Cost and quoting
Why is one quote thousands cheaper than another? Almost always because it contains less. Check the disposal tonnage assumption, the asbestos position, and what is included at the boundary — slab, footings, driveway, fences, trees. The cost page sets out what a complete quote should name.
Can you give me a price over the phone? For a small shed, sometimes. For a house, no — and we would rather say that than give you a number that changes. What is in the walls, what is under the slab and how many truck movements the access allows are things you establish by standing on the block.
Does sorting the waste actually save money? Yes. Mixed waste is the most expensive disposal stream. Concrete separated and loaded on its own, with metal pulled out for scrap, disposes for meaningfully less than the same material mixed together.
Asbestos
What if it is found after work starts? Work stops in that area. It gets assessed, a licensed removalist prices and carries out the removal, and general demolition resumes once the area is cleared. That is the only correct sequence, and it is why the survey should come first on any pre-1990 building. See the asbestos page.
Is asbestos always a problem? It is always a process. Non-friable material in sound condition, professionally removed, is a manageable and routine part of demolition in this region. What creates problems is not knowing it is there, or having it handled by someone not licensed to do it.
Approvals and process
Can trees be removed with the building? No — vegetation controls are separate from demolition approval, they apply across all five Illawarra councils, and penalties for removing a protected tree are substantial. Start that application alongside the demolition one. See site clearing.
How long does approval take? A complying development certificate is generally faster than a development application, but neither has a guaranteed timeframe. The approvals page explains the two pathways and what councils commonly ask for.
Scope questions
Is the slab included? Only if the quote says so. Ask specifically, and ask about footings too — they sit below the visible slab and are the classic omission. Concrete removal covers how that work is priced.
Can I salvage first? Usually, if arranged in advance. Bricks, timber, roof tiles, fittings and appliances can be worth removing. Anything requiring the disturbance of possible asbestos material is not a salvage job.
Do you work outside Wollongong? Yes — Shellharbour, Kiama, Dapto, the northern suburbs, the Southern Highlands and Nowra and the Shoalhaven.
Still unsure?
Call 02 4214 4202, seven days, 6am to 7pm, or send the details through. If the honest answer is "that needs testing before anyone can price it", that is the answer you will get.
Frequently asked questions
How much does demolition cost in Wollongong?
As a 2026 planning guide: a small shed $1,500–$4,000, a garage with slab $3,000–$8,000, a partial pool removal $8,000–$15,000, a full pool dig-out $15,000–$30,000, a single-storey house $18,000–$30,000, and a two-storey or difficult-access house $28,000–$50,000 or more. Asbestos removal is quoted separately by a licensed removalist.
How long does it take from decision to cleared block?
Four to eight weeks is realistic for a straightforward house. The demolition itself is two to four days — the lead time is approvals and service disconnections, which run in parallel and both take weeks. A heritage property, a DA pathway or a significant asbestos situation extends it further.
Do you remove asbestos?
No. Asbestos removal is separately licensed work in NSW and it goes to a licensed asbestos removalist. We refer it and we sequence the demolition around it. We do not fold it into a demolition scope and we would be wary of anyone who does.
How do I know if my house has asbestos?
Have it surveyed rather than guessing. Asbestos cement is hard to identify visually and easily confused with later products containing none. In the Illawarra, a pre-1990 house should be assumed to contain it until a survey says otherwise — the region's post-war housing used fibro extensively.
Do I need council approval?
Nearly always something is required — either a complying development certificate from a certifier or development consent from the council, depending on the property and what controls apply to it. Heritage listings and conservation areas change the pathway. Council or a certifier decides; nobody here can promise you an approval.
Who disconnects the power, gas and water?
The property owner usually initiates the disconnections, and contractors often assist with coordination. Each utility has its own process and lead time, and councils generally want evidence they are complete before demolition begins. These are the most common cause of a delayed start, so begin them as soon as the approval pathway is clear.
What state is the block left in?
It should be level, clear of demolition material, and clean enough for a surveyor to peg out. Whether the slab, footings, driveway, fencing and retaining structures are included is a scope question — ask explicitly, because those are the items most often left behind on a cheaper quote.
Can I demolish my own shed or garage?
A small colorbond or timber structure, potentially. A fibro one, no — not if it contains asbestos, which many Illawarra sheds do. Taking a hammer to fibro spreads material across your yard and your neighbour's, and it is one of the few jobs where a Saturday afternoon can create a problem you cannot fix yourself.