Former dairy country turned into neighborhoods

Demolition Contractors in Norwalk, CA

House teardowns, garage and shed removal, slab and driveway breakout and interior gut-outs across Norwalk.

Free walk-through and written, itemized estimate
Asbestos survey, air district notice and utility cut-offs sequenced before demolition
Concrete, metal and wood separated for recycling

Norwalk Demolition on Former Farmland

Before it was suburbs, Norwalk was a dairy center, and demolition contractors in Norwalk still find traces of that past on some lots. Around 1900, most of the 50 local families counted in the census were tied to farming or dairying, many of them Dutch, and the town's first real industry was a cheese factory financed in 1882. The area also had some of Southern California's largest sugar beet farms. Norwalk incorporated in 1957 and had 102,773 residents in 2020. Today about 64.6 percent of its homes are owner-occupied, and those owners are steadily updating or replacing houses built in the 1950s and 1960s.

Population that arrived fast

Census figures show Norwalk had 88,739 residents by 1960, only three years after incorporation, and it has stayed between about 85,000 and 106,000 since. That means most of the housing was built in a short window and is aging together. Common problems we see when owners decide to rebuild or remodel include cracked and settled driveways, failing patio slabs, single-wall garages with sagging roofs, and older plumbing under slabs.

What we do here

Garage removal to make room for an ADU, including the slab
Whole-house teardowns for a new home
Interior demolition for kitchen, bath and full remodels
Concrete removal of driveways, walks, patios and old foundations
Pool removal with compacted backfill

Each is quoted separately so you can choose the scope.

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Older buildings that stay

Norwalk keeps a few of its oldest structures. The Sproul House, a Stick Style Victorian farmhouse built in 1870, and the 1891 Hargitt House, built in the Victorian Eastlake style, are both house museums, and Little Lake Cemetery dates to 1843. Most residential lots are not historic, but if you own an unusually old house, ask the city about its status before planning a teardown.

Permits and prep

Every demolition in the South Coast AQMD area needs an asbestos survey by a certified consultant before work begins, plus a notification filed 10 working days ahead, and state law bars the city from issuing the permit until it has a copy. We arrange the survey, disconnect utilities, cap the sewer and set up fencing and dust control. The city sits at about 92 feet of elevation on nearly flat ground, so we grade the finished lot to drain away from neighbors. Call (213) 377-6198 for an estimate.

Norwalk Facts for Demolition Projects

Dairy center. Around 1900 Norwalk was established as a dairy center, and a cheese factory financed in 1882 was its first real industry.
Rapid growth. Norwalk incorporated in 1957 and already had 88,739 residents at the 1960 census.
Owner share. In 2020, 64.6 percent of occupied housing units in Norwalk were owner-occupied.
Historic houses. The 1870 Sproul House and the 1891 Hargitt House are preserved as museums.

Our Services in Norwalk, CA

Norwalk Questions

Can you take out just my garage and slab in Norwalk?

Yes. Garage and slab removal for an ADU is a common job. We disconnect any power to the garage, remove the structure and slab, and leave the area graded for the new foundation.

How do I know if my house has asbestos?

A certified asbestos consultant surveys the building before any demolition. Houses from the 1950s and 1960s often have it in acoustic ceilings, floor tile or duct wrap, and it must be removed before demolition.

What happens to the concrete you remove?

Clean concrete is hauled to a recycler where it is crushed for base material, instead of going to a landfill.

Is my Norwalk house likely to be historic?

Most Norwalk homes date from the 1950s and later and are not designated. A few much older houses, like the Sproul and Hargitt houses, are preserved as museums. If your home is unusually old, ask the city about its status first.

Free Estimates in Norwalk, CA

Tell us about your Norwalk project and we will schedule a free demolition estimate.

Call (213) 377-6198 Free Estimate