How do I choose a demolition contractor?

Most houses built before 2000 contain asbestos somewhere, and the law expects it to be identified and dealt with before demolition, not discovered in the rubble. A capable contractor arranges the asbestos survey first and brings in a licensed removalist for whatever it finds. Skipping this step can contaminate the entire site and turn a routine demolition into a remediation project, so treat any quote that does not mention asbestos on a pre-2000 house as incomplete.

Power, gas, water and wastewater all need formal disconnection through the network companies before demolition, and lead times for these can stretch to weeks, so they belong at the front of the programme. On consent, the picture varies: demolishing some standalone low-rise buildings is exempt building work, but many situations are not, and heritage listings or district plan rules can change the answer entirely. Your council can confirm what applies to your building, and a good contractor will already know the local requirements.

Where the material ends up is worth asking about too, since recycling rates vary widely between contractors.

Certain demolition work must be notified to WorkSafe before it starts, and the contractor should tell you whether your job qualifies without being asked. Beyond the formal requirements, ask how the site will be fenced, how dust and noise will be managed, what the working hours will be, and whether traffic management is needed for trucks on a tight street. Demolition is brief but intense for the people next door, and contractors who manage that well tend to manage everything else well too.

Cleared site means different things on different quotes. Pin down whether the slab and footings come out, what happens to trees, fences and the driveway, whether holes are backfilled and compacted, and what condition the ground is left in for the next stage. Agree who keeps the salvage value of materials like native timber or bricks, because it can be worth real money. A quick check of the company at checkmybuilder.co.nz shows how it has traded before you commit.

Get the timeline in writing as well, including what happens if weather or a late disconnection stalls the start, because a delayed demolition holds up everything booked behind it.