Demolition Services in Burlington — Tear-Downs, Garages, Decks
We are OCM Excavation & Construction, a demolition contractor working across Burlington — Aldershot, downtown, Roseland, Tyandaga, Headon Forest, and the older streets backing onto the escarpment. We handle full house tear-downs, detached garage demo, deck and shed removal, interior strip-outs, and concrete breakouts. Burlington has a lot of pre-1990 housing stock, which means asbestos testing under O. Reg. 278/05 is part of the plan, not an afterthought. Call 416-317-3090 for a site walk-through and a written demolition scope.
Demolition Work We Do in Burlington
Demolition in Burlington is not one job — it is a category. Most weeks we are quoting one of the following:
- Full house tear-downs — typical Roseland or downtown bungalow getting cleared for a custom rebuild. Foundation out, basement filled and compacted, lot rough-graded.
- Detached garage demolition — single or double garages along older Aldershot lanes, including the slab and footings.
- Deck and pergola removal — pressure-treated platforms past their service life, often pulled before a new build or pool dig.
- Interior strip-outs — drywall, flooring, kitchens, and bathrooms cleared down to studs ahead of a renovation.
- Concrete breakouts — driveways, patios, walkways, pool decks, and old retaining walls in Tyandaga and Headon Forest.
- Pool removal — partial or full in-ground pool demo with engineered backfill.
If the structure is on the lot and you want it gone, we have a crew, a machine, and a bin for it. For dig-outs that follow demolition, see our excavation services in Burlington.
Permits, Asbestos, and the Pre-Demolition Checklist
Burlington requires a Building Permit for demolition of any structure with a footprint over 10 square metres, and the City wants utilities disconnected and signed off before steel hits the wall. Here is the order we follow:
- Designated Substance Survey (DSS) and asbestos testing — mandatory under Ontario Regulation 278/05 for any structure pre-1990, and Burlington has plenty. Vermiculite insulation, drywall mud, vinyl tile, and pipe wrap all need lab confirmation before demo.
- Utility disconnects — Enbridge gas, Burlington Hydro electrical, Halton Region water. We coordinate, but disconnects are scheduled by the utilities and can take 2-4 weeks.
- Burlington Building Permit application — drawings, site plan, surveyor’s tree-preservation plan, and proof of utility disconnects.
- Tree protection — Burlington’s Private Tree By-law 040-2022 applies inside the Urban Planning Area Boundary and triggers at 20 cm DBH measured at 1.37 m. Trees to be removed need a separate permit; trees to be saved need fencing before demo starts.
- Conservation Halton review — if the lot is within 15-30 m of a regulated watercourse, ravine, or top of bank (common in Tyandaga and along Indian Creek), Conservation Halton review under Ontario Regulation 41/24 is required before any earth-moving.
- Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) Development Permit — for lots in the Mount Nemo or Rattlesnake Point area under NEC Regulation 826/90.
We do not pull the Building Permit on your behalf, but we provide every document the City asks for and walk the homeowner or builder through the application.
How We Run a Demolition Job
The typical Burlington demolition timeline runs 1 to 5 working days on site, plus the 2-6 weeks of paperwork and disconnects ahead of it. On day one we set up hoarding, dust control, and silt fence. We strip the building of salvageable material — copper, cast iron, anything reusable — then start the structural pull-down from the back of the lot toward the street. Loads go out by tandem or tri-axle. Concrete and clean fill are separated from mixed C&D so we hit recycling thresholds. We finish with a clean rough-grade and silt-fence walk-around before demobilizing.
Why Burlington Homeowners and Builders Call OCM
- We work the entire GTA west corridor — see our service areas — so we know Halton-side rules, Conservation Halton timelines, and the NEC overlay along Burlington’s north end.
- We sequence demolition and excavation so your dig contractor is not waiting on us, or we self-perform both on the same mobilization.
- We do not hide the asbestos conversation. Pre-1990 stock gets a DSS quoted up front.
- We give you a written scope, not a one-line estimate. You know what is included, what is excluded, and what triggers a change order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to demolish a garage or shed in Burlington?
Burlington requires a Building Permit for demolition of any structure with a footprint over 10 square metres. Most detached garages exceed that threshold and require a permit, utility disconnects, and an asbestos pre-screen if the structure is pre-1990. Small garden sheds under 10 square metres typically do not require a permit but still need to be cleared responsibly.
How long does a full house tear-down take in Burlington?
The on-site demolition itself is usually 2 to 5 working days for a typical Burlington bungalow or two-storey, including foundation removal, basement backfill, and rough grading. Add 2-6 weeks ahead of that for utility disconnects, asbestos testing, and the Building Permit. Conservation Halton or NEC review can extend the pre-construction timeline another 30-90 days.
Is asbestos testing really required on older Burlington homes?
Yes. Ontario Regulation 278/05 requires a Designated Substance Survey before demolition or renovation of any building constructed before 1990. Aldershot, downtown, and parts of Roseland have a lot of mid-century stock with vermiculite, asbestos drywall compound, vinyl tile, and pipe insulation. Testing is not optional and protects the demolition crew, the neighbours, and your liability exposure.
Can you demolish and excavate the new foundation in one mobilization?
Yes, and most Burlington custom-build clients prefer it. We sequence the tear-down, foundation removal, and new basement dig as one job, which saves on mobilization fees and keeps the schedule tight. If you are working with a separate excavation contractor, we hand off a clean rough-graded lot ready for layout.
What happens to the demolition debris?
We separate clean concrete, brick, and metal from mixed construction and demolition waste so recyclable streams go to processing facilities, not landfill. Wood, drywall, and shingles are hauled to licensed transfer stations. Any asbestos-containing material is handled by a licensed abatement crew under O. Reg. 278/05 before general demo begins.
Does Conservation Halton or the NEC really get involved in demolition?
They can. If your Burlington lot is within Conservation Halton’s regulated area — typically 15-30 metres from a watercourse, wetland, or top of bank — any earth-moving including foundation removal needs CH approval under O. Reg. 41/24. Properties in the Mount Nemo or Rattlesnake Point area fall under NEC Regulation 826/90 and need a Development Permit. We will tell you in the site visit whether either applies.
Book a Burlington Demolition Quote
If you have a structure in Burlington that needs to come down — full house, garage, deck, pool, or interior strip — call OCM at 416-317-3090 or request a free demolition quote. We will walk the site, flag the permit and asbestos path, and give you a written scope you can hand to your builder, architect, or insurance adjuster.
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in Burlington? Let’s talk.