Demolition Contractors in Kent, WA

Kent has a written pre-application checklist for demolition, and good demolition contractors work from it line by line. Wikipedia divides Kent into three areas: West Hill along I-5, the industrial and commercial Valley, and mostly residential East Hill. We see older farmhouses and outbuildings in the valley, mid-century homes on the hills, and plenty of properties that still have septic tanks or private wells.

Utilities, by the city's rules

The City of Kent's demolition packet (form PH1-1) sets out how each utility is closed:

• Sewer. The line is plugged at the property line with material similar to the stub: a PVC cap or plug, a concrete plug at the bell, or concrete mix in the spigot end. It is inspected before backfill. If the property is outside Kent's sewer district, the serving district must sign off.
• Water. The private line is cut at the property line behind the meter, and the meter is pulled through Utility Billing if applicable. Inspection before backfill.
• Septic. The tank is removed, or pumped and filled with 5/8-minus crushed rock or other inert material, with the pumping invoice on site for inspection.
• Wells. A certified well contractor caps the well to Department of Ecology standards and sends a decommissioning report to the Public Works inspector.
• Power and gas. Terminated and verified by the utility.
• Underground tanks. Need a Kent fire permit or other approval.

Outstanding city utility balances have to be paid before the permit is issued, and Public Works requires 24 hours' notice for every inspection.

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Asbestos in Kent

Kent's packet is explicit: an EPA-certified (AHERA) building inspector does the asbestos survey, and the survey stays on site for the whole project. A Clean Air Agency notification is required for all demolition, with a waiting period of up to 10 days, and all asbestos has to be removed by an L&I-certified abatement contractor before any demolition begins.

Whole building versus partial

The city requires a demolition permit for removing the entire building, including the foundation. Partial or interior work goes under an alteration permit instead. If you are only gutting a kitchen or taking off an addition, we will tell you which permit path fits before quoting.

Erosion control in the valley

The Green River caused repeated flooding until the Howard A. Hanson Dam was built at Eagle Gorge in 1962, and Kent was later known as the Lettuce Capital of the World for its valley farms. Valley soils hold water, and Kent averages 40.09 inches of precipitation a year with November the wettest month. The city inspects temporary erosion control separately: construction entrance, silt fencing, haul route, catch basin inserts and dust control. We set these up first and keep them working until the site is stable.

Kent services

• House and mobile home removal
• Barns, garages and sheds
• Concrete slabs, driveways and foundations
• Septic tank decommissioning as part of a demolition
• Interior demolition

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