DIY-Demolition-Tips

Basic DIY Demolition Tips

Demolition is the tearing down of houses, buildings, and other structures. It’s the first step to any renovation. In fact, most people enjoy the demolition process more than the renovation. Shattering down walls may look fun, but thoughtless demolition can result in accidental destruction of your house’s foundation.

The first step to deciding whether you do the demolition yourself or leave it to the professionals, is to list down the pros and cons of doing a DIY demolition.

Pros

  1. It’s cost-effective. It’s estimated that the cost of a demolition contractor’s service may range from $4000 to $14,000. When doing it yourself, labor will be free. You’ll only need to worry about equipment rentals.
  2. Demolition is fun. A lot of people find demolition as an effective way to release stress and do something new.

Cons

  1. With less experience or knowledge about it, DIY demolition may cause more damage to the structure than what was intended.
  2. Without the proper equipment and strength, DIY demolition can be unsafe.

If you decide to pursue DIY demolition projects, here are the things you need to keep in mind:

After You Learned the Basics, Start Hammering Away!
  1. If you can’t determine what you’re tearing down, don’t touch or remove it yet.
  2. Safety first. Don a dust mask, hard hat, and boots to prevent respiratory problems and injuries from nail punctures and the like.
  3. Learn the basics. Know what’s behind the walls, like electrical wires, gas, or asbestos.
  4. Differentiate the bearing and non-bearing structure in the house, such as the posts and headers.
  5. Learn what to turn over to the pros, such as asbestos, lead, natural gas and plumbing.

What You Need Before Actual Demolition

  1. Secure proper permits from your city or municipal authorities.
  2. For the safety of others, define the house or building parameters with portable fencing, to keep out unauthorized persons.
  3. Turn off electrical supplies, water supplies, and gas appliances. Notify everyone else involved in the project, so they don’t turn it back on accidentally while you’re at work. You may also ask your local utility company to do it for you.
  4. Rent some equipment, such as a dolly, to move the heaviest appliances, a dumpster to hold the debris, and an excavator. Also, prepare power tools such as reciprocating saw, circular saw, jack hammers, cordless drill, angle grinder, and air cleaner. Rent hand tools such as bars, pliers, nippers, snips, a utility knife, screwdrivers, and voltage meter to ensure that the wire’s power is still off.
  5. If doing room demolitions, place a drop cloth over the floor to minimize scratches and other damages. Also, empty cabinets and shelves when moving them out.
  6. Secure safety, and then hammer away.

Just follow this simple steps and you can demolish anything in a jiffy! Don’t forget to like and share if this tutorials helps!

Mike Walker

Repair and Construction Expert. WoodiesDIY.tv Owner