Structures We Tear Down
Detached garages
The classic: a garage from the 1950s that leans, leaks, and holds nothing you'd miss. We take down single- and two-car detached garages, haul everything, and either remove the slab or leave it swept clean for whatever's next. Regional pricing typically runs $2,300–$3,700 for a standard detached garage; the broad range for garage demolition is about $750–$5,000 depending on size, slab removal, and access.
Sheds and outbuildings
Metal sheds, wooden sheds, kit buildings, playhouses, dilapidated coops. Small sheds often run a few hundred dollars to around $1,500 removed and hauled — and sheds ride along nearly free when we're already on site for a bigger job, so mention everything you want gone when you call.
Barns
From backyard pole barns in Ooltewah to genuinely large hay barns out toward Soddy-Daisy and North Georgia, barn demolition runs roughly $1,500–$10,000 depending on size, height, and condition. One honest note: if your barn has weathered oak or heart-pine beams and siding in recoverable condition, reclaimed barn wood has real market value — we'll tell you before demo day, because that value should be yours, not a surprise in someone else's trailer.
Carports
Metal and wood-frame carports come down fast — usually $300–$1,200 including haul-off, plus slab removal if you want the pad gone too.
Decks, porches and stairs
Rotten decks and sagging porches are one-day jobs, typically $500–$2,000 by size and attachment. Where a porch ties into the house structure, we cut it away cleanly and leave the house side weather-protected until your rebuild.
Chimneys
Failing chimneys — leaning stacks, spalling brick, the chimney serving a furnace that left decades ago — removed to the roofline, to the attic, or all the way down, with the roof or wall properly closed against weather. Typically $800–$3,500 depending on how far down it goes and how tall the house is.
What Every Small Demo Job Includes
Small job, full standard:
- Firm quote first — from photos in most cases, priced as the whole job
- Utility check — old garages surprisingly often have live power; barns sometimes have water. Lines are verified dead and safely capped before demo. Where a disconnect is needed, we coordinate it (EPB for electric in most of our area).
- Complete teardown — structure to the ground, including posts and footings unless you want them left
- Full haul-off — debris to a permitted facility, metal recycled, no burn pile, no "we'll come back for it"
- Slab and grade options — concrete pad broken and hauled (see concrete removal) or left clean; footprint raked and rough-graded
- Permit handled if required — accessory-structure demolition inside the City of Chattanooga generally goes through the same OpenGov permit process as any other demo, and we pull it when it's needed; our permits guide has details
One material caution that applies to small structures more than people expect: old garage and barn roofing and siding — especially cement-asbestos shingles common on mid-century outbuildings — are asbestos suspects. Suspect materials get tested before they're disturbed. It's a quick step, and it's the difference between a clean job and a contaminated one.
Why the "Too Small to Quote" Job Is Our Favorite
Because it's simple to do well. A garage teardown doesn't need a project manager and a six-week schedule — it needs someone to answer the phone, show up when they said, take it down without flattening your fence, and leave nothing behind. That's the standard here, and it's why sheds get quoted with a straight face.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to demolish a garage?
Garage demolition generally runs $750–$5,000, with a standard detached garage in this region typically landing between $2,300 and $3,700 including haul-off. Slab removal, alley vs. backyard access, and size set the number. Photos get you a same-day quote — call or text (423) 451-8391.
How much does barn demolition cost?
Roughly $1,500–$10,000 in this region — a small pole barn sits at the bottom, a large two-story hay barn at the top. If your barn has salvageable reclaimed wood, tell us; it can offset your cost.
Do I need a permit to tear down a garage or shed in Chattanooga?
Inside the city, demolition of accessory structures like garages generally requires a demolition permit through the city's process; small sheds often don't, and county and Georgia rules differ. We confirm what your address requires and pull whatever's needed — it's included, not extra.
How long does it take?
Most garages, carports, decks, and sheds are down and hauled in one day; larger garages with slab removal and most barns take two. Scheduling is usually within a week or two of your go-ahead.
Can you take the concrete slab too?
Yes — we quote every garage and carport both ways, slab-in and slab-out, so you can decide with numbers. Slab removal details are on our concrete removal page.
The structure is full of junk. Do I have to empty it first?
No — contents removal can be added to the quote. Emptying it yourself saves some money; leaving it to us saves your weekend. Just tell us which when you send photos so the quote is accurate.