Cicarelli Contractors is a licensed demolition contractor for Bay Area homeowners, taking out concrete slabs, patios, driveways, garages, pools and whole houses. We file the permit and the air district notice, coordinate the utility shut-offs, haul the debris and leave the ground ready for what comes next.
Residential demolition
A demolition contractor takes out what is in the way, safely and legally, so the next phase of a project can start. On a home lot that usually means hard demolition: concrete, masonry, footings and framing that call for excavators, breakers and trucks rather than hand tools.
The breaking is the visible part. Before it, the permit is filed, the air district is notified, the utilities are shut off and capped, and buried lines are marked. After it, the debris is sorted and hauled, and the ground is graded or compacted so a patio, a driveway or a new foundation can go on top.
Most of what our crews take out is concrete: pool shells, slabs, patios and driveways, for homeowners and for commercial properties across nine Bay Area counties, from Richmond and Berkeley to San Jose. Unlike many demolition contractors, we can also build what replaces it: pavers, turf or retaining walls on the same ground.
Nine Google reviews quoted word for word, most of them from pool demolitions, the heaviest concrete jobs we do. Swipe or use the arrows to read them all.
I recently hired Cicarelli Contractors for demolition of my swimming pool. From our initial discussion to our final completion Athalyson and his crew were true professionals. Our pool is on a hill with limited access. His crew was able to get their equipment in place for the demolition and wheelbarrow fill dirt up hill. Some of those days had 90+ temps.
I was consistently impressed with the quality and professionalism of his crew. His crews seemed to always have a smile. The project was completed in a timely manner. His crew were consistently courteous and respectful of my property and maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition.
I highly recommend Cicarelli Contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Cicarelli again!
I hired Cicarelli contractor for the demolition of my swimming pool. From the initial consultation through to the final walk through. I was consistently impressed with the quality of their service. Athalyson demonstrated exceptional responsiveness to my inquiries and concerns. The project was completed according to the agreed timeline. Any unforseen issues were addressed promptly and efficiently. The team exhibited a high degree of professionalism throughout the project. They were consistently courteous and respectful of my property. They diligently maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition daily. Always on time.
I highly recommend Cicarelli contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable. Furthermore, he can give you a significant discount, making their services even more valuable.
Bernard completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly as I had a deadline to meet. I would recommend him. It was especially convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way as I handled the job remotely. Thank you, Bernard!
Very professional. It was explained what was going to be done.
They were done in 4 days. Other companies gave us a time limit of 2 weeks. Hard workers. We will use this company again. We need more work done.
Cicarelli just completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly. And I would recommend him. It was very convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way of the work done. Super for the great work completed!
We recently hired Cicarelli Contractors to remove our old, unused pool, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! From the start, their team was professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. They walked us through the entire process, providing clear explanations and a fair estimate.
Excellent job and ZERO complaint. The project was done on time.
Great Job. Good communication. Hard working crew.
Did a great job of demolishing old pool! Would hire again.
Demolition on video
Most of the demolition we film is pool shells, the heaviest concrete a backyard holds. These clips from Fremont, San Ramon, Vacaville and Hillsborough show how our crews work with breakers and excavators on tight residential lots.
Watch On YouTubeWhat we demolish
Our demolition services fall into three groups. Each has its own page with the steps, the paperwork and the questions to ask before work starts.
Slabs, footings, walkways and old pads broken out, the rebar cut and the debris hauled, with the subgrade left ready for a new surface.
Cracked driveways and worn patios taken out, edges saw-cut where they meet what stays, and the base prepared for pavers or new concrete.
Houses, garages and sheds taken down after the surveys, the permit and the air district notice, with the foundation removed and the lot graded.
Taking out a pool? It has its own page: pool removal and pool demolition.
Demolition step by step
The paperwork comes first on purpose: a job stopped halfway costs more than a later start.
Start With A Free EstimateWe look at what comes out, what stays, and how machines and trucks will reach it.
Older structures are tested for asbestos and lead before anything is disturbed.
The city permit is filed and the Bay Area Air District is notified ahead of the work.
Gas, power and water are shut off and capped, and buried lines are marked.
Machines do the heavy breaking; material is separated where possible and trucked out.
The ground is graded or compacted to the agreed finish and the permit is closed.
Equipment and method
The tool follows the material and the access. Every photo here is from one of our own jobs.
Mounted on an excavator, it splits thick, reinforced concrete such as walls, footings and pool shells.
Works close to the house and through narrow side yards, where a full-size machine cannot reach.
Breaks and loads concrete faster when the lot is open enough for a larger machine.
Jackhammers and the crew finish edges and corners the machines cannot reach without damaging what stays.
Pricing
There is no fair per-square-foot price for demolition, because the same slab can be easy or hard to remove. These are the things we measure before we write a number.
A thin patio slab and a thick, reinforced driveway are different jobs, even at the same size.
Concrete is heavy, so the number of truckloads and the distance to the recycler add up quickly.
Open driveways let big machines in; side yards, steps and slopes mean smaller equipment and more hand work.
Structures need a permit and an air district notice, and some cities add inspections or recycling reports.
Asbestos or lead found in an older garage or house has to be handled before demolition goes on.
Rough cleanup costs less than graded, compacted ground ready for pavers or a foundation.
