Demolition Contractors in Whittier, CA

Whittier knows the value of old buildings, and demolition contractors in Whittier have to respect that. The city was founded by Quakers who bought and expanded the land to 1,259 acres, incorporated in 1898, and had 87,306 residents in 2020. On October 1, 1987, the magnitude 5.9 Whittier Narrows earthquake killed eight people and damaged many of Uptown Whittier's historic buildings, and a 5.2 aftershock three days later made some borderline buildings unsafe. The Whittier Conservancy formed that year to stop the demolition of many historic buildings and homes after the disaster.

Historic districts come first

The city's Historic Resources Commission has designated Central Park and Hadley-Greenleaf as historic districts, along with College Hills around Whittier College and a small cluster of homes on Earlham Drive. If your house is in one of these areas, a full teardown is a different conversation than it is elsewhere in the city. We check the district status before we quote and, where demolition is limited, help with interior strip-outs or removal of non-original additions and outbuildings.

Postwar orange-grove tracts

After World War II, Whittier's orange groves were subdivided to meet Southern California's housing shortage. Those tract homes, now 60 to 75 years old, are where most teardowns and major remodels happen. Typical work includes:

• Full house demolition with slab and footing removal
• Garage removal for an ADU
• Interior gut-outs for kitchens, baths and layout changes
• Pool and patio removal and backfill

Get a Free Estimate

Asbestos in mid-century homes

Postwar Whittier houses were built when asbestos was common in building products. Acoustic ceilings, vinyl floor tile and mastic, duct wrap and some stucco can all contain it. The survey tells us what is there, a licensed abatement crew removes it, and only then does demolition begin.

Hillside and heat

Whittier's summer highs run from the mid-80s to upper 90s, with about 14 inches of rain a year, mostly in winter. Hillside streets limit equipment size, while flatter tracts allow bigger machines and faster loading. We water the site for dust and keep the street clean.

Asbestos and utilities

South Coast AQMD requires a certified asbestos survey before every demolition and a notification filed 10 working days ahead, and the city cannot issue the permit until it has a copy. Older Whittier homes often contain asbestos in plaster, flooring or ducts, so the survey usually decides the schedule. Utilities are disconnected and the sewer capped before work begins. Call (213) 377-6198 to book a visit.