Demolition contractor, Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore

Demolition contractor in Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore

House, cottage, garage and barn teardowns across Lakefield, Smith and Ennismore. Send the form and an owner calls you back today.

Get my free quote
Call (705) 208-7121
★★★★★5.0from 32 Google reviews
  • ✓Same-day callback from an owner
  • ✓Written price after the site visit
  • ✓Whole structures only: the crew that quotes it takes it down
Get your free demolition quote
A few quick questions. An owner calls you back today.
Prefer to talk? Call (705) 208-7121
32 reviews, every one five stars
Same-day callback
An owner calls you back and books the site visit
Owners on site
One crew. One of the two owners runs every job
Whole structures
Houses, cottages, barns, garages and pools. No interior tear-outs

Demolition in Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore

Hiring a demolition contractor in Lakefield, Bridgenorth or Ennismore usually means an old house or cottage is making way for a new one, and Selwyn's rules reward a little planning. The Township's development charge by-law allows a reduction on the new build when the old building was occupied and the rebuild permit is issued within five years of the demolition permit. We work out of Bobcaygeon as a single crew on our own machines, with an owner on every job.

Houses, cottages and barns

A whole structure down and the site cleared: the house, cottage, barn or outbuilding comes down, the debris is hauled away and the lot is graded for whatever comes next.

  • ✓House and cottage demolition, single storey to multi-storey
  • ✓Barns, outbuildings, sheds and garages, including rural and cottage access
  • ✓Foundations and concrete pads broken out and removed
  • ✓Hydro, gas and water disconnections coordinated before we start
  • ✓Barn beams, barn board and brick set aside on request

Pools and site clean-up

In-ground or above-ground: the concrete or liner comes out, the hole is filled and compacted in lifts, and you get a yard ready for grass or a build.

  • ✓In-ground and above-ground pool removal
  • ✓Concrete break-out and haul-away
  • ✓Full or partial fill, compacted so the yard does not sink
  • ✓Final grade and topsoil
  • ✓Lot cleared and graded, ready for the next build

We run our own excavators and skid steers, so the teardown, the haul-away and the final grade are one crew's work, with an owner on every job.

We take whole structures down. We do not do interior tear-outs, kitchen or bathroom demo, or renovation prep. If you need a wall opened for a reno, we will point you to someone who does that work.

Demolition in Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore: what changes here

Who issues the permit

Selwyn's Building and Planning Department issues demolition permits. The application includes a site plan showing the structure to be removed, the Township's demolition checklist, and a disclosure statement that describes any material headed for the Township landfill and confirms the utility disconnects. Inside Otonabee Conservation's regulated area, demolition of a dwelling, cottage, boathouse or garage takes that authority's permit first. Old tanks and beds fall to the same Township office, which is responsible for privately owned sewage systems. Under section 30 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the owner identifies designated substances such as asbestos before the contract is signed.

The ground and the access

Ground in Selwyn changes over short distances. Near Kawartha Park, the county soil survey maps shallow Douro soil and bare rock in roughly equal parts, while in Smith just north of Peterborough, silty lake deposits lie over drumlinized till. On the rock, an old cottage foundation lifts off the ledge with little digging. On the silt and till, a full basement comes out, and the excavation takes imported granular in compacted layers so the next slab does not settle.

The rule that shapes the job

Heritage register. Selwyn lists 91 non-designated properties in Lakefield, with Queen Street alone carrying 19, plus 16 in former Smith township and none in Ennismore. Under section 27 of the Ontario Heritage Act, the owner of a listed property gives Council at least 60 days' written notice before demolishing a building on it. Listings made before 2023 come off unless Council issues a notice of intention to designate by January 1, 2027 or a later prescribed date, so we check the current register first.

Communities we cover from here

LakefieldBridgenorthEnnismoreYoung's PointChemong ParkEmerald IsleDeer BayFife's BayKawartha ParkWoodland AcresSelwyn ShoresGannon VillageYoungstownChemong Lake

How demolition in Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore works, in four steps

1
Tell us what needs to come down
Send the form or call. An owner calls you back the same business day and books the site visit.
2
An owner walks the site
We look at the structure, the access and what is underground, and hand you a written price after the visit.
3
Permit, utilities and the survey
We apply for the demolition permit, request the hydro, gas and water disconnections, and line up the designated substances check on older buildings.
4
Down, hauled and graded
The structure comes down, the debris is hauled away, the hole is filled and the ground is graded clean.

On the job

Thor Construction excavator loading demolition debris into a bin
Thor Construction excavator digging out a foundation
Thor Construction skid steer and excavator on a float trailer

What our customers say

★★★★★

“As a custom home builder, we love contracting Thor Construction Company for all of our demolition, excavation and septic work. They are easy to work with, have great equipment and know what they are doing. Our clients are always very happy with them.”

Ethan Bender
Custom home builder · Google review
★★★★★

“Hired Thor for complete site services including bringing utilities into my new build and digging for foundation. Once the build was complete they came back and finish landscaped the property and we couldn't be happier. Strongly recommend!”

Robert Bell
New build · Google review
★★★★★

“I had a work related project with them and I must say the guys are outstanding. Honest, reliable and straightforward. Highly Recommended!”

Peter Loudon
Local Guide · Google review

Demolition in Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore: your questions answered

Can demolition debris go to the Smith Landfill?

Only from Selwyn properties. The site at 1480 County Road 18 serves Township residents, with a landfill pass shown on every trip, and for demolition debris the Township asks for 24 hours' notice to Public Works plus a disclosure statement on what is in the load. We sort the load and give that notice.

Will my property taxes drop after the old house comes down?

