Process
Choosing a demolition contractor in Melton
Choosing a demolition contractor in Melton is mostly about asking the right questions before anyone books a machine. Most knockdowns go fine. The ones that go badly usually go badly for the same few reasons: asbestos that was not dealt with, a quote that left out the slab, waste that was dumped, or a crew that did not have the insurance it said it had. These are the questions we would ask if we were hiring someone to knock down our own house.
Registration and insurance
Ask whether the contractor is registered with the Building and Plumbing Commission, Victoria's building regulator, and check the number on its public register. It takes a few minutes. If asbestos is involved, ask who the licensed asbestos removalist is and check their WorkSafe licence. A demolition company does not have to hold an asbestos licence itself, but it should be working with someone who does.
Insurance is the other half. Ask for a certificate of currency for public liability insurance, and check the amount and the expiry date. Ask whether the workers are covered by WorkSafe insurance. If a neighbour’s fence or car is damaged, or someone is hurt on site, this is what protects you. A contractor who hesitates to send these documents is telling you something.
Asbestos: who checks, who removes
Ask how the contractor will find out whether there is asbestos in the house, and when. The right answer is an assessment before the knockdown, a licensed removalist taking out what has to be removed, and a clearance before demolition starts. The wrong answer is ‘we’ll see on the day’ or ‘it goes in with the rest’. Asbestos mixed through demolition waste is illegal, dangerous for everyone nearby, and very expensive to clean up.
Many houses around Melton, Melton South and Brookfield were built before 1990, so this question is not theoretical. Even newer houses can have an older shed or fence on the same block. A good contractor will ask about the build year in the first conversation, not after the machine is on site.
What the quote should say
A proper demolition quote names what is coming down, what stays, and what the block looks like when the crew leaves. House, garage, shed, driveway, paths, trees, fences: each one should be in or out by name. The finish should be written as slab left, slab out, or a site cut to stated levels. Asbestos removal should be its own line. Travel, if there is any, should be visible.
Also look at what the quote says about surprises. What happens if they find a second slab, a tank or a pit? A fair answer is that they stop and call you before the price changes. A quote with no detail is easy to make look cheap. The detail is what makes two quotes comparable.
Machines, bins and waste
Ask what equipment the contractor owns and what they hire or subcontract. A crew with its own excavators, trucks and bins controls its own schedule. One that subcontracts each stage depends on other people’s diaries, and that is where delays start. Neither is wrong, but you should know which one you are hiring.
Ask where the waste goes. EPA Victoria expects building waste to end up at a place that can lawfully accept it, and concrete, brick, metal and timber can mostly be recycled if they are kept apart on site. Illegal dumping still happens, and nobody wants their old house turning up in a paddock. A contractor who sorts on site and can tell you where the loads go is the safer choice.
Local or not
A local contractor is not automatically better, but it does help. A crew based in Melton knows the council, the clay, the estate rules on the newer edges, and the tight courts in the older parts of town. Travel costs less. Site visits are easy to fit in. And a local business depends on its name around town, which is a useful kind of pressure.
We are a demolition and excavation crew based in Melton, licensed and insured, with our own machines, bins and trucks. We cover Melton and the surrounding suburbs, from Rockbank and Cobblebank to Caroline Springs and Toolern Vale. Send the suburb and a few photos, and we will reply within one business day with the next step. Ask us every question on this page. We would rather answer them than have you guess.
Quick answers
The short version, if you skipped the scan.
What should I ask a demolition contractor before hiring?
Ask for their registration and insurance details, how they handle asbestos, what the quote includes and leaves out, what equipment they own, and where the waste goes.
How do I check if a demolition contractor is registered?
Ask for the registration number and check it on the Building and Plumbing Commission’s public register. For asbestos removal, check the removalist’s WorkSafe licence.
Should the quote include asbestos removal?
If asbestos has to be removed, the quote should show it as a separate line so you can see the cost. It should never be mixed into the general demolition waste.
Why choose a Melton-based demolition company?
Less travel, easier site visits, and a crew that knows the local council, ground and streets. The quote still depends on the house, the access and the finish.
Get a free quote
Suburb, photos, and what you want left behind. We call back within one business day.
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0434 999 799Or email info@rsdemo.com.au