Demolition, Excavation and Site Preparation
Sites prepared properly, so everything built on them starts right.
Demolition, Excavation and Site Preparation in Toronto and across Ontario
Every project starts in the ground. Demolition, excavation and grading set up everything that follows, and mistakes at this stage ripple through the entire schedule and budget.
We prepare sites for commercial, residential and public projects: demolition and removals, clearing, excavation, grading, erosion and sediment control, and excess soil management. Before any dig we request locates through Ontario Dig Authority, and we plan around utilities, neighbours, groundwater and conservation authority requirements.
Harborline Sterling Construction Inc. is principal-led. One of our co-founders, Mansoor Alam Khan or Maqsood Mohammed, oversees every project, so decisions get made quickly and you always know who is accountable.
What demolition, excavation and site preparation includes
Every project is different, but these are the parts of the work we take responsibility for.
Demolition and removals
Building, interior and site demolition, with a designated substance survey first and any abatement by qualified specialists before hazardous materials are disturbed.
Clearing and excavation
Clearing, topsoil stripping, and bulk and detailed excavation, with shoring where needed.
Grading
Rough and fine grading to the approved grading plan, so water moves where it should.
Erosion and sediment control
Silt fencing, mud mats, catch basin protection and stabilization that keep sediment out of sewers and watercourses.
Excess soil management
Soil sampling, tracking and registry filings under Ontario's excess soil regulation, and reuse of soil on site where possible.
How the work runs
The same disciplined backbone we use on every project, adapted for this kind of work.
Investigate
Drawings, geotechnical report, utilities and site constraints.
Plan
Locates, permits, and erosion control, traffic and excess soil plans.
Execute
Demolition, excavation and grading, with daily site records.
Hand off
Survey checks and a site ready for the next stage.
Public owners and private clients
The same standards apply whether the owner is a municipality or a condominium board.
Sewers, Watermains and Site Servicing
Storm and sanitary sewers, watermains, service connections and stormwater management.
Learn moreRoads, Paving and Parking Lots
Road reconstruction and resurfacing, asphalt paving and parking lots, built to OPSS and municipal standards.
Learn moreCommercial New Construction
Ground-up commercial buildings, from site work through final closeout.
Learn moreWhy choose us for demolition and site preparation
What municipalities, agencies and private owners can count on, on every contract.
Built to public standards
Work planned to Ontario Provincial Standards (OPSS and OPSD) and each owner's specifications, with testing and inspection built into the schedule.
Safe work zones
Traffic control to Ontario Traffic Manual Book 7, locates through Ontario Dig Authority before every dig, and site safety under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Accessible by design
Curb ramps, tactile walking surface indicators, paths, play spaces and parking built to the AODA Design of Public Spaces Standards where they apply.
Other ways we can help
Many projects combine services. Ask us how they fit together for yours.
Also from Harborline Sterling
Related reading
Planning a projectHow to Hire a Commercial Contractor in Ontario: 10 Things to Check
WSIB clearance, insurance, contracts, holdback and prompt payment: what to confirm before you sign.
Read article
ConstructionBuilding Through an Ontario Winter: What Owners Should Expect
Frost, concrete, heat and daylight: how winter affects cost and schedule, and how good planning keeps projects moving.
Read articleFrequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to demolish a building?
Yes. Demolishing all or part of a building needs a demolition permit from the municipality, and a designated substance survey is needed before work that could disturb materials such as asbestos.
Why do locates matter?
Hitting a gas line or power cable is dangerous and costly. Ontario law requires locates before digging, and we request them through Ontario Dig Authority, formerly Ontario One Call, before every excavation.
What happens to excess soil?
Soil leaving the site is managed under O. Reg. 406/19. Depending on the project, that can mean sampling, tracking loads and filing a notice in the Excess Soil Registry before removal.
Do you work near creeks and ravines?
Yes. Work in conservation authority regulated areas needs a permit from that authority, and we build the approval and erosion controls into the plan.
Can you prepare residential lots?
Yes. We excavate and grade for additions, garden structures, pools and landscaping, as well as larger commercial and subdivision sites.
Talk to us about your site
Put one accountable team in charge: on schedule, on budget, with permits and inspections handled the whole way.
Start your project
Tell us what you are planning. We will set up a straightforward conversation about scope, budget and timeline, with no obligation.