Search "silverado contractors" and you land on Silverado Contractors, Inc., a union demolition contractor operating on the West Coast that handles complete building and bridge removal as well as selective structural and interior demolition . This guide lays out what the public record shows about the firm, then turns that into a checklist you can run on any demolition bid you receive. The verification steps matter more than the brochure language.
Silverado Contractors at a Glance
| Detail | What the record shows |
|---|---|
| Business type | Union demolition and excavation contractor |
| Founded |
2000
| Headquarters |
Oakland, CA
| , with an Emeryville corporate address on file |
|---|
| Other offices |
San Jose, CA and Chino, CA
| Company size |
51 to 200 employees
| Main phone |
(510) 658-9960
| California license |
License No. 782547 listed on the company site
| Stated contract range |
$250,000 to $500,000,000+
|
The company describes itself as the largest union demolition contractor in California, headquartered in Oakland with branch offices in San Jose and Los Angeles . That is a marketing claim, not a verified ranking, so treat it the way you would treat any contractor's self-description.
What Silverado Contractors Actually Does
The scope is broader than wrecking buildings. The company lists building demolition, selective demolition, industrial, marine, transportation, bridge removal, remediation, complete site decommissioning, plant closure, asset recovery and recycling, excavation and site preparation .
Two parts of that list are worth flagging for owners and developers:
- Selective demolition.
This covers interior demolition, selective structural demolition for seismic retrofits, and selective demolition for building renovations . It is the category most renovation projects actually need.
- Permit coordination.
The firm says it manages the permit process from application through issuance, including permits from cities, counties, and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District . Air district permitting is where asbestos and dust rules bite.
Projects Behind the Reputation
Public project lists are the fastest way to size up a demolition firm. Silverado's profile cites more than 1,100 completed projects including the Bay Bridge, Candlestick Stadium, Carquinez Bridge approaches, San Francisco International Airport's Boarding Area A, and the 240-foot Bank of America Clock Tower in San Francisco .
Marine work shows up too. The company reported its marine crew removing roughly 2,150 derelict pilings across a 140,000 square foot wharf structure built in 1902 at the Richmond Terminal 4 Removal Project .
On its own site the firm posts more than $1.5 billion in contract value and 1,370+ projects completed to date .
Where the Public Data Disagrees
Here is the part most profile pages skip. The third-party business directories do not agree with each other on Silverado's size, and that is normal for a privately held contractor.
One directory lists $25.2 million in revenue and 102 employees .
Another lists a revenue range of 50M to 100M .
A trade directory lists 100 to 249 employees and undisclosed annual volume .
Three sources, three different pictures. Modeled revenue estimates on aggregator sites are guesses, not filings. If financial capacity matters to your project, ask for a bonding letter from the surety instead of trusting a directory number.
How to Vet a Demolition Contractor Before You Sign
Run these seven checks on any demolition bid, including one from a firm with a famous project list.
- Verify the license yourself. For California work, run the number through the state board's Check a License tool and confirm the status, classification, bond, and workers' comp all read current. Do not accept a screenshot.
- Ask for the engineering survey.
OSHA requires an engineering survey by a competent person before demolition starts, covering the condition of framing, floors, and walls and the possibility of unplanned collapse . A bidder who shrugs at this question is telling you something.
- Check the citation history.
Preparatory operations account for up to three-fourths of citations on a demolition worksite, and the engineering survey requirement alone accounts for more than half of those . Read the OSHA demolition standards overview before your pre-construction meeting.
- Confirm the asbestos path.
Federal rules require the owner or operator to notify the delegated agency before any demolition, and before renovations disturbing a threshold amount of regulated asbestos-containing material . The EPA's asbestos NESHAP overview explains who files and when.
- Match scope size to company size. A firm whose portfolio is bridges and stadiums may not be the efficient choice for a 900 square foot interior gut, and vice versa.
- Get the debris plan in writing. Haul routes, recycling rates, disposal tickets, and who pays for contaminated soil if it turns up.
- Ask who is actually on site. Named superintendent, named competent person, and the subcontractor list for abatement.
What This Means If Your Project Is in New Jersey
Silverado Contractors works the West Coast, so a New Jersey owner reading this page is really asking a different question: how do I get the same level of control on a local demolition or gut renovation?
The answer is the same checklist, applied locally. On our own gut renovations we schedule the abatement notification clock before we book the dumpsters, because the notification period, not the demolition itself, is what usually sets the start date. Crews that sequence it the other way lose a week standing around a full container.
Selective demolition is the opening phase of most of the work we do at Lion Construction, including home remodeling, commercial construction, and basement remodeling. It also drives the budget for structural framing and masonry repair, because what you find behind the wall decides what gets rebuilt.
Planning a tenant space or a full building reset? Our guide to hiring a commercial renovation contractor walks through the same vetting sequence on the commercial side, and our general contracting services page covers scope by trade.
Get a Free Estimate and we will walk the space with you before anything gets swung at a wall. We work throughout the area, including Bridgewater, Short Hills, and Readington.
FAQ
What does Silverado Contractors do?
It is a union contractor providing demolition and excavation services to private developers, general contractors, industrial and public works clients throughout the West Coast. Work ranges from interior demolition to full bridge removal.
Where is Silverado Contractors located?
Headquarters are in Oakland, California , with additional offices in San Jose and Chino .
Is Silverado Contractors a union company?
Yes. It is described in company materials as a union demolition contractor operating on the West Coast. Union status affects labor rates, prevailing wage eligibility, and public works bidding.
How large is Silverado Contractors?
Company listings put it at 51 to 200 employees, founded in 2000 . Revenue estimates from third-party directories conflict, so ask for bonding capacity rather than relying on an aggregator figure.
Does Silverado Contractors work outside California?
Its stated service area is the West Coast. One business profile describes the company as serving customers in the State of California. For work in New Jersey, hire a locally licensed and insured contractor.
Who leads the company?
Joseph Capriola is listed as president , and Bill Fong as chief financial officer in business directory records.
How do I verify any demolition contractor before hiring?
Pull the license record from the state licensing board, confirm active general liability and workers' comp with certificates sent directly from the insurer, ask for the written engineering survey requirement to be acknowledged in the contract, and require the asbestos notification to be filed before the schedule is locked.
Questions about a demolition or renovation scope in New Jersey? Contact our team and we will review your drawings and give you a written scope, not a verbal estimate.
