Demolition
TLDR
- Site protection
- Cover floors
- Remove wall hangings
- Protect railings, door sills, counters etc
- Cover vents and turn off furnace
- Put up dust walls
- Install air scrubber
- Remove items to be saved
- Disconnect appliances
- Faucets
- Remove items that are garbage
- Remove nails and screws from framing
- Remove tack strips
- Square off drywall patches
- Remove floor staples
- Remove wax rings
- Vacuum
- Haul away
- Safety
- Cap bare wires and plumbing
- Cover or barricade holes in the floor
- Before you leave
- Turn furnace back on
- Check pilot lights
- Turn electrical circuits back on if needed
- Don’t forget to lock up
Overview
Demolition can include everything from carefully removing appliances, fixtures, and finishes to ripping apart walls and floors. The point is to remove anything that is in the way of the other trades to follow and prepare a space for changes.
This is usually the part of a project that will reveal hidden conditions.
Please review the Hazardous Materials list and plan to deal with those appropriately.
Prerequisites
- The client's personal belongings must be removed from the work area
- Anything that needs to be saved in place must be protected
- Power and water will be interrupted, be prepared
- Determine if you will need lead demolition procedures or if you should test for other hazardous materials
- Get the EPA RRP book signed by the client before beginning demolition
Materials / Tools Needed
- Tools
- Screwdriver and drill
- Crescent wrench
- Channel locks
- Electric pen tester (hot stick)
- Utility knife
- Hammer and prybar
- Trash cans
- Buckets
- Air scrubbers
- Zip poles
- Materials
- Plastic and site protection materials
- Trash bags
- Shark bite caps (1/2" and 3/4")
- Compression caps (1/4" and 5/16")
- Fernco caps (1.5" and 2")
- Zip ties to pull back wires
- Shims to dig out wax rings
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Respirators
- Gloves
- Heavy duty and rubber gloves
- Tyvek suits
- Glasses
- Hearing protection
Lead Demolition Procedures
Determine if you should employ lead demolition procedures
Process
- Start with Site Protection (this is redundant but important)
- Cover all floors that will be walked on with light duty floor protection (Floorotex)
- Cover all floors that will be saved with heavy duty floor protection (blue stuff in high traffic, reinforced builders paper everywhere else, Masonite on top, seams taped with white painters tape, edges to floor taped with delicate release painters tape)
- Remove wall hangings that could be damaged during demo
- Protect railings, doorways, door sills, and finish surfaces that could be damaged
- Cover up return and supply air vents
- Turn off the furnace if needed
- Leave your keys down there so you don't forget to turn it back on before you go
- Put up dust walls between work area and dust free zone
- Install air scrubber or exhaust fans as needed
- Locate water, gas, and electric shut offs in home in case of emergency
- Remove items to be saved
- Disconnect appliances and remove as needed
- Disconnect plumbing fixtures and cap pipes
- Remove outlet face plates carefully (rather than breaking with plaster or drywall)
- Remove items that are garbage
- Disassemble when possible
- Smash if needed
- Try to pack items tightly into bags and the trash can
- Before you clean up
- Remove nails or screws from framing including ceiling and especially in corners
- Remove tack strips if not saving
- Remove or flatten staples in floor
- Check corners for remining drywall, plaster, flooring, nails, etc.
- If drywall is being saved, square off half on studs/joists
- Sweep (if lead, hepa vac and wipe)
- Take all trash to dumpster
- Remove wax ring around toilets
- Safety Protocol
- Cap bare wires
- Cap plumbing
- Cover floor holes if necessary
- Barricade fall hazards
- Before you leave
- Turn furnace back on if needed
- Check that pilot lights re-ignite if you turned off the gas
- Turn electrical circuits back on if needed
- Label circuits that should stay off
- Check that fridges and freezers are plugged in and turned on
- Don't forget to lock up
Inspections
In some jurisdictions there are "demolition inspections". Often these are for whole homes being demolished, where the inspector may want to confirm that footings, pools, old tanks, or other hazards have been removed. In those jurisdictions, remodelers may be required to have a demolition inspection to confirm you have removed what you were supposed to and didn't uncover a hidden condition or hazardous material that might preclude you from continuing the project as originally planned.
Best Practices / Pro Tips
Take site protection seriously, it may need to remain in place for months. Remove absolutely everything that you need to before moving on to the next step.
Client Interaction / Communication Notes
Make sure to let the homeowner know what you need before beginning demolition. Consider going over your plan for site protection with them so they know what areas will be off limits.
Deliver the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting guidelines booklet before beginning demolition. This book must be given to the homeowner, signed, and stay on site during the project. You must deliver it within a timely manner before you start on site.
Common Issues and How to Avoid Them
Bring plastic bags and stretch wrap to bundle items to save on site or haul offsite for re-use
Cap plumbing supplies and drains to avoid water damage after hours.
