Deck removal cost depends on a handful of things: how big and how tall the deck is, what it is built from, whether the footings stay or go, how close a trailer can park, and whether our crew does the teardown or you do it and fill a rented dumpster. No single number fits every deck, but a couple of photos is enough for L&J’s to send back a flat rate.
Fall is a smart time to deal with the deck that has been going soft for a few summers. Below, you will find what moves the price, how a crew teardown runs, how to tear down a deck yourself if you would rather, and how the two options compare side by side.
- Deck size, height, material, footings, and yard access set the deck removal cost.
- L&J’s crew tears the deck down, loads it, hauls it, and rakes the nails out of the grass.
- Treated lumber is heavy and bulky, so an old deck takes up more trailer space than it looks.
- Rebuilding in the same spot? Ask the crew to leave the ledger board and footings in place.
- Tearing it down yourself with a 15 or 20 yard dumpster can cost less, depending on the deck, but takes your weekend.
What drives deck removal cost in Central Illinois
You cannot look up a price for a deck, because no two come apart the same way. When we look at your photos, these are the things that move the number.
- Size and height. A low platform off the back door is a smaller job than a raised deck with long stairs and a landing.
- What it is built from. Treated lumber is heavy and bulky. Joists and posts refuse to stack flat, so the load takes up more room on the trailer than the deck seemed to take in the yard.
- The footings. Most jobs leave the footings in the ground. If you want the concrete out too, that adds weight and work, so say so up front.
- What is on it and under it. Planters, a grill, a hot tub, and years of stuff stored underneath all have to be dealt with before the first board comes up.
- Access. A narrow backyard gate means more carrying.
Whatever those add up to, your deck removal cost comes back as one flat rate covering the labor, the tools, the haul-away, and disposal. Nobody runs an hourly clock, and no dump fee shows up afterward.
How deck removal goes when the crew does it
Our shed and deck demolition crew treats the teardown and the haul as one job. It runs in this order.
- You text photos. Send a wide shot from the yard and one from underneath to (217) 624-7066. Mention the stairs, the footings, and where a trailer could park.
- You get one number. The flat rate comes back from those photos, so nobody needs to walk your yard first.
- The crew takes it apart. They arrive with saws, pry bars, and the trailer, and boards go onto the trailer as they come off instead of into a pile on your lawn.
- The yard gets cleaned up. Nails and screws get picked out of the grass, the footprint gets raked, and metal and clean lumber are pulled for recycling when possible.
Planning a new deck in the same spot? Tell us, and the crew can leave the ledger board and the footings for the rebuild. One limit worth knowing: anything that holds up part of the house itself is not something we take down.
How long deck removal takes and what to do before demo day
For most decks, the teardown and the haul happen in the same visit. How long the crew spends in your yard depends on the size, the height, and how the deck was fastened together, so ask when your estimate comes back and we will give you an idea for yours.
A little prep on your end keeps the day moving:
- Clear everything off the top, including grills, planters, patio chairs, and string lights.
- Empty the space underneath. Old mowers, buckets, and garden tools collect under a deck for years. If there is a lot of it, include it in your photos and the crew can haul it with the lumber.
- Have the power to deck lights, outlets, or a hot tub cut before we arrive. We do not take apart anything with live electric or gas still connected.
- Point out a hot tub if one sits on the deck. Hot tub removal is its own job, and knowing about it changes how the day gets planned.
- If you are unsure whether your town wants a permit for the teardown or the rebuild, check with your city or county office before demo day.
Take one photo from underneath the deck with a post in the frame. That shot shows us how the posts sit in the ground and how much is stored down there, and those two things change your deck removal cost more than most people expect.
How to tear down a deck yourself and fill a dumpster
If you own a circular saw and a pry bar and have a free weekend, doing the demolition yourself and renting a 15 or 20 yard dumpster is the other way to handle deck removal. We drop it in your driveway, you load it over 1 to 7 days, and we haul it when you text that it is full. This order works on most decks.
- Clear the top and the underside. Same prep as above, including cutting the power.
- Take off railings and stairs. They come off easiest and get in the way of everything else.
- Pull the decking. Work one board at a time from the outside edge back toward the house. If the fasteners will not let go, cut the boards between joists.
- Drop the joists and beams. Support whatever you are cutting, and never stand on the section about to fall.
- Posts come out last. Cut them near the ground or dig them out, depending on your plans for the spot.
