Demolition Contractors in Issaquah, WA

Issaquah sits in a valley with Cougar Mountain to the west, Squak Mountain to the south and Tiger Mountain to the southeast, and demolition contractors here work on two very different kinds of lots. Down in the valley, older houses and small commercial buildings sit on flat ground near Issaquah Creek. Up on the lower slopes of Cougar and Squak, where Wikipedia notes homes have been built, lots are steeper, access is tighter and drainage needs much more attention.

Rain is the planning factor

Issaquah is wet even by Puget Sound standards. Wikipedia lists an average of 62.19 inches of precipitation a year, with November the wettest month at 10.12 inches and August the driest at 1.29 inches. That is roughly half again what Seattle gets. A house that comes down in November leaves bare soil that will see heavy rain within days, so on Issaquah jobs we put erosion control in before the first wall comes down: rocked entrance, silt fence, catch basin inserts and plastic over stockpiles. When owners have a choice, we steer slope demolitions toward late spring and summer.

Slopes and what holds them up

On hillside lots, a basement wall, rockery or retaining wall is sometimes doing real structural work. Taking it out before the new foundation is ready can leave a cut that sloughs in the first storm. We identify these elements early, ask for any geotechnical recommendations, and stage the demolition so the hillside stays supported. Hauling is planned around narrow, winding roads and the size of truck that can safely reach the site.

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Asbestos, permits and utilities

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency requires an AHERA-certified inspector to survey the building for asbestos before demolition, a demolition notification for any structure with more than 120 square feet of roof area, and a 10-day wait after filing. The City of Issaquah issues the demolition permit. Before the structure comes down, power and gas are terminated by the utilities, and the side sewer and water service are capped under the serving utility's rules. Some properties on the mountain slopes are on septic or private wells, which need their own decommissioning.

Salmon and creeks

The state-owned Issaquah Salmon Hatchery on Issaquah Creek, built in 1936, raises Chinook and Coho salmon, and the creek runs through the heart of town. Sediment from a demolition site that reaches a storm drain can end up in salmon water. That is one more reason we treat erosion control as part of the job, not an add-on.

A changing town

A 120-acre gravel quarry north of downtown is planned for residential and commercial redevelopment over 30 years, and older buildings in the valley continue to give way to new housing. Most of our Issaquah work is residential: teardowns for rebuilds, failed garages and sheds, concrete removal and interior gut-outs. We also take on small commercial interior demolition.

Issaquah services

• Whole-house demolition on flat and sloped lots
• Garages, sheds and outbuildings
• Concrete driveways, patios and walls
• Interior demolition
• Pool removal

Call (425) 598-0539 to set up a walkthrough.