Demolition Contractors in Kirkland, WA

Kirkland has one of the more detailed checklists in the region, and demolition contractors who skip a step can lose weeks. The city sits on Lake Washington, with downtown on Moss Bay and Juanita Beach Park on Juanita Bay, and elevations run from about 14 to 500 feet. Many of the houses we take down here sit on view lots or slopes, close to mature trees and neighbors.

Rats, trees and utilities come first

Kirkland's demolition permit page lists several things that must happen before the permit is issued or before work starts:

• Rat baiting. A baiting program has to start at least fifteen days before demolition, clearing or land surface work, and an abatement letter from the pest company is needed before permit issuance.
• Tree fencing. All significant trees, defined as at least six inches in diameter at 4.5 feet above the ground, must be shown with location, type, diameter and drip line. Protection fencing goes up at each drip line and has to be inspected and approved by the city before the permit is issued.
• Side sewer cap. If there is a side sewer, it is capped after the permit is issued but before demolition.
• Septic. If there is a septic tank, it is retired or removed in the same window.
• Water meter. The meter is either pulled permanently or temporarily disconnected through a request to Utility Billing.

The submittal itself is a demolition plan, an erosion and sedimentation control plan and a tree retention plan, filed through MyBuildingPermit.com. The demolition plan shows property lines, existing structures, any underground storage tanks and surface water within 100 feet.

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Asbestos notice

Kirkland's page tells applicants to file the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's Asbestos/Demolition Notification with its fee before any removal or demolition, even when no asbestos was found, and it notes that water is required for asbestos removal. The agency's own rules add a 10-day wait after filing. Put together with the 15-day rat baiting period, the earliest realistic demolition date is usually a few weeks after you decide to go ahead, so we start the clock early.

The 2011 annexation neighborhoods

The annexation that took effect on June 1, 2011, added about 33,000 residents and nearly 7 square miles, bringing in Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate. A lot of the housing there is mid-century and 1970s stock on wooded lots, which means more significant trees to protect, more chances of an old septic tank or heating oil tank, and steeper driveways for hauling. We walk these lots carefully before quoting.

Sensitive areas

The city asks applicants to call Planning to find out whether the property is in an environmentally sensitive area. If it is, an environmental checklist may be required and the timeline gets longer. Lakefront and creek-side lots are the usual cases.

Work we do in Kirkland

• House removal for rebuilds, including foundations
• Garage, shed and carport demolition
• Concrete and asphalt removal
• Interior demolition for remodels
• Pool removal

Call (425) 598-0539 to schedule a site visit.