Based in Indian Trail, NC · serving the Charlotte metro and Union County
Land Clearing · Grading · Free Estimates (980) 315-5707
Cornerstone Excavation Group
Demolition Contractor in Indian Trail, NC
Our Services

Demolition Contractor in Indian Trail, NC

Demolition · Indian Trail, NC

Old structures taken down and hauled off the lot

Cornerstone Excavation Group is a demolition contractor based in Indian Trail, on the east side of Charlotte. We take down houses, garages, sheds, outbuildings and light commercial buildings. The slabs, driveways and old foundations under them come out in the same trip. Broken concrete and debris go onto our dump trucks for debris and concrete hauling.

Most demolition work sits inside a bigger project. A house comes down so a new one can go up on the lot. Once the structure is gone we can grade the lot flat and set the drainage. We are 5.0-rated on Google, and estimates are free after a look at the building in person.

What We Handle

  • Residential demolition: houses, garages, sheds and backyard outbuildings
  • Light commercial demolition, small structures up to larger buildings
  • Fire-damaged and abandoned structures taken down and cleared
  • The slab and foundation under a building broken out once it is down
  • Full debris removal and site cleanup once the structure is down
  • Rubble piles and debris from old structures dug out and hauled away
  • Abandoned septic tanks pulled out as part of a site cleanup
  • The lot rough graded after demolition so the next build can start

Free Demolition Quote

Tell us about the job. We will get right back to you.

House demolition, garages and light commercial buildings

A house or garage comes down in pieces. We bring the structure down with an excavator and load it as we go. The foundation and the slab come out once the building is flat. We leave the ground bare and clean.

A shed or a small outbuilding comes down quickly. A house or a light commercial building takes longer, and access decides a lot of it. The machines need a way in and a place to load trucks. Trees and brush in the way come out under land clearing on the same visit.

Fire-damaged and abandoned structures are part of this work. In Clover, South Carolina, we took down a fire-damaged building that had been left abandoned. The concrete foundation remnants came out of the ground and everything was hauled off. The site was left cleared.

What happens to the slab and foundation after a teardown?

They come out once the structure is flat. We break up the slab, dig out the footings and load the pieces onto dump trucks, then backfill the hole and grade it level. Concrete with no building on it, like an old driveway, patio or walkway, is its own job: see concrete removal.

Some of it is buried. We have cleaned up a rubble pile and found a slab underneath it. We have dug an abandoned septic tank out of a backyard where it had started to sink. Both went out on the truck.

Union County and the rest of the Piedmont sit on red clay. It packs hard around an old foundation and holds water in the hole once the concrete is out. We backfill with material that compacts and grade the surface to shed water. Lots headed for a new build go on to site prep and building pads.

Who pulls the permit for a demolition in Union County?

The property owner or the general contractor holds the permit on most demolition projects. In Union County, the county's Building Code Enforcement office issues it everywhere except Monroe and Waxhaw, which run their own. Mecklenburg County runs its own permitting on the Charlotte side. Confirm the requirements with the office that covers the address before a date gets set.

Power, gas, water and sewer have to be off before a building comes down. The owner schedules those disconnects with each utility company. We also want a locate in before anything gets dug, since old service lines still run to the structure. North Carolina law wants that notice in at least three full working days ahead.

Asbestos is a separate job from ours. North Carolina recommends an inspection by an NC-accredited asbestos inspector before any demolition, houses included. Commercial buildings and buildings with more than four units must be inspected, and their demolition notice goes in even when no asbestos turns up: to Mecklenburg County Air Quality on the Charlotte side, and to the state's Health Hazards Control Unit elsewhere. Accredited asbestos professionals handle the inspection and any removal, arranged by the owner or the builder.

Excavator parked on a stripped pad where a structure stood, old brick foundation remnants at the edge Excavator parked on a cleared gravel pad edged by woods after the debris was hauled off

Ready to get started?

Free estimates across the Charlotte metro, Union County and the York County side of South Carolina.

(980) 315-5707
How We Work

How a Job With Cornerstone Excavation Group Runs

From the first call to the last load hauled off, here is how it goes.

1

Call us

Call or text (980) 315-5707 and tell us what the job is. We ask what the access looks like and when you need it done.

2

We look at the site

We come out to see the ground, the access and where the water goes. The visit and the estimate are free.

3

The plan

We set how the equipment gets in, where the material goes and what order the work runs in. Utility locates go in through NC811 before we dig, and any permit stays in the owner or builder's name.

4

We do the work

The machines come in and the job gets done in the order we planned. Weather moves earthwork, so we tell you when the schedule shifts.

5

Cleanup and haul-off

Spoils, brush and demolition material leave on our dump trucks. We grade the ground back before the equipment comes off the site.

FAQ

Demolition Questions, Answered

Common questions about demolition across the Charlotte metro, Union County and the York County side of South Carolina. If yours is not here, call and ask.

