Cherry Chase teardowns
Demolition Contractor in Cherry Chase, Sunnyvale
Cherry Chase is one of the west Sunnyvale neighborhoods where buyers pay for the location and the school assignment, then replace the house. We handle the teardown side of that plan, from the asbestos survey to a clean, graded lot.
Why Cherry Chase Houses Get Torn Down
The homes here went up in the 1950s and 1960s as single-story ranch houses and a good number of Eichlers. They were sized for families of that era: three bedrooms, one or two small baths, an attached garage and a modest backyard. Today's buyers usually want more space and new systems, and once they price out a full remodel of an old slab house, a rebuild often makes more sense.
That is why Cherry Chase sees steady teardown activity. Families who bought for the neighborhood schools, including Cherry Chase Elementary, often plan the new house before they even move in. The demolition is the first construction step, and when it runs smoothly, the builder starts on time.
Check the Single-Story Overlay Before a Cherry Chase Demolition
Some Eichler blocks in and around Cherry Chase have asked for, and in some cases received, single-story zoning overlays from the City of Sunnyvale. On those blocks a new two-story house may not be allowed, regardless of what a neighbor did years ago. The overlay applies to specific streets, not the whole neighborhood, so the only reliable answer is to check your parcel's zoning with the city planning division.
We bring this up at every Cherry Chase site visit because it changes the plan. If you can only build one story, you may want a larger footprint, which changes where trees, setbacks and utilities fall. Get that settled with your designer before the house comes down.
Eichler Slabs and Ranch Foundations in West Sunnyvale
Two very different foundations show up on Cherry Chase teardowns. Eichlers sit on a slab with radiant heating pipe embedded in it, and that pipe has to be separated from the broken concrete for recycling. Ranch houses here are usually on a plain slab or a short perimeter foundation with a small crawl space. Either way, builders almost always want all of it removed so the new foundation sits on undisturbed soil.
Your demolition permit comes from Sunnyvale's Building Safety Division, but it is not the first piece of paper. The air district wants a demolition notice, and that notice rests on an asbestos survey. If the survey turns up asbestos in the floor tile, ceiling texture or wall compound, a certified abatement contractor removes it first. We schedule them and wait for their clearance.
Working Close to Neighbors on Cherry Chase Lots
Cherry Chase lots are flat and regular, which makes equipment access simple from the street. The challenge is that houses on both sides are close, usually separated by a side yard and a wood fence. We keep dust down with water, keep the machine inside your property, and protect shared fences where the plan keeps them. Neighbors appreciate a heads-up, and we suggest you give one before demolition week.
Mature street trees and backyard trees are common here. If the city lists a tree as protected or your approval keeps it, we fence its root zone before anything else happens on site.
Demolition Work We Handle in Cherry Chase
Full Teardowns for New Homes
We remove the house, attached garage, slab, footings and old driveway, then rough grade the lot. Your builder starts with a clean pad instead of leftover concrete.
Eichler Slab Removal
Radiant-heat slabs are broken out with the heating pipe separated for metal recycling. If you want Eichler paneling or beams saved first, we pull them before demolition.
Pool and Patio Removal
Many Cherry Chase backyards have an old pool or a large patio. We remove them in the same job so the new house plan is not limited by what is buried out back.
Permit and Utility Coordination
We handle the survey, the air district notice, the Sunnyvale demolition permit, PG&E cutoffs and the city water and sewer disconnects, in that order.
Demolition services in Cherry Chase
Demolition Services in Cherry Chase
Demolition FAQs
Cherry Chase Teardown FAQ
Can I build two stories after tearing down my Cherry Chase home?
It depends on your street. Some Eichler blocks in this area carry a single-story overlay. Check your parcel's zoning with Sunnyvale planning before you commit to demolition.
Which office signs off on a Cherry Chase teardown?
The City of Sunnyvale Building Safety Division. The air district also needs to be notified before demolition, with an asbestos survey behind the notice. We file both.
What drives teardown cost on a Cherry Chase lot?
House size, Eichler versus plain slab, asbestos findings, a pool or detached structures, and trees that need protection. We price it after walking the property.
Will the radiant heat pipe in an Eichler slab be recycled?
Yes. We separate the metal pipe from the broken concrete so both can be recycled, which also helps meet the city's construction waste rules.
Demolition quote
Price a Cherry Chase House Demolition
Tell us the street, the type of house and what you plan to build. We reply within 24 hours and set up a walk-through of the lot.
- Permits
- Demolition
- Haul-off