For homeowners planning a knockdown rebuild, the demolition phase is the first major milestone, and understanding how long it takes is essential for scheduling the broader project. The good news is that demolition is generally the fastest phase of the entire process. The bad news is that the approval stage beforehand can take considerably longer than the demolition itself.
The Demolition Timeline: Overview
From deciding to demolish to having a clear, level site ready for construction, you should typically allow 6–16 weeks. Here's how that breaks down:
Week 1–2: Engage a Demolisher and Obtain Quotes
Contact licensed demolition contractors, arrange site inspections, and receive detailed quotes. Don't accept quotes without a site inspection, the pricing difference between a thorough and a superficial quote can be significant when unexpected issues arise during works.
Week 2–4: Asbestos Inspection and Reporting
Any home built before 1990 requires a licensed asbestos assessor to inspect the property and prepare an asbestos register before demolition can commence. This typically takes 1–2 weeks to arrange and receive a report.
Week 3–8: Building Permit and Council Asset Protection Permit
A building permit for demolition must be issued by a registered building surveyor before work starts. Simultaneously, most Melbourne councils require an asset protection permit to protect footpaths and kerbs. These applications can take 2–6 weeks depending on the council and the complexity of the application.
Week 6–10: Service Disconnections
Before demolition, all utilities must be disconnected and capped. Electricity, gas, water, and sewer all require separate disconnection requests through your utility providers. Lead times vary, electricity and gas are usually 1–2 weeks, sewer can take longer. These can often be progressed in parallel with the permit process.
Week 8–12: Demolition Works
The actual demolition of a standard single-storey Melbourne home typically takes 3–7 working days for the main demolition phase, plus a further 1–2 weeks for site clearance, removal of rubble, and final levelling. Larger or more complex homes take longer. If friable asbestos has been identified, specialist removal works must be completed before general demolition can proceed, this can add 1–2 weeks.
What Affects the Timeline?
- Asbestos: Friable asbestos requires specialist removal that must be complete before general demolition begins, adding time and cost.
- Access: Sites with limited access require smaller machinery and more manual work, slower and more expensive.
- Council responsiveness: Some councils process permits faster than others. Inner suburban councils tend to be busier and slower.
- Heritage considerations: If the property is in a heritage overlay, the permit process may be considerably more involved.
Planning Your Overall Build Schedule
When planning a knockdown rebuild, allow the demolition process to run in parallel with your design and planning permit phase wherever possible. Your architect can be working on your new home design while the demolisher is managing approvals, meaning the site is cleared and ready approximately when your planning permit is secured.
Varcon's project management team coordinates this process carefully, ensuring the demolition timeline aligns with the construction programme so your build can commence as soon as the site is ready.
