Published November 9th, 2020
There are a lot of logical reasons why someone would want their house demolished. Often, homes become too old and run down that it leads you to question their suitability and structural integrity. Salvaging houses like that would be too costly and time-consuming that total demolition is in order. In other cases, homeowners want to transform just a part of their home into something totally different, calling for partial demolition. Whatever the case, and for whatever reason, we’re here to talk about everything you need to demolish a house. We’re going to cover the cost to demolish a house, factors influencing cost, and what specific demolition type is for you.
What does it cost to demolish a house?
The first big question on most homeowners’ minds is, “what will it cost me? Demolitions of all types tend to be relatively costly, averaging somewhere in the thousands for most projects. When talking about house demolitions, costs can range anywhere between $3,000 to $25,000. According to New Home Source, the national average cost for these projects is between $8,000 to $15,000. This amount varies largely due to several factors, which we’ll go through in the next section.
What factors affect the cost of house demolitions?
The following factors will primarily dictate the cost of a house demolition project:
Geographic location
The geographic location of your property is a primary factor contributing to the cost of the whole project. This factor will dictate many other expenses, such as labor and permit costs. Projects located in metropolitan cities with high traffic congestion will definitely cost more than those found in more rural areas. For example, you should expect to pay significantly more for a project in Los Angeles, California, than you would in Waseca, Minnesota.
Size of your home
It’s a common practice for most, if not all, contractors to charge based on land area. The cost to tear a house down per square foot ranges between $2 to $17. The difference is quite large, again due to location. On average, though, per square foot costs vary between $4 to $15. Since most professional contractors charge based on square footage, getting an accurate measurement of your house will give you an idea of how much you’re going to spend.
Method of demolition
Whether your project will be using heavy equipment or not will also contribute to its cost. Contractors will charge more if heavy equipment comes into the mix, as compared to manual demolition work. Small-scale and interior demolition projects won’t necessarily require heavy equipment, so this part varies according to your project’s needs.
Presence of hazardous materials
Many older homes used asbestos in their construction, so dealing with the debris will require extra caution. Old asbestos can become flaky, and there’s a substantial risk of it getting airborne, harmful to the lungs when inhaled. In dealing with hazardous materials like asbestos, you will need a professional contractor’s services, as the EPA has strict regulations involving these. These additional removal services will cost you an average of $2,000.
What are the demolition types, and which do I need?
The answer to the latter part of this question depends entirely on you and your situation. However, we’re here to discuss when either total or partial demolition is in order.
Total demolition
Total demolition means tearing down the structure all the way down to its foundation. Professional demolition contractors will almost always handle projects requiring total demolition projects using their heavy machinery and expert debris removal.
Many homeowners typically go for this alternative before choosing to rebuild on the same property. This could be for various reasons, one being that they want a home that is personal to them, something coming entirely out of their dreams. Rebuilding a house from scratch can cost you anywhere from $170,000 to $485,000.
Partial demolition
Partial demolition refers to tearing down only a part of your house, including your garage, swimming pool, deck, barn, etc. Homeowners will typically opt for partial demolition as preparation for renovation. They could want to transform a specific part of their homes into something new while keeping the rest of the house’s integrity. Depending on what structure you need to be taken down, you should expect to spend about $500 to $12,000 for partial demolition.
What to consider before demolition
To determine what type of demolition services you will need, you should assess your home situation. Weigh the pros and cons between total and partial demolition, and ask yourself if the majority of your house can still be salvaged.
Total demolition (with rebuild)
Pros:
- A fresh start, meaning you decide on the materials, floor plans, etc.
- Long-term costs are more or less equal to partial demolition with renovation.
Cons:
- More expensive in upfront costs
- You cannot live in your home (because there won’t be a home to live in)
Partial demolition (with renovation)
Pros:
- You can salvage most of the structure, which is especially beneficial if your house has historical value.
- Costs significantly less upfront
- You can typically live in your home while operations are ongoing.
Cons:
- It could take longer than you think.
- Construction can be loud and disruptive, and you may have to move out temporarily.
How to save money on house demolition
Whatever type of demolition you choose, it’s going to cost you. To help ease the financial burden this will cause, here are some ways you can save money on a house demolition.
- If you can do the demolition yourself, do it. Do the most you can without employing the services of a contractor. Of course, we should advise you to be safe by disconnecting all electrical, plumbing, and HVAC connections and equipment before starting. Use suitable PPE and equipment for this project, and exercise the utmost care. While this can save you a lot of money, we recommend hiring a professional contractor to do the job for you.
- Salvage scraps. Many scraps and debris that come out of demolition are quite valuable. Salvage yards will pay decently for copper and other wiring scraps. Additionally, reclaimed wood is a great material that could net nice returns.
Professional demolition contractors yield the best results.
Home demolition can save you money in the short term, but after a while, if not immediately, problems arise. These problems could cost you even more than what you would have paid a contractor upfront. Professional contractors have the experience and expertise to prevent these problems from ever occurring. Along with smooth operations in a time-sensitive project, they practice with the utmost safety, sparing you from very avoidable accidents. Whether you have a small or big job on your hands, it would be best to leave it to the experts.
Interested In Cutting Technologies?
For nearly 40 years Cutting Technologies (CTI) has been the go-to demolition contractor for technically demanding, one-off jobs. Our wealth of experience enables CTI to bring “outside-of-the-block” approaches to achieve the impossible. Contractors trust CTI to get the job done right. Take a look at our demolition services on our website.
About The Author
Terrence Tan Ting is an industrial engineer by profession but a full time writer by passion. He loves to write about a wide range of topics from many different industries thanks to his undying curiosity.