Wear gloves and thick-soled boots, because every board comes up bristling with nails or screws. Lay long joists flat along the floor of the dumpster so they do not tent up and waste space. Treated lumber gets heavy fast, so if you are also breaking out concrete footings, text us before loading them. Stuck on size? Our guide on choosing between a 15 and 20 yard dumpster walks through it, and bigger decks usually want the 20.
Deck removal cost: crew teardown vs renting a dumpster
| Crew teardown | You tear down, rent a dumpster | |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the demolition | Our crew | You and your helpers |
| Tools | We bring saws, pry bars, and the trailer | Your own |
| Time on your end | Sending photos and pointing | A weekend or more of work |
| Nails in the grass | Picked up and raked | Your job |
| Footings | Left for a rebuild or planned up front | Your call and your shovel |
| What changes the price | Deck size, height, material, footings, access | Dumpster size, rental days, weight of the load |
| Best for | Raised decks, rotten stairs, tight schedules | Low decks and handy owners with time |
The do-it-yourself route usually trims the deck removal cost and spends your weekends instead. For a closer look at what moves a rental quote, read what changes the price of a dumpster rental. Already pulled the deck apart and just have a pile on the ground? Our demolition debris hauling crew loads what is left.
Deck removal around Springfield and Jacksonville before winter
Mid-fall is when a lot of old decks finally come down. The patio furniture is put away, leaves are dropping through the gaps in the boards, and nobody wants a soft stair to deal with under snow and ice all winter.
Our crew handles deck teardowns across Cass, Morgan, Menard, and Sangamon County, from subdivisions in Springfield, Chatham, and Rochester to older homes in Jacksonville and farmhouses outside Virginia, Beardstown, and Petersburg. If the yard has its own pile of limbs this time of year, brush and yard waste removal can go on the same list.
Whichever way you go, the first step is the same. Text a photo of the deck from the yard and from underneath to (217) 624-7066, or use the free estimate form, and we will send back a flat rate for the crew and tell you which dumpster size fits if you would rather do the teardown yourself.
Questions people ask
Who tears down and hauls away an old deck near Springfield, IL?
L&J’s Junk Removal tears down old decks in Springfield, Chatham, Rochester, and across Sangamon County, then loads every board and hauls it off in the same visit. The crew brings the saws, pry bars, and trailer, picks the nails out of your grass, and rakes the spot before leaving. Text a photo of the deck to (217) 624-7066 or request a free estimate.
How much does it cost to have a deck removed in Jacksonville, IL?
L&J’s prices deck removal in Jacksonville as one flat rate that covers labor, tools, haul-away, and disposal. The number depends on how big and how high the deck is, whether the footings come out, what is stored on or under it, and how close our trailer can park. There is no hourly charge. Text one photo from the yard and one from underneath to (217) 624-7066 for a straight price.
Should I tear my old deck down myself with a rented dumpster or pay a crew near Rochester?
L&J’s does it both ways, so you get to pick. If you have the tools, a helper, and a free weekend, rent a 15 or 20 yard dumpster for 1 to 7 days and tear the deck down yourself, which can cost less, depending on the deck. If the deck is raised, the stairs are rotten, or you want it gone in one visit, the crew handles all of it. Send a photo and we will price both.
Is there a company that will take down a deck with a hot tub on it near Chatham?
L&J’s handles both the hot tub removal and the deck teardown for homes in Chatham and nearby towns. Tell us the tub is there when you send photos, because it changes how the day is planned and what the estimate covers. Have an electrician cut the tub’s power before the crew arrives. Text photos of the deck and the tub to (217) 624-7066 and we will price the whole job.
Can someone remove a rotten deck before winter in Beardstown?
L&J’s removes rotten decks in Beardstown, Virginia, Chandlerville, and the rest of Cass County in the fall. The crew takes off the railings, stairs, boards, and joists, loads everything as it comes apart, and hauls it away so nothing sits in your yard under the snow. Text a photo of the deck to (217) 624-7066 or use the estimate form to see what yours will take.
Can I get my deck torn out but keep the footings for a new deck in Petersburg?
L&J’s can leave the footings and the ledger board in place when you plan to rebuild, for homes in Petersburg, Athens, and nearby towns. Tell us before demo day so the crew knows what stays. If you would rather have the concrete gone, say so up front, since it adds weight and work to the job. Text a photo of the deck to (217) 624-7066 to get your flat rate.
The old deck, down and hauled off.
Text one shot from the yard and one from underneath to (217) 624-7066. We will price the crew teardown as one flat rate, or tell you which dumpster fits if you would rather swing the hammer yourself.
(217) 624-7066
