Demolition

Selective Demolition Services in Michigan. Precise, Permitted, and Done Right the First Time.

Demolition is rarely the end goal. It is the step that makes everything else possible. Whether you are clearing a fire-damaged structure so rebuilding can begin, removing a hazardous section of a commercial building, or preparing a site for new construction, the quality of the demolition work directly affects everything that comes after it. Lyon Restoration provides licensed selective demolition services across Michigan, with the experience to remove exactly what needs to come out, protect what needs to stay, and leave the site clean, safe, and ready for the next phase of work.
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Licensed and Insured in Michigan | Permitted Work on Every Project | Serving Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and New Hudson | Residential and Commercial

Why Demolition in a Restoration Context Is Different From General Demolition

If you have worked with a general demolition crew before, you know what that typically looks like. A machine moves in, structural material comes down, and debris goes to a dumpster. Speed and volume are the metrics that matter.

Demolition as part of a restoration project works differently. The goal is not to remove everything. It is to remove exactly what is damaged, contaminated, or structurally compromised, nothing more, while protecting the materials and systems that are sound and salvageable. That requires a different kind of judgment, a different level of care, and a crew that understands building materials well enough to know the difference between what is gone and what can stay.

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Demolition Services We Provide Across Michigan

Selective Interior Demolition

The most common type of demolition in a restoration context. We remove specific sections of drywall, flooring, ceiling assemblies, insulation, framing members, and cabinetry that have been damaged by fire, water, or mold, while leaving adjacent materials intact. Selective demolition in a residential or commercial restoration project requires care and precision that general demolition crews are not typically set up to provide.

We do this work in:

  • occupied buildings
  • historic structures with original materials that need to be protected
  • live commercial properties where areas outside the work zone need to remain operational

Containment, dust control, and methodical removal are standard practices on every selective demo project we take on.

Post-Fire Structure Removal

After a fire, determining what structure can be saved and what needs to come out is a critical judgment call that affects both the cost and the timeline of the full restoration. We assess fire-damaged structural components, document our findings for insurance purposes, and remove the compromised material with the precision that rebuilding requires. Leaving structurally weakened material in place to save scope is a mistake that shows up during the rebuild phase, and we do not make it.

Post-Flood and Water Damage Demolition

Water damage demolition focuses on removing saturated materials that cannot be dried and salvaged:

  • waterlogged drywall
  • compromised subflooring
  • water-damaged insulation
  • structural framing weakened by prolonged moisture exposure

We work in coordination with our water damage restoration team to ensure that the demolition and drying phases are sequenced correctly and that no material is removed prematurely or left in place longer than it should be.

Mold-Contaminated Material Removal

Removing mold-contaminated building materials is a specialized process that takes place within containment and under negative air pressure, with full PPE for technicians and HEPA air filtration running throughout. We remove and dispose of mold-affected drywall, insulation, and wood materials in compliance with applicable regulations. This work is integrated into our mold remediation process and follows established IICRC and EPA guidelines for microbial remediation.

Hazardous Material Abatement

Older Michigan properties, particularly those built before the 1980s, frequently contain asbestos in:

  • insulation
  • floor tile
  • ceiling tile
  • pipe wrap
  • joint compound

and lead paint in interior and exterior finishes.

Before any demolition work begins on a property of this age, hazardous material testing and abatement are required by law and by basic safety standards.

We conduct hazardous material surveys before demolition and manage certified abatement of identified materials before any removal work begins. This step is not optional, and on restoration jobs, it is not something that can be discovered and addressed mid-project without significant delays and cost implications. We identify it early so the project stays on schedule.

Site Preparation and Debris Management

Once demolition is complete, we handle full site clearing, debris sorting, and responsible disposal. Materials that can be recycled, including scrap metal and concrete, are directed to appropriate recycling facilities rather than landfills wherever possible. We leave the site clean, documented, and ready for the next phase of work, whether that is our own construction and restoration team or a contractor you are bringing in separately.

Demolition Services We Provide Across Michigan

Pre-Project Assessment and Planning

We begin with a thorough site walkthrough to document existing conditions, identify structural elements that need to be protected, and assess the scope of what needs to come out. For restoration projects, this assessment is coordinated with the overall restoration plan so demolition and subsequent work phases are properly sequenced.

Hazardous Material Survey and Abatement

Before physical demolition begins, we test for the presence of asbestos, lead, and other regulated materials in the areas to be disturbed. Where hazardous materials are identified, certified abatement is completed under proper protocols before any other removal work. Permits are obtained, and documentation is provided.

Permitting and Regulatory Compliance

We handle all required permits for demolition work in Michigan. Requirements vary by municipality and project scope, and navigating that process is part of what we do, not an administrative burden we pass to you.

Controlled Demolition Execution

With planning and hazardous material work complete, our crew executes the demolition with precision. Containment barriers protect unaffected areas. Adjacent systems, including plumbing, electrical, and mechanical systems that are not part of the removal scope, are protected throughout the process. Work proceeds methodically and is documented at each stage for insurance and project management purposes.