Call (980) 315-5707

Do you handle the demolition permit?
The property owner or the general contractor usually pulls it, and most of our jobs run that way. Mecklenburg County, Union County, Monroe and Waxhaw each issue their own, so the address decides the office. Our guide to demolition permits around Charlotte covers who issues it where. Confirm the requirements there, then we work to the approved schedule.
Do I need an asbestos inspection before demolition?
North Carolina recommends one before any demolition, houses included, done by an NC-accredited asbestos inspector. Commercial buildings and buildings with more than four units must be inspected, and their demolition notice goes in at least 10 working days ahead even when the inspection finds nothing. In Mecklenburg County that notice goes to Mecklenburg County Air Quality, elsewhere to the state's Health Hazards Control Unit. The inspection and any removal belong to accredited asbestos professionals, not to us.
How long does a house demolition take?
Residential demolition usually runs one to three days once the permit and the utility disconnects are done. A shed or a small outbuilding is faster. A larger house or a light commercial building takes longer, and weather and access move the schedule.
What happens to the debris and the concrete?
It leaves on our dump trucks. Wood, roofing, siding and broken concrete get loaded as the structure comes down. Slabs and foundation pieces go out the same way, so the lot is clear when we leave.
What does a demolition job cost?
Size, what the building is made of, the concrete underneath and access for the machines all move the price. So does the number of truckloads leaving the property. A slab in an open backyard and a two-story house on a tight lot are different jobs. We look at the building in person, then give you a free estimate.
Can you take out an old inground pool?
Yes. The shell gets broken up, the pieces are loaded out, and the hole is backfilled and graded. Rules on filling in a pool vary by county, so check the address with yours first. New pool digs are a different service, see excavation for a new inground pool.
More From Cornerstone Excavation Group

Work That Pairs With Demolition

Mini excavator lifting out a broken concrete sidewalk beside a residential street, with a dump truck and a sidewalk closed sign

Concrete Removal

We break up and dig out old driveways, patios, slabs and footings, then haul the concrete away. The hole gets backfilled and graded for the next crew.

Learn More
Brush being loaded into a dump truck beside an excavator at a wooded lot clearing

Material Hauling

We haul spoils, brush, concrete and demolition debris off your site. We also bring in fill dirt, gravel and stone for the work we run.

Learn More
Compact track loader on a new gravel lot beside a steel framed commercial building with fresh curbing

Site Prep

We prepare lots for new homes and commercial builds around Indian Trail and Charlotte. The work covers clearing, cut and fill, building pads, compaction and the first grade.

Learn More
Why Choose Cornerstone Excavation Group

Built for Land Clearing, Grading and Site Work Around Charlotte

25 five-star Google reviews

Homeowners, builders and property owners have rated the work five stars on Google. Those jobs cover grading, land clearing, demolition cleanup, drainage and a retaining wall.

Free estimates after we see the job

We come to the property, look at the ground and price the work from what is there. The visit and the estimate are free.

One contractor for the whole job

Clearing, grading, digging, utility lines, walls, ponds, drainage, demolition and hauling all come from us. One company handles each stage, so the site stays on one schedule.

Indian Trail base, Charlotte metro work

We work out of Indian Trail in Union County, on the Mecklenburg County line. Charlotte, Matthews, Monroe, Waxhaw, Mint Hill, Concord, Fort Mill and Rock Hill are all in range.

Google Reviews

5.0-Rated on Google by Charlotte-Area Property Owners

Real reviews from real grading, clearing and excavation jobs on Google.

Read All Reviews

These guys are excellent. Excellent pricing and top tier work. I contacted them about grading and pushing a debris piles. A couple days later, they completed the job. This literally was the easiest communication I've had with a company. Awesome, awesome, awesome! I will be using them again for sure. No question about it!

Darnell Rondo8 months ago · Google review

Cornerstone Excavation Group did an outstanding job on my property. They handled tree removal, land clearing, and grading, and the entire process was smooth from start to finish. Communication was clear and consistent, and they showed up when they said they would, which I really appreciated.The crew was professional, respectful, and clearly knew what they were doing. They removed multiple trees, cleared the land efficiently, and graded everything perfectly in preparation for the next phase. The property looked completely transformed when they were finished, and the site was left clean and well organized.It’s easy to tell they take pride in their work. The quality, attention to detail, and reliability really stood out compared to other companies I’ve worked with. I would absolutely use Cornerstone Excavation Group again and highly recommend them to anyone needing tree removal, land clearing, or grading done right.

Daniel Murphy10 months ago · Google review

Cornerstone Excavation Group did an excellent job grading the front of my property while my house was being built. The work was done professionally, efficiently, and exactly as promised. The site was left clean, the grading was precise, and it made a big difference in the overall look and drainage of the property. I would highly recommend them to anyone needing excavation or grading work.

Guides and Resources

Demolition Guides

Free Estimates

Get In Touch With Cornerstone Excavation Group

Tell us about the job on the form, or call (980) 315-5707. We will get back to you and set up a free look at the site.

  • (980) 315-5707
  • Indian Trail, NC · serving the Charlotte metro, Union County and the York County side of South Carolina
  • Free estimates · land clearing, grading, site prep, utility lines and demolition

Get a Free Quote

Tell us about the job. We will get right back to you.

Call (980) 315-5707