Our hard demolition cost guide goes line by line, or send photos for a written, itemized quote. Get a written quote
Permits and notices
Demolishing a structure in the Bay Area takes more than a city permit. The air district has to be notified first, utilities shut off, buried lines marked, and some cities track where the debris goes. We file each of these before the first machine starts.
San Jose requires the air district job number even for a pool or spa demolition, on its pool demolition page. More on the paperwork in our guide to hard demolition in California. Before any digging, USA North 811 needs at least two working days' notice.
Homeowner guide
Choosing a demolition company raises the same questions on almost every Bay Area job: what kind of demolition it is, what it costs, which paperwork applies and where the debris goes. These answers rely on state and regional rules, not on guesses.
On home projects, contractors usually separate three kinds: soft or interior demolition, which strips finishes and keeps the structure; selective demolition, which removes one part such as a garage, slab or wall; and full demolition, which takes a building down to and including its foundation. Each carries different permits and equipment.
Hard demolition is the trade name for the heavy end of that range: concrete, masonry and structure taken out with machines. Our hard demolition guide explains where the line falls.
There is no honest flat rate. The price follows the volume and thickness of what comes out, access for machines, truckloads and disposal, permits and notices, any asbestos or lead work, and how finished the ground must be. A written quote that lists each of those lines is the only number worth comparing.
Our guides to concrete demolition cost and house demolition cost walk through each line. California also requires a written contract for home improvement work over $500, as the CSLB explains.
Yes. Besides the city permit, the Bay Area Air District must be notified at least 10 business days before any demolition, whether or not asbestos is present, with a 72-hour option for small residential buildings. Utilities are shut off and capped, and 811 is called before the footings are dug out.
When a detached garage is being replaced by an ADU, the city reviews the demolition permit together with the ADU application and issues both at once, under Government Code section 66314.
The demolition itself is often the shortest stretch. On a lot with good access, a garage and its slab are usually down and hauled away in a matter of days, not weeks. The permit, the 10-business-day air district notice and the utility shut-offs tend to take longer, so the start date depends on paperwork more than on machines.
Wet-season grading limits in some cities can move the earthwork too; our guide to the best season for a demolition project lays out the calendar.
The CSLB has a specialty classification for this work, C-21 Building Moving/Demolition, for contractors who demolish and remove structures and their foundations. General building contractors (class B) take on projects that combine at least two unrelated trades. Cicarelli Contractors holds B license #1109419, and any license can be checked on the CSLB website.
The CSLB publishes every class on its licensing classifications page, including the C-21 description. Our own record is at cslb.ca.gov/1109419.
Clean concrete is usually trucked to a recycler and crushed into aggregate, the process CalRecycle describes for recycled concrete. Wood, metal and mixed debris are separated where possible. Cities apply CALGreen or their own stricter rule, so some ask for a recycling plan before a permit is issued.
Oakland, for example, asks for a Summary Report on the debris before the final inspection can be scheduled. CalRecycle covers the state side on its construction and demolition page.
| Requirement | Rule and source |
|---|---|
| City demolition permit | Required for any building or structure (CSLB) |
| Air district notice | 10 business days ahead; 72 hours for 4 units or fewer, with a fee (BAAQMD) |
| Asbestos survey | Pipe covering, fireproofing and duct work (Cal/OSHA 1735) |
| Utility locate | 2 working days before digging (USA North 811) |
| Written contract | Home improvement work over $500 (CSLB) |
| Debris recycling | CALGreen or a stricter local rule (CalRecycle) |
Summarized from the official pages linked above; your city may add steps of its own.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Send photos of what needs to go and of the way in, and we will reply with a written estimate. We answer the phone Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and other topics are in the site FAQ.
Call (650) 404-7049A demolition contractor plans and carries out the removal of structures and hardscape: concrete slabs, driveways, garages, pools or whole houses. The job covers the permit and notices, utility shut-offs, the breaking itself, debris hauling and leaving the ground graded. On a home project it is the step that clears the way for building.
Yes, in almost every case. The CSLB notes that the California building code does not allow any building or structure to be removed without a separate permit, and cities add rules of their own. A flat patio may need less paperwork in some cities, so we confirm with your building department first.
At least 10 business days before the demolition, whether or not the structure contains asbestos. For residential buildings with four or fewer units, the Bay Area Air District accepts a 72-hour notice if you pay an additional fee. We file the notice and keep its job number with the permit records.
Yes. We take out the garage, its slab and footings, cap the utilities and leave a graded pad for the ADU builder. When a detached garage is replaced by an ADU, California law has the city review both permits together, so ask your designer to include the demolition in the ADU submittal.
For older structures, plan on it. Cal/OSHA requires pipe covering, fireproofing and duct work to be surveyed for asbestos before demolition, and roofing, siding or flooring from past decades can contain it too. If testing finds asbestos, it is removed by an abatement contractor before the demolition goes on.
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos through the free estimate form showing what has to come out and how a machine would reach it. We reply with a written, itemized estimate within 24 hours of the photos or the site visit.
GuideWhat Is Hard Demolition and When Do You Need It in California?
GuideConcrete Demolition Cost in the Bay Area: What Drives the Price
GuideHouse Demolition Cost in the Bay Area: What a Full Teardown IncludesUpdated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors
