Industrial demolition in Sydney is a different game from residential. Larger machines, more steel, hazardous-materials surveys, asset recovery and tight builder programmes.
Typical Cost Drivers
- Square metres and building height — large clearspan warehouses need bigger machines
- Steel salvage value — recovered steel can offset cost
- Hazardous materials — asbestos cladding (super-six is common), insulation, contaminated floor coatings
- Concrete hardstand & pits — slab thickness and depth matter
- Demolition staging — live tenancies, after-hours work, exclusion zones
- Disposal distances — tip selection affects price significantly
Hazardous Materials Survey
Every commercial demolition starts with a hazardous materials survey: asbestos, lead paint, PCBs, SMF insulation, ozone-depleting substances in old plant. We coordinate the survey with licensed assessors and price in the removal upfront — no surprises on day one.
Asset Recovery
Where possible, we strip and salvage saleable assets — switchboards, pumps, racking, fans, doors, copper, structural steel. Recovery value is typically credited back to the project.
Programme & Staging
Industrial demos rarely run linearly. We typically stage as: 1. Soft strip (services, joinery, ceilings) → 2. Hazardous materials removal → 3. Structural demolition → 4. Slab and footing removal → 5. Bulk-out, levelling and handover.
Builder-Ready Handover
We hand the site over with all dockets, clearance certificates, hazardous-materials register, asbestos clearance, fill certificate and final survey if required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a warehouse demolition take?
A 1,000–2,000 m² single-clearspan warehouse typically takes 4–8 weeks including soft strip, hazmat removal, structural demo and slab removal.
Do you work after hours?
Yes — for live-tenancy buildings, CBD locations and any council-restricted areas we work nights and weekends where required.
Can you handle contaminated soil?
Yes. We coordinate sampling, classification and licensed disposal.
Related Reading
Direct Demolition is a licensed Sydney demolition contractor (NSW Demolition Licence AD214611). Contact us or call 0451 117 275 for a free site inspection and fixed written quote.