They can, but not on their own. Selwyn's permit package notes that the Municipal Act calls for a separate application to the Treasurer for cancellation, reduction or refund of taxes, made after the demolition and before February 28 of the following year. We tell you the day the building is gone.

My cottage is on Chemong Lake. Who else signs off?

Otonabee Conservation, when the lot sits in its regulated area. Selwyn's permit package lists major demolition of dwellings and cottages, and minor demolition of boathouses and garages, among the work that takes its permit before the Township issues one. We check the mapping and apply first.

Do you get the demolition permit?

Yes. Ontario's Building Code Act requires a permit to demolish a building, issued by your municipality's building department. We prepare the application and book the inspections.

Do I need to disconnect the utilities first?

Hydro, gas and water are disconnected and capped by the utilities before demolition starts, and many building departments ask to see that before they issue the permit. We make the requests and keep you posted.

What if the building has asbestos?

Under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, the owner of a project determines whether designated substances such as asbestos are present before work starts. On older buildings we line up that check, and anything found is removed by an abatement contractor before we demolish.

Is hauling the debris included?

Yes. Hauling the debris to proper disposal and recycling sites is part of the job and part of the written price you get after the site visit.

Do you do interior demolition?

No. We take whole structures down: houses, cottages, barns, garages and pools. For kitchen, bathroom or renovation tear-outs we will point you to someone who does that work.

Can I keep the barn beams or the brick?

Yes. Tell us at the site visit what you want saved, and we set beams, barn board or brick aside before the rest comes down.

Other areas and services

Every page has the local permit office, the ground and the rules for that area.

Demolition in other towns

Demolitionin Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls→Demolitionin Coboconk, Norland and Kinmount→Demolitionin Lindsay and Kawartha Lakes→Demolitionin Omemee, Bethany and Pontypool→Demolitionin Buckhorn and Trent Lakes→Demolitionin Peterborough→Demolitionin Millbrook and Cavan Monaghan→Demolitionin Apsley and North Kawartha→Demolitionin Warsaw and Douro-Dummer→Demolitionin Norwood and Havelock→Demolitionin Keene and Otonabee-South Monaghan→Demolitionin Minden and Minden Hills→Demolitionin Haliburton and Dysart et al→Demolitionin Wilberforce and Highlands East→Demolitionin Campbellford and Trent Hills→Demolitionin Bewdley, Gores Landing and Rice Lake→Demolitionin Cobourg and Port Hope→Demolitionin Port Perry and Scugog→Demolitionin Beaverton, Cannington and Sunderland→Demolitionin Uxbridge→Demolitionin Bowmanville, Newcastle and Clarington→Demolitionin Oshawa, Whitby and Brooklin→Demolitionin Pickering and Ajax→Demolitionin Georgina, Sutton and Keswick→Demolitionin Mount Albert and East Gwillimbury→Demolitionin Stouffville→Demolitionin Markham→Demolitionin Orillia, Severn and Ramara→Demolitionin Oro-Medonte→Demolitionin Barrie and South Simcoe→Demolitionin Gravenhurst and Bracebridge→Demolitionin Newmarket, Aurora and King→Demolitionin Bradford West Gwillimbury→Demolitionin Huntsville and Lake of Bays→Demolition, every areaThe service page→

Other work near Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore

Septic installationin Peterborough→Excavationin Peterborough and the Kawarthas→Landscapingin Peterborough→Shoreline restorationon Buckhorn and Chemong Lakes→Septic installationin Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore→Excavationin Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore→Landscapingin Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore→Shoreline restorationon Lovesick and Katchewanooka Lake→Septic installationin Millbrook and Cavan Monaghan→Excavationin Millbrook and Cavan Monaghan→Landscapingin Millbrook and Cavan Monaghan→Septic installationin Apsley and North Kawartha→Excavationin Apsley and North Kawartha→Landscapingin Apsley and North Kawartha→Shoreline restorationon Stony and Clear Lake→Septic installationin Warsaw and Douro-Dummer→Excavationin Warsaw and Douro-Dummer→Landscapingin Warsaw and Douro-Dummer→Septic installationin Keene and Otonabee-South Monaghan→Excavationin Keene and Otonabee-South Monaghan→Landscapingin Keene and Otonabee-South Monaghan→Septic installationin Norwood and Havelock→Excavationin Norwood and Havelock→Landscapingin Norwood and Havelock→Every area we coverMap and full list→

Ready to clear the site, Lakefield, Bridgenorth and Ennismore?

Send the form and an owner calls you back today. Or call now and talk to the person who will dig the job.

Call (705) 208-7121
Get your free demolition quote
A few quick questions. An owner calls you back today.
Prefer to talk? Call (705) 208-7121
Thor Construction Company
Bobcaygeon, Ontario · Serving Central Ontario, north of the GTA
  • (705) 208-7121
  • jp@thorconstruction.ca
  • Bobcaygeon, Ontario

Services

Septic installation

Excavation

Landscaping

Hardscaping

Shoreline restoration

Demolition

Service areas

Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls

Lindsay and south Kawartha Lakes

Buckhorn and Trent Lakes

Peterborough and the Kawarthas

Haliburton and Minden

Orillia, Severn and Ramara

Barrie and South Simcoe

Muskoka: Gravenhurst, Bracebridge and Huntsville

Cobourg, Port Hope and Northumberland

Durham: Oshawa, Whitby, Pickering, Ajax, Clarington, Uxbridge and Port Perry

York: Markham, Stouffville, Newmarket, Aurora, King and Georgina

All service areas

Ready to take the next step in your project?

Yes, I want a quote

About · Gallery · Blog · Careers · Contact · Privacy

Call Now