hole to fill in lifts. Chimneys, concrete porches, carports and add-on rooms all count. Tell us the rough square footage, the number of stories, the outside walls and the foundation, and most of the price is already in view.

Access, and how far the debris travels

Trucks have to get in loaded and out again. A wide drive on firm ground is the easy case. A narrow lane, a soft yard, low limbs, a weak bridge or a house hemmed in by neighbors all add time. Then comes the haul. ADEM, the state environmental agency, says all debris from demolishing residential buildings is regulated solid waste, and it recommends that the demolition contract require receipts showing the waste went to a permitted landfill. The distance to that landfill and its tipping fee are real lines in the price. ADEM also says clean concrete, brick and block can be handled differently if they are kept separate, which can shorten the haul.

Asbestos and the age of the house

Older houses can have asbestos in siding, floor tile or pipe insulation. ADEM's asbestos page says regulated structures must be surveyed by an asbestos inspector holding Alabama accreditation before demolition, that a 10-day notification to the agency is required before demolition begins, and that regulated material has to be removed by an abatement contractor holding ADEM certification. The same page says privately owned residential buildings of four or fewer units that remain residential property are exempt from those rules, though not from the solid waste rules, and that the exemption does not apply to a house that is part of a larger project. Tell us the age of the building and what the lot is for next. If you are unsure where your job falls, ask ADEM before work starts.

Septic tanks, wells, cisterns and the rest of the lot

What is around and under the house moves the number too. An old septic tank, a hand-dug well or a cistern has to be found and dealt with, not just covered. Outbuildings add to the job, and they are cheaper done on the same trip while the machines are there. See barn and outbuilding demolition. A yard grown up in privet and sweetgum may need opening before a truck can reach the house at all. A house left full of furniture, appliances and bagged trash is more loads than an empty one. Walk the lot before you call, and list everything you want gone.

Permits, utility disconnects and locates

Some costs sit outside the contractor's price, and they still belong in your budget. Inside a city, ask the building department whether a demolition permit applies and what it asks for. Our guide to demolition permits in Alabama explains where to start. Power, water and gas each have to be disconnected by the utility that provides them, and scheduling that often takes longer than the teardown. Alabama 811 has to be contacted before digging out footings or a tank. It is free, and its website gives a minimum of 2 to 10 working days ahead, not counting the day you ask.

How finished you want the lot

The last line on the quote is the ground. Filled and graded so it drains and can be mowed is one finish. Filled in layers with each one compacted, ready to build on again, is more work, and it is the one you need if a new house is going on the same footprint. Many lots are bought to be rebuilt, and a new house pad can be cut and compacted on the same trip as the teardown, which saves hauling the machines in twice. Say what the lot is for next, so the fill is placed the right way the first time.

Comparing quotes, and what to have ready

Ask every contractor the same things. Is the slab and footing removal in the price? Where does the debris go, and will I get the landfill receipts? Who handles the tank, well or cistern? Is the footprint filled and compacted, or just pushed level? What is left out? For our estimate, have the address or county, the size and age of the house, what it is built of, slab or crawl space, how a truck gets in, and what you want the lot to be afterward. Photos of each side of the house help. This page prints no demolition prices, because a figure only means something after a look.

Common Questions

See our house demolition page or call or text (205) 535-6376.