What Is Interior Demolition?

Have you ever watched a wrecking ball bring a building to its knees? At a demolition site, skyscrapers are reduced to piles of rubble within a few weeks. But the interior demolition process is a bit more subtle—from the outside, at least. 

During interior demolition, contractors break down select areas in a home or commercial building. They demolish things like:

• Walls
• Appliances
• Floors
• Ceilings
• Furniture
• Plumbing
• Electrical

An interior demolition contractor can completely gut your space; this gives you a clean slate for your upcoming remodelling or renovation project. Here’s what the interior demolition process looks like:

Preparing & Applying for Permits

We’ve all seen those movies where homeowners take a sledgehammer to the walls and tear them down, without any preparation. They make it look easy. In reality, interior demolition is incredibly complex. 

Every project requires careful planning; otherwise, demolition work could weaken the structure of the home, or expose its inhabitants to hazardous materials.

First, there’s the issue of acquiring permits. In Winnipeg, you need to obtain a demolition permit before removing part of any residential building, whether it’s the interior or the exterior. This is something you can ask your contractor crew about while they’re giving you an estimate. 

Next, the contractors will assess the building for any potential safety hazards. They’ll examine the materials in your home to check for things like asbestos, lead paint, or mould. If they identify any hazardous materials, they’ll need to plan how to minimize exposure to them and dispose of them safely. 

Are you planning to demolish any walls inside your home? If so, the contractors will first need to assess whether they’re load-bearing walls. These walls are integral to a building’s structure; if they’re torn down, it may cause the floors or ceilings to sag. Contractors will need to reinforce the building structure before removing these walls.

Disconnecting Utilities

Behind a wall, there may be water lines, gas lines, or electrical wiring. If these utilities are active and damaged during demolition, it may result in water damage or fire hazards. Contractors must disconnect all utilities before they get started. In some cases, you must disconnect utilities before you can obtain a permit for the demolition. 

Selecting a Time

Demolition is noisy work; it may be disruptive to others during the evenings or late hours of the night. Whether your building is in a residential or commercial area, the timing of the demolition service is important. 

At a workplace, noise and dust production can interfere with productivity. You may need to plan the time of the demolition around what works best for your neighbours or employees.

Waste Disposal & Clean Up

Interior demolition creates a substantial amount of waste material. Construction and demolition debris can’t be tossed away in your typical garbage can. And there’s a reason for that: these materials can often be recycled and reused in future projects. 

When you’re hiring a demolition crew for your project, ask them about their waste disposal policies. Depending on the scope of your demolition project, it might be worthwhile to rent a dumpster to help with managing garbage. 

Looking for Interior Demolition Services?

At Bulldog Demolition, our contractors do it all. We’ll take care of everything from drywall removal to floor tile demolition. We’ve got the equipment and the experience to make your project a success. To book our demolition services in Winnipeg, call now.