Knockdown-Rebuild Site Preparation
In a knockdown-rebuild, demolition is a dependency, not a standalone job. Your builder has a start date, your finance has a schedule, and everything downstream assumes the block will be clear and buildable when promised. That makes reliability worth more than a marginally cheaper quote. Knockdown-rebuild is now the default path across much of Bayside — land values justify replacing an ageing home rather than renovating it, and demolition is the first physical step in a project that commonly runs $450,000 to $900,000 all up. We do the demolition half, sequenced to your builder's program.
Where demolition fits in a knockdown-rebuild
The usual order is: builder selected and design finalised, planning and building approvals obtained, finance settled, demolition, then construction. Demolition sits at the point where the project stops being paperwork and starts being physical — and where delays become visible and expensive. Our scope typically begins once your building permit is in hand and runs until your builder can set out on a clear, level site.
Working to a builder's program
Builders schedule trades weeks ahead. If the block is not ready on the agreed date, the consequences ripple through the whole program. We plan backwards from your builder's start date, identify the long-lead items early — service abolishments are almost always the critical path — and keep both you and your builder informed as those confirmations come in. Where a date is genuinely at risk, you hear it from us early rather than discovering it on the day.
Leaving the site genuinely buildable
A cleared block is not automatically a buildable one. Slabs and footings need removing to the depth your new design requires, voids need backfilling and compacting appropriately, and services need to be properly abolished rather than merely disconnected. If old footings are left in the ground where new foundations are going, your builder finds out at excavation and you pay for it twice. We clear to the requirement, not to the minimum.
Budgeting the demolition line
Against a total knockdown-rebuild spend of $450,000-$900,000, demolition is typically $15,000-$50,000 depending on the house and the site. It is a small share of the project but an easy one to underestimate, particularly where asbestos, pool removal or difficult access is involved. Getting a fixed price after inspection early in your planning gives you a reliable figure to build the rest of your budget around.
Coordination we handle
Section 29A consent and building permit paperwork, service abolishment applications and tracking, licensed asbestos removal and disposal documentation, waste separation and recycling, and final site clearing to your builder's requirements. You should not have to project-manage your demolisher.
Common Questions
When in the process should I book demolition?
Earlier than most people expect. Service abolishments and approvals have lead times that cannot be compressed at the last minute, so we prefer to be engaged once your design is settled and approvals are underway, planning backwards from your builder's start date.
How much of the total rebuild budget is demolition?
Typically $15,000-$50,000 against a total knockdown-rebuild of roughly $450,000-$900,000. It is a small share but easy to underestimate where asbestos, pool removal or restricted access is involved, which is why a fixed price after inspection is worth getting early.
Do you coordinate directly with my builder?
Yes. We plan backwards from your builder's start date, flag long-lead items such as service abolishments early, and keep both of you updated. If a date is genuinely at risk you hear about it well before it arrives.
Related Services
We also service these areas and offer these specialised services:
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us today for your free, no-obligation quote.