"We hired MNBE to build our ADU in Bellevue, and the entire experience was amazing. They handled everything from foundations and framing to kitchen, siding, windows and HVAC."
Zena Heywood
Bellevue, WA · Attached ADU
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
Seattle Teardown Rebuild Builder
MNBE demolishes the existing house and builds a new custom home on the cleared lot, demo and build under one fixed price contract. Demo permits, asbestos coordination, utility disconnects, and site grading across Bellevue, Mercer Island, and the Eastside. King, Snohomish & Pierce County.
Demo + build, one contract
Asbestos coordinated
Founder supervised
Demo + Build
When the lot is worth more than the house.
A teardown rebuild is when the existing house on a lot is demolished and a new custom home is built in its place. MNBE handles the whole sequence end to end across Seattle and the Eastside, from demo permits, asbestos testing, and utility disconnects through site grading and full new build construction, so you never juggle a separate demolition contractor and a separate builder.
The pattern is familiar in Bellevue, Mercer Island, and Eastside infill neighborhoods: a 1950s rambler or a 1970s split level sits on a 7,500 to 12,000 sq ft lot whose land value far exceeds the value of the existing house. A remodel is poor economics, so a from scratch new home maximizes the lot. The teardown phase typically adds a few weeks versus building on a vacant lot, and from a clean foundation onward the construction is standard new build sequencing. If you already own land or are weighing options, compare a lot owner custom home build, an infill new construction project, or order a site feasibility study first.
Schedule Free Estimate
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
Teardown Rebuilds · 2026
What the numbers actually look like.
Honest timelines from a builder who runs teardown rebuilds every year. See the full new construction lineup.
16to 22 months
Contract to keys
Design, permits, demolition, and construction from signed contract to certificate of occupancy.
6demo steps
Demolition phase
From asbestos test to a clean, graded lot ready for the new foundation pour.
4to 8 weeks
Demo + grading
The teardown and site grading window, before standard new build sequencing begins.
1985
Asbestos cutoff
WA requires testing on any structure built before 1985 prior to demolition.
What does a teardown rebuild cost?
Priced to your project.
Demolition is priced by house size, materials, and hazardous material content, never a generic number. A pre-1985 wood frame house carries asbestos testing and possible abatement, and utility work shifts depending on whether the existing water, gas, electrical, and sewer services can be reused or new services are required from the street. We walk the property, then fold the demo line item into one written fixed price that also covers design, permits, and the new build, so there is nothing hidden and the number we sign is the number we build to.
Every MNBE teardown rebuild includes
- Demo permit, asbestos testing, and abatement if needed
- Utility disconnects and new connections engineered for the load
- Demolition, recycling, hauling, and final site grading
- Architectural design, structural coordination, and inspections
- One fixed price contract, founder supervised
The Demolition Phase
Six steps from existing house to clean lot.
Before the new build begins, we clear the lot the right way. Here is exactly how the teardown phase runs, start to finish.
01
Asbestos testing
Required for pre-1985 structures in WA. Sample collection, lab analysis, and a written report. We coordinate the certified inspector.
Week 1 to 3
02
Asbestos abatement
If the test finds friable asbestos, a certified crew removes it under WA L&I rules before demolition begins.
Week 3 to 5
03
Demo permit + disconnects
City demo permit issued. Water, sewer, gas, and electrical disconnected with utility coordination, and existing meters removed.
Week 4 to 6
04
Demolition
Mechanical demolition of the structure. Materials separated for recycling per WA rules. Foundation removed if not being reused.
Week 6 to 8
05
Grading + erosion control
Site graded to design specifications for the new build. Erosion control installed per the drainage plan, then final demo inspection.
Week 8 to 9
06
New construction begins
Foundation pour for the new home starts. From this point forward the sequence is standard new build.
Week 9+
Reviews
What Seattle homeowners say about building with MNBE.
Verified five star reviews from owners who built new, rebuilt, or renovated their home with us across Seattle and the Eastside.
"We hired MNBE for a full renovation of our 100 year old home and the results exceeded expectations, structural upgrades, new insulation, a luxury bathroom, a high end kitchen, a new roof and mini split AC."
Dave Gierok
Sammamish, WA · Whole home renovation
"We hired MNBE for a major exterior renovation: a 900 sq ft custom deck with metal railings, full exterior painting and new siding. From start to finish the experience was exceptional, responsive, meticulous and patient."
Santosh S.
Redmond, WA · Deck & exterior
Schedule Free Estimate
4.8 STAR RATED40+ CUSTOMER REVIEWS
LICENSED · BONDED& FULLY INSURED
FAQs · What Clients Ask Us
Teardown rebuild questions Seattle homeowners ask before they sign.
Six practical answers from a builder who runs teardown rebuilds every year. If yours is not here, call us. We answer the phone Monday through Saturday.
A teardown rebuild is when the existing house on a lot is demolished and a new custom home is built in its place. It is common in Bellevue, Mercer Island, Eastside infill neighborhoods, and Seattle's affluent residential zones, where the lot value far exceeds the value of the existing structure. The lot is typically valuable enough that a remodel is poor economics compared to a from scratch new build.
Yes. WA state law requires asbestos testing on any structure built before 1985 prior to demolition, and even some 1985 to 1990 homes get tested out of caution. We coordinate the test, the abatement if needed, and the regulatory paperwork. Asbestos testing typically takes 2 to 3 weeks. Abatement, if required, varies widely by scope and is folded into your fixed price bid.
Plan on 16 to 22 months from signed contract to certificate of occupancy. The breakdown is roughly 3 to 4 months of design, 3 to 6 months of permits, with the demo and new construction permits running in parallel, 4 to 8 weeks of demolition and site grading, and 8 to 12 months of construction. Demolition itself is the short part.
Demolition is priced by house size, materials, and hazardous material content, and it covers the demo permit, asbestos testing, asbestos abatement if needed, hauling, and final site grading. We include the line item in your fixed price bid so there is nothing hidden, and the number we sign is the number we build to.
Sometimes, but rarely the right answer. WA Energy Code, structural code, and seismic requirements have all tightened significantly since most older homes were built. Reusing an old foundation often triggers expensive engineering modifications and is rarely worth it compared to a new foundation engineered for current code. The math usually favors clean demolition and a new foundation.
We publish every question Seattle homeowners ask us about teardowns, permitting, and new construction. Browse the full FAQ library for expert guidance.
View all FAQs
Contact Us · Free Estimate
Tell us about your project.
We'll get back to you within one business day with a clear next step.
Contact information
Thank you for considering MNBE for your teardown rebuild project. We respond within one business day, Monday through Saturday.
(206) 637 0044
info@mnbe-wa.com
2014 Fairview Ave Unit 2308, Seattle, WA 98121