When a commercial or industrial structure has reached the end of its useful life — or when a site needs to be cleared for new development — the teardown has to be handled by people who know what they’re doing. Channell Demolition provides full building demolition services for commercial and industrial properties throughout Memphis, Tennessee, and the surrounding region.
We work on large-scale projects: multi-story buildings, commercial facilities, industrial structures, and major structures that require careful planning and the right equipment to bring down safely. This is not residential house demo work. Our focus is on the kind of commercial and industrial demolition that most small operators in the area aren’t equipped to handle.
Channell Demolition is a Memphis-based commercial demolition company built around large-scale building teardowns — the kind of project that needs real planning, not just an excavator and a crew showing up.
WHAT THE SERVICE INCLUDES
A full building demolition project typically involves site assessment and planning before any physical work begins. We evaluate the structure, identify any materials that require special handling — including asbestos, if present — and plan the sequence of the teardown.
Once demolition is underway, we manage the structural removal, debris handling, and site clearing. When the job is complete, the site should be ready for whatever the next phase of your project requires, whether that’s new construction, grading, or further site work.
Our Tennessee contractor’s license covers the work we do, and we carry the appropriate insurance for commercial demolition projects.
WHO WE WORK WITH
Our demolition clients are typically commercial property owners who need an existing structure removed, real estate developers clearing a site for a new project, general contractors who need a demolition subcontractor for a larger development, and industrial facility operators decommissioning a building or structure.
We’re based in Memphis and serve a wide area — from Nashville to the east, into Arkansas and Mississippi, and across northwest Alabama. For large commercial projects, we’ve also traveled to other parts of the Southeast when the work brings us there.
OUR BUILDING DEMOLITION PROCESS
Step 1 — Free Site Walk & Estimate.We walk the property with you, assess the structure’s size, construction type, and site access, and give you a straight answer on scope and timeline before any contract is signed.
Step 2 — Hazmat Survey & Permitting. Before anything comes down, we identify materials that need special handling — asbestos being the most common in older Memphis-area buildings — and pull the permits your municipality requires.
Step 3 — Mechanical Teardown. Our crews bring in the equipment sized to the structure — from compact machinery for tighter urban lots to larger high-reach equipment for multi-story buildings — and work the teardown in a planned sequence rather than an uncontrolled collapse.
Step 4 — Debris Processing & Haul-Off. Concrete, steel, and other demolition debris is separated, processed, and hauled from the site as the teardown progresses, not left in a pile at the end.
Step 5 — Grading & Site Handoff. The site is left graded and ready for whatever comes next — new construction, further site work, or a clean lot ready to list.
WHY MEMPHIS PROPERTY OWNERS CHOOSE CHANNELL
• Tennessee-licensed contractor — verify our license status with the TN Board for Licensing Contractors, something not every operator in this market can say.
• Founded by Clint Channell, who brings hands-on demolition experience alongside eight years running an established Memphis service business — this isn’t a side project.
• We take on large-scale commercial and industrial teardowns other regional crews pass on, and we travel across the Mid-South and Southeast when a project calls for it.
SERVING MEMPHIS AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES
Channell Demolition handles commercial and industrial demolition throughout Memphis and Shelby County, including Bartlett, Germantown, Collierville, Cordova, Millington, Arlington, and Lakeland, along with Southaven, Olive Branch, and Horn Lake just across the Mississippi state line. For large-scale commercial projects, we regularly travel further out across West Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and northwest Alabama — as far as Nashville when the project calls for it.
Read more about our crew or see all of our demolition and site services.
SERVICE-SPECIFIC FAQs
What types of buildings do you demolish?
We focus on commercial and industrial structures — things like office buildings, warehouses, manufacturing facilities, commercial retail spaces, and larger multi-story buildings. We do handle residential demos in the Memphis area as well, but our primary focus and capability is in the commercial and industrial space.
Do you handle asbestos before demolition begins?
Yes. If asbestos is present in the building, it needs to be addressed before demolition can proceed. We offer asbestos removal as a standalone service and can coordinate that as part of the overall demolition project. It’s one of the most important steps in any teardown involving older buildings.
How long does a large building demolition take?
It depends on the size and complexity of the structure. A mid-sized commercial building might take several weeks. A larger industrial project can take several months. We’ll give you a realistic timeline during the estimate process so you can plan accordingly.
Do you handle debris removal and site cleanup?
Yes, debris removal and site clearing are part of the job. We don’t just tear things down and leave — the goal is to leave the site in a condition that allows your project to move forward.
Do you need to pull permits for demolition?
Most commercial demolition projects do require permits, and the requirements vary by municipality. As a licensed Tennessee contractor, we’re familiar with what the permitting process typically involves in Memphis and the surrounding area. We can walk through that with you as part of the project planning.
Are you licensed to do this work in Tennessee?
Yes. Channell Demolition holds a Tennessee contractor’s license. A lot of operators in this space work without proper licensing — that’s a risk to you as the property owner or contractor of record. We’re licensed because it’s the right way to do business.
How much does commercial building demolition cost in Memphis?
Every teardown is priced on the structure’s size, construction type, and what has to be handled before the building comes down — asbestos abatement or utility disconnects both affect cost. Straightforward commercial teardowns in the Memphis area often run in the tens of thousands of dollars, while large multi-story or industrial projects can run into six figures. We’ll give you a firm number after a free site walk rather than a rough guess over the phone.
Have a structure that needs to come down? Contact us for a free estimate.