Calculating Interior Demolition Costs

Interior demolition: the nonstructural demolishing of spaces within a structure, usually in preparation for reuse or upgrading the space or area. This includes interior walls, ceilings, flooring, staircases, mezzanines, overhangs, etc., as well as the utilities contained within, such as electrical, plumbing, ductwork, gas lines, flues, etc.

There is no shortage of online calculators that provide estimated per-square-foot interior demolition costs. In theory, it seems practical, but results can be wildly inaccurate. Without the input of an expert interior demolition contractor like R. Baker & Son, unknown variables can put a project’s budget in jeopardy before the renovation work begins.

**Is there asbestos, lead paint or other environmental factors that need to be identified and addressed? The cost of remediation for these hazards can often exceed the cost of the interior demolition itself.
**Are there utilities that must be preserved or rerouted? Interior demolition often uncovers problems or code issues concealed by walls, floors and ceilings. Sometimes an area marked for interior demolition contains utilities that feed through to other tenants that cannot be disturbed such as fiber-optic lines, electrical controls etc.  Demolition of these utilities can shut down another tenant’s business for a period of time until the problem is found and repaired.
**What is the degree of difficulty to perform the demo, and what special equipment is needed to perform the work safely? Interior demolition project budgets should include the cost of a properly-insured, licensed contractor who has the experience, equipment, and safety training necessary for the project.

Demolition calculators, even those from a reputable source, can only provide a budgetary starting-point for an interior demolition project. With over eighty years in the demolition industry, R. Baker & Son has the knowledge and experience to properly estimate a project and leave contingency for the real unknowns.

R. Baker & Son - All Industrial Services
1 Globe Court
Red Bank, NJ 07701
732-222-3553

http://www/rbaker.com