Demolition Services

Permitted. Contained. Hauled Away.

Paragon Home Services handles residential demolition across the South Bay: interior gut demo for kitchen and bathroom remodels, wall removal, concrete driveway and patio tear-out, and full removal of garages, sheds, and other structures. As a licensed general contractor, we pull the demolition permit, coordinate utility disconnects, arrange asbestos and lead testing when the home's age calls for it, and haul the debris off site. Price depends on the size of the demo, the material, site access, and disposal fees, and every job is quoted after a site walk. For junk hauling, cleanouts, or dump trailer rental without demolition, see our junk removal service.

What South Bay Homeowners Should Know Before Demolition

Our Demolition Process

1. 01Site walk and scope: we look at what is coming out, what has to stay, how equipment and trucks will reach the work area, and where the utilities run.
2. 02Testing and review: for older homes we arrange asbestos and lead testing, and for wall removal we confirm whether the wall is load-bearing and bring in a structural engineer if it is.
3. 03Permits and notifications: we pull the demolition or remodel permit, file the required notifications, and schedule utility disconnects with SCE, SoCalGas, and the water provider where the scope calls for it.
4. 04Site protection: floors, finishes, landscaping, and neighboring property are protected, and interior work areas are sealed off to keep dust away from the rooms you are still living in.
5. 05Controlled demolition: the crew takes the work down in a planned order, separating concrete, metal, and wood as it comes out so more of it can be recycled.
6. 06Haul-off and disposal: debris is loaded and taken to recycling and disposal facilities as the job goes, so piles do not sit on your property.
7. 07Final cleanup and walkthrough: we sweep and clear the site, show you the finished demo, and hand the space off ready for framing, new concrete, or the next phase of the project.

Demolition Capabilities

• Interior gut demo for kitchen and bathroom remodels
• Cabinet, countertop, tile, and flooring removal
• Drywall and plaster removal down to the studs
• Non-structural wall removal
• Load-bearing wall removal with a structural engineer's design and permit
• Concrete driveway, patio, walkway, and slab removal
• Block wall, retaining wall, and hardscape removal
• Detached garage, shed, and accessory structure demolition
• Site clearing for ADU and addition projects
• Deck, patio cover, and fence tear-out
• Asbestos and lead testing coordination for older homes
• Utility disconnect coordination with SCE and SoCalGas
• Debris haul-off with concrete and metal recycling
• Final site cleanup and sweep

Why South Bay Homeowners Choose Paragon for Demolition

• Licensed California general contractor and fully insured, based at 1817 Calamar Ave in Torrance
• Permits, utility disconnects, and required notifications are handled before demolition begins, not after an inspector stops the job
• Asbestos and lead are tested for in older homes, and any asbestos found goes to certified abatement contractors
• 18+ years of South Bay residential work, so the demo is planned around what gets built next

Demolition — Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a permit to demolish a structure in the South Bay?

For full demolition of a house, garage, or other structure, yes. Every South Bay city requires a demolition permit, and most need proof that gas and electric are disconnected and the sewer is capped before they issue it. Asbestos notification to South Coast AQMD is also part of full demolition. Interior demo done as part of a kitchen or bathroom remodel is usually covered by the remodel permit. Removing structural walls and some block walls needs its own review. Rules vary by city, so we check the requirements for your address before we give you a schedule.

How much does concrete removal cost in the South Bay?

For a standard residential driveway or patio with good access, concrete removal in the South Bay often runs about $4 to $12 per square foot, including haul-off. Where your job lands in that range depends on slab thickness, rebar or wire mesh, whether a skid steer can reach the concrete or it has to be broken and carried out by hand, and dump or recycling fees for heavy material. Thick or heavily reinforced slabs and hard-to-reach backyards cost more. We quote a fixed price after seeing the site.

Can you remove a load-bearing wall?

Yes, but it takes an engineer, not just a crew. A load-bearing wall holds up the ceiling, roof, or floor above it, so removing it means putting in a new beam and posts sized by a structural engineer. That usually requires a permit and inspections too. During the work, we build temporary shoring to carry the load while the wall comes out and the new beam goes in. If you are not sure whether a wall is load-bearing, we check the framing and the direction of the joists or rafters during the site walk, then bring in the engineer if it is.

Do I need asbestos testing before demolition?

In most cases, yes. South Coast AQMD Rule 1403 requires an asbestos survey before demolition or renovation work that disturbs building materials that could contain asbestos. Homes built before about 1980 commonly have it in popcorn ceilings, vinyl flooring, drywall joint compound, pipe insulation, and stucco. Homes built before 1978 may also have lead-based paint. We coordinate testing before demo is scheduled. If asbestos turns up, a certified abatement contractor removes it first, and our crew starts once the area has been cleared.

Do you haul away the debris?

Yes. Haul-off is part of every demolition job we quote, so you are not left with a pile in the driveway or a dumpster you have to arrange yourself. We separate concrete, brick, and metal so they can be recycled wherever possible, and the rest goes to permitted disposal facilities. If you also need furniture, old appliances, or a garage cleaned out, or you would rather rent a dump trailer and load it on your own schedule, our junk removal service handles that. Call (310) 406-6675 and we can quote both together.

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