How Much Will It Cost to Tear Down A House?
- Big Easy Demolition
- February 25, 2021
Homeowners decide to tear down a house for many reasons.
Most choose demolition to make way for new construction. This is also true for businesses that are considering demolition as a more cost-effective solution.
However, the decision to demolish a structure can only be made if you have a reasonable estimate of demolition costs.
This brings us to the most important question: How much does it cost to tear down a house?
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A demolition company will typically base an estimate of deconstruction cost.
Here’s a rough idea of the likely cost of tearing down a house based on these factors.
What Is The Average Cost to Tear Down a House
Your goal or purpose in tearing down will impact how much you will have to spend for demolition.
Companies that demolish houses tackle demolition projects in a surprising number of ways.
If you are seeking estimates of how much it will cost to tear down a house, consider these factors that will affect your costs:
Location
If the location of the house that will be demolished is within metropolitan areas with more traffic congestion, the cost of demolition services will be higher.
Moreover, if the house that you wish to be demolished is in a difficult to reach location, this will make it more challenging to transport demolition equipment, vehicles, and disposable material from the site, therefore increasing costs.
Cities with a higher cost of labor and regions with higher dump fees will also charge higher rates in tearing down a house.
Another way location can impact the cost of demolition is the cost of securing a demolition permit.
Some cities also prefer to discourage building demolition because they would favor rehab.
Because of this, they charge a significantly higher amount for a demolition project.
Size of House
House demolition companies will charge you a demolition cost depending on the total area of your house.
The cost can be calculated per square meter. The bigger the area, the higher the cost for tearing down a house.
Building Materials
The material used to build a house can have a large effect on the cost of demolition.
A house made of timber is generally cheaper to demolish than a house made of concrete or bricks.
The heavier the material used, the higher the cost of demolition because tearing down the house will require special machinery.
Timber and some pieces of concrete can also be salvaged and recycled which can bring down the cost of demolition.
Hazardous Materials (Asbestos or Mould)
A house that was built between 1920 and 1990 will most likely have asbestos in the construction material used to build it.
Asbestos removal is three times more expensive than removing standard building materials. It requires skill specialists, extra labor, and treatment.
Mould is another hazardous material that needs to be removed and disposed of safely by experienced specialists.
Make sure that you will have your house inspected for hazardous materials so that you will know what type of demolition you will need and the cost it will entail.
Presence of Other Structures That Need to be Demolished
Extra structures around the house that will also need to be demolished will add to the cost of demolition.
Smaller structures like a garage shed, or trailer will cost less than a house demolition.
Here’s a list of the average cost of demolishing common home features according to HomeAdvisor.
This will give you an idea of how much you will have to spend in addition to the cost of tearing down a house:
- Garage: $3,000 – $9,000
- Swimming Pool: $2,700 – $19,000
- Deck: $30: $50 per sq ft
- Chimney: $4,000 – $10,000
- Shed or Barn: $50 – $100 per hour
- Roof: $4 – $5 per sq ft
- Driveway: $1,500 – $5,000
- Foundation: $1,000 – $5,000
- Interior Walls: $1,200 – $5,000
- Additions: $50 – $100 per hour
Dump Fees
Every demolition will have a considerable amount of debris.
The more debris that needs to be transferred from the demolition site to the preferred dumping site, the higher the demolition cost.
Likewise with heavier dump loads like with concrete and gravel materials.
Some companies that tear down houses include the estimated dump fees and debris removal costs in the total project quote.
You can ask your demolition company about this inclusion if you ask them for a quote. You’ll likely have to hire a debris removal company.
Labor Costs
The cost of labor for tearing down a house depends on your location.
You can expect to pay between $4 to $15 per square foot.
For a hypothetical 1,500 sq ft home, you would be looking at a range of $6,000 to $22,500.
Again, this will fluctuate likewise depending on the type of demolition you will need.
The need for specialists for the removal of hazardous materials will increase your demolition costs.
What is the cost to tear down a house?
If you’re considering tearing down a house, it’s important to understand the costs involved in the process. The first factor to consider is the demolition rate per square foot, which can vary depending on the size and complexity of the structure. It’s a good idea to reach out to local demolition contractors to get a better idea of how much your project will cost.
Considering all the factors that affect the house demolition cost, you can expect to spend anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000.
You can consider recycling the contents and structural materials of your tear down to recover most of the demolition expenses.
According to Home Advisor, the average cost to demolish a house is between $2 to $17 per square foot.
This is a wide cost estimate range since there are several factors that impact the cost of demolition.
Most home demolitions, regardless of the property size, however, start at $4,000. The cost increases based on the square footage.
Hence, a 1,200 square foot home could cost $4,800 – $18,000 to tear down.
There are local professionals who can assist you with financing your demolition project.
Talk to a real estate agent and the design-build firm for recommendations.
Local community banks can offer a so-called “construction-to-permanent” loan that can provide you funds for the building phase if needed.
Additional Costs to Consider for House Demolition
In some cases, a partial demolition may be an option, which can help you save money on the overall cost. For example, if you plan to build a new structure on the same foundation and want to tear down an entire house, a basement demolition may be necessary.
It’s also important to consider any additional costs, such as chimney demolition costs. If your house has a chimney, it will need to be removed as part of the demolition process, which can add to the overall cost of the project.
Before you get started with the demolition, you’ll also need to obtain the necessary demolition permits from your local government. This will ensure that the process is carried out safely and legally.
While the cost of a house demolition can be significant, there are ways to save money on the project. By looking into partial demolition options and working with a good company, you can keep your costs as low as possible while still getting the results you want.
Professional House Demolition
Tearing down a house is a big job to handle. Choose a demolition company that has all the necessary licenses, up-to-date equipment, proven processes, and well-defined debris disposal and recycling methods.
It makes the most sense to hire a professional house demolishing company that will save you much of the cost to tear down a house.
They have the needed equipment and expertise to handle demolitions safely and precisely.
And they will definitely get the job done right the first time making it the more cost-effective solution for your demolition needs. Contact us today if you’re looking for a home demolition services.