With the inevitable population growth, the need for a living-place, for a place to call home has never been more acutely felt. And since nowadays cities tend to be overpopulated, new ways to own a dream-house had to be created. Currently, space is quite limited in urban locations, therefore finding a house in the exact location you want, is quite a challenge.
But fear not, because in recent years the idea of recreating something from scratch has become increasingly popular and with it, the idea of starting a home from square one. Now, if you find a house in your desired location, and it is for sale, it might not have the most interesting design, but if you purchase it you can find demolition contractors to demolish it and start anew.
Do it yourself or go pro?
While there is a debate regarding the idea of DIY and asking for professional help when certain house related actions are included, demolition itself may be a project too big to dive ahead alone. Sure, you might have certain construction tools lying around your house – a normal and rubber hammer, a tape measure, a screwdriver or even a hacksaw for wood – but you will need the professional equivalent of those if you wish to succeed.
It is impossible to bring down a concrete wall with a normal hammer; you will need a demolition hammer for it; as you cannot dig your whole foundation with a shovel. An excavator is definitely a better choice. Not to mention the time you will need to finish and the brute force moving certain items might require.
When demolition is concerned, the best way is to go pro. Leave the ‘do-it-yourself’ approach for smaller and more personal projects after the house is remade. Take all factors into account, organize your ideas and plan ahead. Speak with all party members involved in this project and make sure everyone understood your desires and wishes. The key to seeing your dream come true is communication.
Demolition Factors
When you wish to demolish an already existing building, there are several factors you have to pay attention to, as they play an important role in determining how much your project will cost at the end.
The action itself
- Type of demolition
Do you want to completely flatten the existing house, or do you wish to keep certain areas from it? Take your time and decide what you wish to remake and what can still be saved. Plan ahead and navigate around what you already have in order to achieve your dream while being cost-effective, as the prices can range from at least $3000 up to $40.000 or even more.
- Deconstruction
It should always be kept in mind, as certain items can be brought down and remade later on if you wish to, re-used as something else, or even recycled. It might be a bit more expensive to deconstruct an entire house, as the average price for it starts around $25,000, but certain items can be donated, thus giving you a tax benefit of $10,000 or, possibly, even more. There are tax calculators available online that can help you get a more accurate estimate on how those tax benefits will impact your financial bottom line.
The house or building you wish to demolish
- Location
Depending on where the house is placed, in the heart of the city, in the inner suburbs section or more towards the outer suburbs, the demolition price will range. So be sure to pick a place you can afford to remake before actually starting the process.
Don’t become fixated on one particular place; do some research; ask around and maybe you will find an even better location with a better price.
- Structure size
When speaking about houses and their costs, you have to take into account the size of the structure itself. Is it a small, cozy structure or a grand one? The leveling expenses will be closely related to it, as a larger structure is more difficult to demolish than a small one. The costs too will range accordingly to what size the house is, so think smart.
- Building foundation and materials
While you might be interested in what your house is made of when you build it, you want to be sure to check the building foundation and materials when you decide to take one down. Some materials are harder to destroy than others, and the effort you have to put in to do so might make you change your mind. For example, a house made of brick is harder to be brought down than one made of wood or foam.
Moreover, an interior demolition price can range from around $500 going up to almost $12.000, depending on how much you want to remove and what exactly you want removed. Also, think about the foundation too. Does it need to be destroyed along with the house? Does it need remodeling? Or is it good enough to keep?
Other factors
- Permits, approvals, and their cost
Nothing can be done without official permits and approvals when it comes to construction, deconstruction and demolishing. You need to contact your local authorities and make sure you are allowed to bring down that certain building, as some might be historical monuments. Consider the papers you need to have before engaging into the action itself and organize them accordingly. Depending on your location the cost might vary, going from $500 to even $4000.
- Utilities
Make sure your utility providers have been notified about your desire to demolish the house. For some of them, special teams might be needed to ensure the safety of rebuilding your house. That way you will not bother your neighbors too much and you will be one step ahead, as you will want to reconnect to electricity, water or gas on after the house is rebuilt.
- After-cleaning
When everything is finished and done, you also have to clean up space. Removing the remaining debris is also something you have to take into account, as some might need special attention when being removed from your property. That also might be a point to consider as different materials imply different objects to be moved, and the cost for those will be added to your final sum.