A clean demolition site is clear below the surface as well as on top: rubble screened out of the soil, old footings dealt with, asbestos properly removed and the block left ready for a builder.
A surface that looks tidy proves very little. Leftover debris tends to turn up months later, when a builder starts digging footings.
Here's what "clean" covers and what to ask before you sign.
Looks clean versus is clean
Once the building is down and the rubble is trucked away, almost any block looks finished. The part you can't see is what's still in the soil and under the surface.
That difference matters most to whoever builds next. A site can look completely clean and still hold debris underneath, and it's usually only found once the builder starts excavating for new footings. By then the demolisher has long gone.
What a sieve bucket does
A sieve bucket is an excavator attachment that screens rubble out of the soil as a site is cleared. The size of the screen matters: a finer screen catches smaller debris, such as brick chips and small rubble, that a coarser one lets straight through.
It's one of the few parts of a demolition where the quality of the work is hidden once the job is finished, which is why it's worth asking about up front. More on this in our guide to demolition salvage and recycling.
What can be left below the surface
- Rubble and brick chips in the soil. Small debris mixed through the top layer, which a sieve bucket is designed to catch.
- Old footings. Footings left in the ground are out of sight, and come to light when the new build is set out.
- Concrete that couldn't be recycled. Concrete with foam still embedded, from a waffle pod slab, can't go to a recycler until the foam is separated out. Plain concrete is normally recyclable. See why waffle pod slabs complicate concrete recycling.
- Asbestos that wasn't properly removed. Licensed removal and an independent clearance certificate are what show it was. See asbestos clearance certificates in Victoria.
What handover looks like
On a DigDig job, once the building is down the block is left bare corner to corner, groomed and track-rolled. Overhanging trees and shrubs from neighbouring properties are pruned back to the fence line, to a height of around 3 metres, provided they aren't in the tree protection zone. The aim is a blank slate a builder can start on straight away. For where handover sits in the overall timeline, see how long house demolition takes, and for trees see tree protection zones and house demolition.
Questions to ask your demolisher
- What size sieve screen do you run? Finer catches more.
- How do you leave the soil, not just the surface?
- Are the old footings and slab removed?
- What happens to the concrete? If the house is on a waffle pod slab, how is the foam separated?
- How is any asbestos removed and cleared? Ask to see the clearance certificate.
- What does the block look like at handover?
Common questions
What does a clean demolition site mean?
A site that is clear below the surface as well as on top: rubble screened out of the soil, old footings dealt with, any asbestos properly removed and cleared, and the block left bare and groomed so a builder can start straight away.
What is a sieve bucket used for in demolition?
A sieve bucket is an excavator attachment that screens rubble out of the soil as the site is cleared. A finer screen catches smaller debris, such as brick chips and small rubble, that a coarser screen lets through.
Why do builders find rubble in the soil after a demolition?
Debris left beneath the surface isn't visible once a block is cleared, so it is typically found when the builder starts digging footings. Screening the soil during demolition is meant to prevent that.
What is left on the block after DigDig demolishes a house?
The block is left bare corner to corner, groomed and track-rolled, with overhanging neighbouring trees and shrubs pruned back to the fence line to a height of around 3 metres, provided they are not in the tree protection zone.