Why is demolition so expensive?

• <div><p>Demolition is a project that involves heavy machinery, skilled labor, and hazardous waste removal. It can also take multiple weeks to complete. Plus, it’s a dangerous job. The machinery itself costs a lot of money, as does the time of the people who are operating that machinery (and the training they receive to do so safely). Certain hazardous materials, like asbestos, can cost up to $25 per foot for removal.</p></div>

Can you close up instead of demolishing a chimney?

• <div><p>You can close up a chimney instead of demolishing it. Homeowners often go this route because the cost of removing a chimney, especially a structurally important chimney, can be expensive.</p><p>Properly closing up a chimney involves closing and sealing the damper, installing a chimney cap damper, and sealing the fireplace opening with a door or bricks. The <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/how-much-it-get-my-chimney-sealed-and-capped.htm">cost to seal and cap a chimney</a> is around <b>$500 to $650</b>—significantly less than the average chimney removal cost. </p></div>

Can removal services help with large-scale cleanouts?

• <div><p>Yes, removal services can handle projects like estate clearouts or major renovations.</p></div>

Do demolition companies need to be licensed?

• <div><p>Yes, demolition companies must hold the proper licensing, although the license required might be determined at the state level or local level, depending on where you live. Using a licensed demolition company will ensure that the work is carried out safely and according to local rules and regulations. Licensed demo companies will also usually handle permitting for you, so you can avoid the red tape and frustration of navigating your local building department. You can use Angi’s <a href="https://www.angi.com/angi-license-check.htm">online licensing tool</a> to see if a company you’re considering holds the necessary license.</p></div>

Are there alternatives to stump grinding or direct removal?

• <div><p>The most common alternative is burning the stump first, then dealing with the cinders and ashes. As you can imagine, this option creates fire hazards, especially since roots can burn underground, hidden, for long afterward. That’s why many states and cities have outlawed the use of stump burning entirely. We do not recommend this option as a viable alternative unless you get a permit from the local fire department and practice all safe burning procedures.</p><p>Others prefer a more long-term DIY approach of degrading the stump with home mixtures <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/will-epsom-salt-vinegar-kill-tree-stump.htm">like Epsom salt and vinegar</a> injected directly into it. This may help the stump decay faster, allowing homeowners to dig it out themselves, but it’s still a lengthy process. It usually takes months for a stump to start falling apart with such treatments, and in the meantime, it can be vulnerable to rot, insects, and other problems.</p></div>