How To Demolish A House Yourself
Deconstruction is the process of removing useful materials by hand, preserving and repurposing resources; demolition, on the other hand, is the complete destruction of the building, usually with heavy machinery.
Preparing to Tear Down a House
Hand tools are useful for deconstructing the interior of the house; heavy machinery is better suited for bringing down the structure itself after the interior has been cleared out. If you’re planning to demolish your house, here are some things you’ll need to know.
Contact Your Lender, if Necessary
If you want to demolish your house, you’ll need permission from your bank or mortgage lender; if you’ve paid off all of your debts, you won’t need this step; your lender may also be able to assist you in obtaining financing for the demolition and rebuilding process.
Shut Off All Utilities
“Know where the water shutoff is before doing ANY plumbing work,” says Bryce Jacob, Certified Remodeler, UDCP, J.S. Brown.
Rent a Roll Off Dumpster
A demolition dumpster is a convenient way to clean up after a house fire, and it’s best to reserve one ahead of time to ensure it arrives on time for your project.
How to Demolish a House Step-by-Step
We’ll start with the interior demolition phase, then move on to the exterior demolition phase, and finally to the final stage, which involves using heavy machinery to completely demolish the structure. Keep reading to learn how to get started and what tools you’ll need.
How to Deconstruct a House by Hand
The best way to approach a home deconstruction project is to take it one room at a time, starting with the upper floor. Home deconstruction clears the way by removing obstacles and supporting beams from the interior of the house.
1. Tear Down Drywall
If you loosen the wallpaper from the corners of each wall, you can tear it off by hand. Remove the drywall with your pry bar, sledgehammer, dry wall hook, and boxcutter, tearing out any insulation material behind the drywall as you go.
Salvage Wiring and Piping Where Possible
After your home has been deconstructed, copper wire and scrap metal from pipes can be sold or recycled; cut the pipes and tubes into smaller sections for easier disposal. Pro-Tip: The electricity in the structure should have been turned off by this point, but test wires with a voltmeter before attempting to remove them.
2. Remove Doors and Frames
Good-condition doors can be sold to building supply companies or donated to charities like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, and the jamb itself can be hammered out of the door frame.
4. Repeat Process in Bedrooms Throughout House
Gather piping and wiring as you go, and save as many decorative fixtures as you can for later.
5. Begin Bathroom Demolition
Make sure you’ve turned off all running water in the bathroom using the main shutoff valve.
6. Handle the Laundry and Utility Rooms
These areas are likely to have specialized fixtures that you’ll want to disconnect and uninstall properly before proceeding to remove cabinets, dismantle walls, and rip up the floors.
7. Deconstruct the Kitchen and Dining Room
Preserve working appliances for reuse, just as you would with your bathroom deconstruction. Hardwood floor panels, like kitchen cabinets, can be recycled or salvaged.
1. Rent the Equipment You Need
When renting demolition equipment, rental companies can advise you on the best machine to use and may even provide training on how to operate it.
2. Secure the Area
Before you start tearing down your house, make sure you set up a safety perimeter around the job site with signs, barriers, and caution tape.
3. Tear the House Down
Demolition of a house can take several hours, so wear goggles and masks to keep dust out of your eyes and mouth. First, cave in the roof with the excavator’s arm, then knock down each wall and floor before leveling each floor.
4. Clean Up the Debris
After the house is demolished, it’s time to transport the debris to your roll-off dumpster. You can do this in a variety of ways, but the most common and efficient method is to use your heavy equipment. Most hydraulic excavators and backhoes can scoop and deposit debris into containers for easy disposal. If your excavator doesn’t have the right arm attachment to lift debris, a buggy can be used instead.
Frequently Asked Home Demolition Questions
Should I Have My Home Inspected First? Bringing in a professional to inspect your home before planning a demolition project is a wise precaution to take. A professional will tell you if your home was built with potentially harmful materials like lead paint or ceiling tiles and insulation.
Flex Your DIY Home Demolition Skills
Consider moving on to other structures on your property that you no longer need, such as your tool shed or patio, while planning for your home demolition project. It may be worth learning the basics of concrete removal and preparing to deconstruct your patio while planning for your home demolition project.
How do I deconstruct my house myself?
How to Manually Deconstruct a House
- Begin Bathroom Demolition.
- Handle the Laundry and Utility Rooms.
- Deconstruct the Kitchen and Dining Room.
- Repeat Process in Bedrooms Throughout House.
- Deconstruct the Kitchen and Dining Room.
What equipment is needed to demolish a house?
Pliers Are a Must-Have Hand Tool For Any DIYer Pliers are a must-have hand tool for any DIYer, as you’ll likely need them for demolition projects like removing carpet or loosening nuts, bolts, and screws.
When should you tear down a house?
If you have serious structural issues with your home, or if you have extensive moisture and mold damage in various areas, you may want to completely rebuild rather than simply renovate that portion; however, a home only needs to be completely rebuilt if it has extensive damage.
Do you have to empty a house before demolition?
While it is not necessary to completely empty a house before demolition, there are associated costs associated with clearing away extra materials before demolition can begin in earnest.
How is house demolition calculated?
The cost of demolishing a building is usually linked to its square footage; the national average for commercial demolition is usually around $4 to $8 per square foot, so multiplying the square footage by a dollar amount in that range will give you an idea of the costs.
How long does it take to deconstruct a house?
The deconstruction of your home can take anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on its size.
How do I stop my house from being demolished?
How Can Neglect-Based Demolition Be Prevented?
- Better Fines and Liens.
- Deny Infill Permits.
- Social Proof and Shame.
- Tax Incentives for Repair and Restoration.
- Mothballing Programs.
How much does it cost to bulldoze a house?
Most home demolitions, regardless of property size, begin at $4,000 and increase in price based on square footage, so a 1,200 square foot home could cost $4,800-$18,000 to demolish, while a 2,000 square foot home could cost $8,000-$30,000.
Can you knock down a house with a mortgage?
Unless your property is free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, your mortgage is secured to the structure, and your lender has an interest in the structure itself, so you can’t destroy the lender’s security without their permission.
Is it cheaper to knock down and rebuild?
In most cases, it is less expensive in the long run to demolish and rebuild; for example, if you pull off the plaster board and discover asbestos… or if the frames have been attacked by termites…
Is it worth demolishing a house and rebuilding?
A demolition-and-rebuild may be a better option if you’re a bad planner and don’t have a lot of time to be hands-on with the renovation. Newly constructed homes are more energy efficient than renovated homes, so if energy efficiency is important to you, demolishing and reconstructing is the way to go.