Interior & Selective Demolition in Westchester & Putnam County NY
Careful tear-outs that get your home ready for remodeling: kitchens, baths, walls, floors and basements, with testing, utility shutoffs, dust control and debris removal handled. Family-owned since 1980.
Since 1980
Family-owned business
One Project Manager
Your single point of contact
Licensed, Insured Trades
Specialty subcontractors we supervise
Free Estimates
Written and itemized
Demolition Done Right Makes the Whole Remodel Easier
Demolition looks simple: take it out and throw it away. But the way a room comes apart decides how smoothly the rest of the project goes. Careless tear-outs crack plaster in the next room, damage floors that were supposed to stay, scatter dust through the HVAC system and expose problems nobody planned for.
Our focus is interior and selective demolition as the first phase of a remodel. We remove exactly what the plan calls for, protect what stays, and leave a clean, open space where the framing, plumbing and wiring can be inspected before rebuilding starts.
Selective Demolition Services
Kitchen tear-outs
Cabinets, counters, appliances, soffits and flooring, with salvage set aside when you want to keep or donate items.
Bathroom gut-outs
Tile, tubs, showers, vanities and subfloor down to the studs and joists, so the room can be rebuilt waterproof.
Wall removal
Non-structural partitions, or load-bearing walls with an engineer’s beam design, shoring and a permit.
Flooring removal
Carpet, tile, vinyl and old hardwood. Older resilient flooring and mastic are tested before removal.
Basement strip-outs
Removing old paneling, damp drywall, carpet and drop ceilings so the space can be re-finished properly.
Prep for additions
Opening exterior walls and roofs where an addition will connect, timed so the house is never left open to weather.
Asbestos, Lead and Permits: Regulations in Older Homes
A large share of the housing in Westchester and Putnam was built before the 1970s, so testing is a normal part of demolition planning here, not an extra.
- Asbestos (NY Industrial Code Rule 56). For buildings whose construction began before January 1, 1974, New York requires an asbestos survey by a certified inspector before demolition, renovation, remodeling or repair that disturbs building materials. Pipe insulation, some floor tiles and mastics, joint compound, plaster, siding and roofing are common suspects. If the survey finds asbestos, a licensed abatement contractor removes it first.
- Lead-based paint. For homes built before 1978, EPA renovation rules require lead-safe work practices whenever painted surfaces are disturbed, unless testing shows the paint is lead-free.
- Building permits. Most building departments require a permit for structural removal and for the remodel that follows. Some also ask for the asbestos survey with the application.
- Utilities. Electrical, plumbing and gas lines are made safe by licensed trades before work starts.
- Debris and dumpsters. Containers are placed where your driveway and the local rules allow, and debris is disposed of through proper channels.
We schedule the testing, coordinate any abatement with licensed specialists and keep the paperwork your building department expects.
How a Demolition Phase Runs
1. Walkthrough & scope
We mark exactly what comes out and what stays, and note any salvage.
2. Testing
Asbestos survey and lead testing where required. Abatement by licensed specialists if needed.
3. Permits & utilities
Permits filed, and utilities shut off or capped by licensed trades.
4. Protection
Floor protection, dust walls, sealed HVAC returns and a clear path to the dumpster.
5. Controlled removal
Selective demolition in the planned order, with daily cleanup.
6. Inspection-ready shell
A broom-clean, open space ready for the framing and rough-in inspections.
Demolition FAQs
What is selective demolition?
It is the controlled removal of specific parts of a home, such as a kitchen, a bathroom, a wall, flooring or a basement finish, while protecting everything that stays. It is the first phase of most remodels, and doing it carefully saves time and money later.
Do I need an asbestos survey before demolition?
In New York, buildings whose construction began before January 1, 1974 need an asbestos survey by a certified inspector before demolition or renovation work that disturbs building materials. Many building departments ask for the survey with the permit application. If asbestos is found, a licensed asbestos abatement contractor has to remove it before general demolition. Newer homes can still contain some asbestos products, so we treat suspect materials with caution regardless of age.
What about lead paint?
In homes built before 1978, federal EPA rules require renovation work that disturbs painted surfaces to follow lead-safe work practices by certified renovators, unless testing shows the paint is lead-free. We plan containment, cleanup and testing into the scope.
Can you remove a load-bearing wall?
Yes, with the right engineering. A load-bearing wall needs a beam and posts sized by an engineer, temporary shoring during removal and a building permit. We don’t remove structural walls without a plan.
Who disconnects the utilities?
Before anything comes out, licensed electricians and plumbers shut off, cap or make safe the electrical, water and gas lines in the demolition area. Gas work is done by qualified licensed trades only.
Do you haul away the debris?
Yes. Debris removal is part of the scope: dumpsters or haul-away sized to the job, placed where your driveway and the municipality allow, with a broom-clean site at the end of each phase.
Who issues demolition permits in Putnam County?
Each town does. Putnam County has no countywide building permit, so the town building department handles it. In the Town of Carmel, which includes Mahopac, the Town Code (Chapter 59) has the Building Inspector issue permits for the removal and demolition of buildings or parts of buildings, with a separate permit for each structure. The Town of Southeast requires a building permit before any excavation, construction or demolition starts. We confirm the requirements with the town before work is scheduled. See interior demolition in Carmel.
How long is a demolition permit good for in Putnam?
It depends on the town, and some deadlines are short. Under the Town of Southeast code, a demolition permit expires if work doesn’t begin within two months (other permits get six months), although the Inspector can extend it. We line up testing, utility shutoffs and the dumpster before the permit is issued, so demolition can start inside that window. Planning a project in that area? See our Southeast general contractor and Brewster general contractor pages.
Who issues demolition permits in Westchester County?
The city, town or village where the house is. Westchester County licenses home improvement contractors through its Department of Consumer Protection, but building permits come from each municipality’s building department. The Town of Greenburgh, which issues permits for Hartsdale, requires a permit for any construction, repair, improvement, modification or demolition. The Village of Ardsley’s code (§64-6) requires a permit for demolition as well as construction and enlargement, and Yonkers has its own Demolition Application among its building forms. Guardian holds Westchester County HIC #WC-38383-H24. Related: whole-home remodeling in Hartsdale and Ardsley.
Can you remove an old oil tank during a Westchester demolition?
We coordinate it as part of the tear-out when the plan calls for it. Permits vary by town. In the Town of Mount Pleasant, which includes Hawthorne, oil tank removal needs both a building permit and a plumbing permit, and larger tanks (1,100 gallons and up) are registered with the Westchester County Department of Health. The plumbing side is handled by a licensed subcontractor supervised by a Guardian project manager. See whole-home remodeling in Hawthorne.
Demolition Service Areas
Interior demolition is usually the first phase of a larger project. We do it across Putnam County, in Carmel, Mahopac, Brewster, Southeast, Patterson, Kent, Putnam Valley, Cold Spring and Garrison, and throughout Westchester County, from Scarsdale, White Plains and Yonkers to Bedford, Somers and Yorktown Heights. See the full scopes:
Local demolition pages
Related services
Putnam County & Nearby
Westchester County
Starting a Remodel?
Tell us what’s coming out. We’ll plan the testing, permits and tear-out and give you a free written estimate.
Guardian Remodeling Corp · 143 Lake Shore Dr W, Carmel, NY 10512 · 914-912-0385 · Frank@guardianremodelingcorp.com
