Types of Demolition Services in Albuquerque
Demolition is often the first step when a property is being redeveloped, renovated, or cleared for new construction. We provide a full range of demolition services across the Albuquerque metro, including complete structure demolition for residential homes, commercial buildings, and outbuildings such as garages, sheds, and carports. We also perform selective demolition where only a portion of a structure is removed, such as interior walls, additions, or damaged sections, while preserving the remaining building. Our equipment fleet includes excavators with hydraulic shears, concrete processors, and thumb attachments that allow precise, controlled teardown of structures ranging from single-story adobe homes to multi-story commercial buildings. Every demolition project begins with a detailed plan that addresses safety, dust control, debris management, and coordination with adjacent property owners.
Safety, Permits, and Pre-Demolition Requirements
Demolition in Albuquerque requires permits from the City of Albuquerque Building Safety Division, and obtaining those permits involves meeting several pre-demolition requirements. Before any structure can be demolished, all utilities, including water, sewer, gas, and electric, must be properly disconnected and capped by the serving utility companies. For structures built before 1978, a hazardous materials survey is required to identify the presence of asbestos, lead paint, and other regulated materials. If hazardous materials are found, they must be abated by a licensed abatement contractor before demolition can proceed. We coordinate the entire pre-demolition process, from scheduling utility disconnects with PNM, New Mexico Gas Company, and the ABCWUA to arranging hazmat surveys with certified environmental firms. This thorough approach ensures your project stays compliant and avoids the costly delays that come from permit denials.
Foundation and Concrete Removal
After a structure is demolished, the foundation, slab, and any associated concrete flatwork typically need to be removed before the site can be re-graded and prepared for new construction. We break concrete foundations and slabs using hydraulic breakers mounted on our excavators, then load the broken material into dump trucks for hauling. For reinforced concrete, our processors cut through rebar and mesh without slowing the demolition process. We also remove concrete driveways, sidewalks, patios, retaining walls, and block walls as part of site clearing. In Albuquerque, many older properties have multiple layers of paving and foundation remnants from previous construction, and we excavate until we reach clean native soil at the depth required by the geotechnical report. Removed concrete is transported to recycling facilities in the Albuquerque area where it is crushed and reused as road base and aggregate.
Debris Disposal and Recycling
Responsible debris management is a core part of our demolition service. We separate demolition debris into recyclable and non-recyclable streams on site whenever practical. Concrete, asphalt, and masonry are sent to crushing and recycling facilities. Scrap metal, including structural steel, rebar, copper wiring, and aluminum, is separated and delivered to metal recycling yards. Wood framing and other combustible materials are hauled to approved landfills that accept construction and demolition waste. We use roll-off containers and our own dump trucks to keep the site clean and manage debris flow throughout the project. All disposal is documented with weight tickets and manifests, which we provide to property owners for their records. For projects subject to LEED certification or other green building standards, we track diversion rates to help meet the required recycling thresholds. Our commitment to recycling reduces landfill impact and can lower your overall disposal costs.