Debris Sorting, Disposal, and Recycling

Demolition debris is sorted at the site. Recyclable materials, including metal, concrete, and certain construction materials, are separated for recycling. Hazardous material waste that has been abated is disposed of through licensed disposal channels with required manifests. General debris is cleared and removed cleanly.

Site Documentation and Handoff

When demolition is complete, we provide a documented account of what was removed, what was found behind finished surfaces, and the condition of the structure at the point of handoff. For restoration projects, this documentation feeds directly into the rebuild scope and insurance claim. For projects where we are handing off to a separate contractor, it gives them a clean, understood starting point

Who We Do Demolition Work For

Homeowners Recovering From Property Damage

When a fire, flood, or mold event has damaged your home to the point where sections of the structure need to come out before rebuilding can begin, Lyon Restoration manages the demolition phase as part of the broader restoration project. You do not need to find a separate demolition contractor and coordinate two crews. We handle the removal and transition directly to the rebuild with our own construction team.

Commercial Property Owners and Property Managers

Selective demolition in an operating commercial building requires careful planning around tenant activity, operational schedules, and regulatory requirements. We have experience working in occupied commercial properties with active tenants, sequencing work to minimize disruption and maintaining safety protocols that meet commercial building standards throughout the project.

Insurance-Based Restoration Projects

When a property damage claim involves structural removal, the scope of demolition work needs to be documented thoroughly and justified clearly to the insurance carrier. We document every phase of demolition work for insurance purposes, from the initial assessment through the final site clearing, so that the scope is clear and the claim is supported by a complete record.

Why Michigan Property Owners Work With Lyon Restoration for Demolition

Restoration Context Sets Us Apart

Our demolition crews understand buildings the way restoration contractors do, which is at the level of individual materials, systems, and their interactions. When we take down a section of fire-damaged framing or remove water-saturated flooring, we are doing it with an understanding of how that removal affects the rebuild, not just how quickly the material comes out.

Licensed, Insured, and Permitted on Every Job

We are fully licensed and insured for demolition work in Michigan, and we obtain all required permits as part of our standard process. This matters for your liability as a property owner and for your insurance claim documentation.

Hazardous Material Expertise

Michigan's older housing stock means hazardous materials are a common discovery on demolition projects across Detroit, Ann Arbor, Lansing, and Kalamazoo. We are experienced with pre-demolition hazardous material surveys and certified abatement procedures, and we integrate this work into the project timeline rather than treating it as a surprise delay.

Coordinated With the Rebuild Phase

For Lyon Restoration clients who are moving from demolition into a full rebuild, the transition is managed by the same team. There is no gap between what was removed and what gets rebuilt, and no documentation is lost in a handoff between separate contractors. The project manager who oversaw the demolition is the same person coordinating the construction phase.

Environmental Responsibility

We sort and recycle demolition debris wherever possible, diverting metal, concrete, and salvageable materials from the landfill. On restoration projects, this approach also sometimes reduces disposal costs, which can benefit insurance claim settlements.

Michigan-Wide Service From a Southeast Michigan Base

Lyon Restoration is headquartered in New Hudson at 44 Charlevoix St, New Hudson, MI 48165, and provides demolition services across our full Michigan service area, including Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, and surrounding communities.

Our Certifications

Certification Number:93796

Certified and licensed by IICRC, in Water damage restoring and Applied Microbial Remediation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Demolition Services in Michigan

It depends on the scope and your municipality. Removing non-structural finishes in a private residence typically does not require a permit. Structural demolition, exterior work, or demolition that affects mechanical, electrical, or plumbing systems in a commercial building almost always does. We assess permit requirements for every project and obtain what is needed as part of our standard process.

We establish physical containment barriers, use dust control measures appropriate to the work, and protect adjacent mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that are not part of the removal scope. In occupied buildings, we work in contained zones that allow the rest of the property to remain in use wherever the overall project scope allows it.

We stop physical removal work in the identified area, test and confirm the hazardous material, and engage certified abatement before continuing. If we are conducting a pre-demolition hazardous material survey as part of the project planning phase, which we recommend on any property built before 1985, these discoveries happen before demolition begins rather than during it, which keeps the project on schedule.

Yes. Complete debris removal, sorting, and responsible disposal are part of our demolition scope. Recyclable materials are directed to appropriate facilities. Regulated waste, including abated hazardous material, is disposed of through licensed channels with required documentation.

Yes. This is actually the most straightforward path for restoration clients. Our construction and restoration team handles the full project from initial damage assessment through demolition and rebuilding. A single point of contact, coordinated documentation for your insurance claim, and no handoff gap between the removal phase and the rebuild phase.

Ready to Talk Through Your Demolition Project?

Whether you are recovering from property damage and need to clear a damaged structure before rebuilding can begin, or you are planning a renovation that requires selective interior demolition, Lyon Restoration has the licensing, experience, and restoration expertise to do the job correctly.

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