Interior demolition: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What interior demolition is

Interior demolition removes walls, flooring, cabinets, fixtures and ceilings for a renovation, while protecting the rest of the home and managing dust. The crew has to avoid hidden wiring, pipes and structural members, and the work often reveals issues that must be fixed before the new finishes go in.

Signs you need it

  • You are planning a kitchen, bath or basement renovation and the existing cabinets, walls and floors must come out
  • A wall needs to be opened for a new doorway, a relocated bath or a new layout, and you need the structure checked first
  • Old flooring, carpet or tile has damage or hazardous material and needs to come out safely
  • Your ceiling has water damage or old insulation, and the finished surface must be taken down to find the source
  • You want an open-plan layout, and the interior walls have to be removed without damaging the rest of the house

What the pro does

  • The crew protects the rest of the house with plastic barriers, floor coverings and negative air or dust control where needed
  • They shut off or confirm the shutoff of water, gas and electrical lines in the work area, using licensed trades where required
  • They remove cabinets, fixtures and finishes first, then the drywall, the flooring and the ceiling in a planned order
  • They check each wall for load-bearing members, wiring and pipes before cutting, and stop to report anything unexpected
  • They sort and haul the debris and remove it from the house through a planned route
  • They leave the framing exposed and clean, and report any damage, rot or wiring problem found during the work

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Area of the space and how many rooms or levels the demolition covers
  • Number of walls and the amount of finish to remove, such as tile, plaster or wood paneling
  • Whether any wall is load-bearing or holds pipes, wiring or ducts that must be rerouted
  • Testing and handling of suspect materials such as old flooring, pipe wrap or textured ceilings
  • Access to the work area, including stairs, narrow hallways and the path for the debris
  • Dust control and protection needed for the rest of the home while the work is done
  • Debris volume and the trips needed to haul it out of the house

What a written quote should spell out

  • Rooms and areas included, with the walls, floors and ceilings that will be removed
  • Dust barrier, floor protection and any negative air equipment used
  • Utility shutoff and which trade performs each disconnect
  • Structural check of walls to be removed, and who engineers any change to a load-bearing wall
  • Debris hauling, the route out of the house and the disposal site
  • Testing for suspect materials and who pays for it, with the results shown before the work starts

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which walls are load-bearing, and who checks them before any cut is made?
  • How will you protect the rest of the house from dust, and do you use negative air?
  • Who shuts off the water, gas and electrical lines, and who confirms they are off?
  • What do you do if you find old wiring, pipe wrap or other suspect material?
  • How do you protect the stairs, the floors and the finished doors during the removal?
  • Where will the debris go, and how many trips will it take out of the house?
  • What condition will the framing and the subfloor be in when you finish?

Red flags

  • They start removing a wall without checking whether it is load-bearing
  • They cut into walls without first confirming where the wiring and pipes run
  • They do not put dust barriers in place or protect the floors and stairs
  • They will not tell you what they will do if they find suspect material

What you can do yourself

You can empty the room, take out loose items, pull up loose trim and remove cabinet doors that are not attached to wiring, and leave light fixtures, outlets and switches for the electrician. Do not remove any wall, ceiling or floor that could hold load or hide wiring or pipes. Do not disturb old tile, pipe wrap, textured ceilings or insulation until they are tested, and leave the utility shutoffs to licensed trades.

Licenses and permits

Interior demolition is often done by licensed contractors, and utility disconnections and changes to wiring or plumbing are often limited to licensed trades. Some areas require a permit for removing walls or altering the structure. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building department for the rules that apply to your home.

Interior demolition questions

Can I take out a wall myself?

Only after you know it is not load-bearing and does not hold wiring, pipes or ducts. Check the framing, the plans and the joists above and below. If you are not sure, have a licensed contractor or structural engineer confirm it first.

What should I do if I find old wiring during demolition?

Stop work in that area, leave the wires alone and have a licensed electrician check them. Do not cut or reconnect any wire until the circuit is confirmed dead and the work is planned.

How do I keep dust out of the rest of the house?

Ask for sealed dust barriers, floor and stair protection, and negative air where the work produces a lot of dust. Ask how the debris is carried out and whether the crew uses a separate route.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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