Show If you want to demolish the house yourself, all the above steps (besides hiring a contractor) still apply. DIY demolition is not for the faint of heart. It can be a lot of work and may require you to operate heavy machinery. But if you’re confident, let’s talk about what you need to do to get this house torn down. Rent A Dumpster Unless you own a dump truck, you’re going to need to pay someone to haul away all the debris. It’s likely you’ll need at least one 40-yard dumpster, if not more. The size and number of dumpsters you need will depend on how large the home is. Contact a few area dumpster rental companies to see what they recommend for your house and how much they charge. Secure Key Tools If you’re choosing to disassemble by hand in full or partially, you’ll need some key tools. Here are some examples of what will be helpful:
If you’re working in a house with disconnected electrical, you’re also going to need a generator or batteries to power lights and power tools. Secure Safety Gear Debris can be dangerous, especially when you’re using tools to demolish something. It can fall on your head, fly into your eye or be breathed into your lungs. Here’s the gear you’ll need to help protect yourself:
Secure Heavy Equipment Using heavy equipment is the cheapest and quickest way to demolish a home. Renting a jackhammer will save you a lot of time and backache over trying to break up a foundation by hand. If you’re curious about using a skid steer (like a Bobcat®) or excavator, some states require you to be licensed or temporarily permitted to operate them. You’ll need to contact your local heavy equipment rental place to see if they offer training and whether you need to be permitted or licensed. Remove Doors, Frames And Flooring Start the demolition project by removing all doors, windows and frames. Using a driver, take the doors off the hinges and haul them to the dumpster. Use a pry bar to remove door frames. For windows, on the inside, score around the window casing with a utility knife. Use a hammer and chisel to separate the casing from the wall. Outside, use a pry bar to pry away siding and get to where the window is nailed in. Pull out the nails and remove the window. How you remove flooring depends on the type of flooring. While carpets and vinyl can be easily cut and pulled up, hardwood flooring and tile will take more elbow grease. Especially if you want to salvage pieces, research the best ways to remove the type of flooring you have. Deconstruct The Bathrooms, Kitchen, Utility And Laundry Rooms Before you start pulling out appliances and fixtures, you need to shut off and disconnect the electrical, gas and water to these areas if you haven’t already disconnected them to the whole house. The last thing you want is a water mess or a shocking surprise trip to the hospital. Start deconstructing these rooms by disconnecting and removing all appliances. The obvious ones, like your oven, refrigerator, washer and dryer will be the easiest to pull out. It may take more work to remove your furnace, hot water heater and dishwasher. After you’ve got your appliances out, you need to remove fixtures. The bathtubs, showers, lights, sinks and cabinets all need to be pulled out and either trashed or salvaged. Begin Heavy Duty Demolition Once you’ve got the important pieces pulled out, it’s time to demolish. Even with heavy equipment, this can be a long process, taking a day or more depending on the size of the house. If you don’t feel comfortable operating heavy-duty machinery, especially for a larger home with multiple floors, now is the time to rethink hiring a professional. While this is no means exhaustive, here are the basic steps to doing it yourself:
$14,250(1,500 sq. ft. house) Discover the costs in your city Get your job done in 3 easy steps 1 Howmuch.net finds the best top-rated contractors in your area 2 Contractors give you free customized estimates 3 Compare estimates & hire the contractor that will best fit your needs House Demolition CostsHouse demolition is a serious undertaking. It can be fun to do some of your own demo work to release stress, and it will save you some money. However, there are many elements of a full house demolition that can be dangerous or require a trained professional to remove the structure safely. You will also have to factor in related costs like grading, debris removal, foundation removal, and hourly rates for the deconstruction of items that can be salvaged or recycled. Generally speaking, doing a deconstruction is going to cost about 25-50% more than a standard total demolition. However, for those who are financially or socially conscious and want to maximize materials or donate functional pieces rather than destroying them, it is an option. Demolition permits are required for all building demo projects. Even if you are doing the work yourself, you need to contact your city building codes enforcement department to find out how much permits will cost and how to get them. Some demolition contractors will take care of permits for you, so be sure to ask about this. Professional house demolition: 1,500 square foot home.
Other considerations and costs
Check out our guide if you need a loan for your home improvement project. DIY considerations
References
How much does it cost to demolish a house in your city? Cost by city(1,500 sq. ft. house)
Local costs have been calculated by accounting for labor and material cost differences across different cities. To get accurate cost estimates, indicate yours: Is it cheaper to tear down a house and rebuild?The average cost to knock down or bulldoze a 1,500 square foot house is $6,000 to $15,000. The average cost to tear down and rebuild a house is $125,000 to $450,000.
...
Cost to demolish a house.. How is demolition cost calculated?The demolition cost of a building is usually tied to its square footage. The national average for commercial demolition is usually pegged at $4 to $8 per square foot, so you can get a rough idea of the costs associated with demolition by multiplying the square footage by a dollar amount in that range.
Can you demolish your own house?Chances are, yes. Most cities, counties and states have specific sets of laws governing DIY home demolition. Your best bet is to reach out to your local government for information. A city legal director or zoning official can tell you what permits you will need and how to get them.
Can you demolish a house with a mortgage?Call your mortgage lender: Unless your property is free and clear from all liens or encumbrances, your mortgage is secured to the structure. Your lender has an interest in the building itself, so you can't unilaterally destroy the lender's security without permission.
|