Tools · Demolition
Deck demolition cost
Tear-down + haul-away pricing for an existing wood deck in the GTA. Pricing reflects what most contractors line-item separately from the new build — so you can sanity-check the “remove old deck” line on your quote without guessing.
Existing deck removal cost
Tear-down + haul-away on a standard wood deck. Asbestos and hidden concrete are excluded.
Existing deck size
16 ft × 12 ft = 192 sq ftDisposal method
Extras
Estimated removal cost
192 sq ft tear-down + haul-away, before HST
- Tear-down labour$750 – $1,550
- Disposal$350 – $650
Pre-2000 decks sometimes have asbestos-containing flashing or paint — that requires a licensed abatement crew and is not priced here. Hidden buried slabs or excessive root systems under the existing deck can also push costs higher.
How demolition is priced
Most GTA contractors quote deck removal as two separate numbers: a per-square-foot tear-down labour rate, plus a flat disposal charge. The labour rate covers two crew on site with pry bars, reciprocating saws, and a deck-screw removal pass — assuming the deck comes apart in standard board-and-joist pieces. Disposal is whichever is cheaper: a roll-off bin rental on the driveway (typical for decks over ~180 sq ft) or a pickup truck plus transfer-station tipping fee (cheaper for small decks).
The tool shows both components so you can match them to the line items on a real quote. If your contractor bundles them into one number, your installed total should still land inside the range here.
What’s included
- Crew labour for board, joist, and ledger removal
- Roll-off bin rental OR truck + tipping fee
- Site cleanup, including a sweep for fasteners and screws
- Optional: concrete footing removal (selectable above; usually the new deck reuses the footing locations, so contractors leave them in place)
What’s excluded
- Asbestos. Pre-2000 decks occasionally have asbestos-containing flashing, joint compound around a ledger tie-in, or paint. Abatement is a licensed-crew job and is quoted separately; this tool does not estimate it.
- Hidden concrete. Buried slabs under the existing deck, old footings poured deeper than current code, or piers under a hot tub pad will push costs up.
- Tree-root entanglement. Decks built around mature trees often have roots through the footing pattern that add real labour at removal.
- Restricted-access yards. If the only way to the deck is through the house or a 30-inch side gate, expect a labour-rate premium.
- HST
Disposal — bin vs truck
Roll-off bins in the GTA run roughly $350–650 for a 10–14 cubic yard bin, including delivery and pickup. That’s the cheaper unit cost once you’re over about 180 sq ft of deck — anything bigger generates more debris than a truck can comfortably move in one or two loads. For decks under 180 sq ft, the truck-and-tip option (typically $180–380 including fuel, labour, and transfer-station fees) is usually cheaper. Tipping fees at GTA transfer stations are set by weight, so wet pressure-treated wood tips more than dry cedar.
DIY removal vs hiring a contractor
Tearing down a small ground-level deck is plausible DIY — mainly time and a few rented tools. Where DIY breaks down is the disposal: a bin still costs the same whether you fill it yourself or the crew does, and most homeowners under-estimate the volume of waste a deck generates. Budget at least a weekend for a 10 × 12 ft DIY tear-down and confirm your municipality accepts treated wood at the transfer station you plan to use.
What to do next
If you’re also building a new deck on the same footprint, run the full deck cost calculator with the “Tear down existing deck” toggle on — the engine uses the same per-square-foot demolition rate as this tool. If you’re only removing the railing, the railing tool is the better starting point.