Do you want to change the layout, appearance, or design of your building? Based on our demolition company in Toronto and GTA experience, you have two options – either you renovate the property or demolish it. Demolishing is the best option when all you want is a clean slate for your next project. It also allows for serious significant changes to modernize and improve the safety standards of an existing property. So how much does demolition cost? The reality is that there isn’t a one-price-fits-all when it comes to demolition costs. Several factors come into play. They include:
1. Square Footage
Square footage refers to the amount of space your demolition works will cover. The bigger the square footage, the more expensive the project. A larger structure requires more work, time, and machinery. All these are elements that go into the final cost of demolitions. On average, it costs about $15, 570 to demolish a 1500-square-foot home. The cost of demolition per square foot in Canada ranges from $4 to $15.
2. Location of the Project
Demolishing a home tends to be more expensive in cities than in rural areas. What’s more, some regions have policies in place to discourage demolitions in favour of rehabilitation. This makes the cost of demolition of houses even higher in such areas. The cost of employing a demolition crew differs dramatically based on where you live and living costs.
3. Permits Required for Demolition
Most municipalities require proof that you’ve complied with local regulations and have an insurance policy before okaying any demolition works. The costs of licenses and permits vary greatly depending on the location and type of demolition works. In some cases, you may need a permit from your city/county council, and then a license from your state council. You see, the costs of permits can quickly add up. So you need to factor that into your demolition budget.
4. Types and Variety of Materials
Think about it. Which one is cheaper? Demolishing a house primarily made of timber or demolishing one made of brick or concrete? As you would expect, the heavier the materials the higher the demolition costs, as well as the cost of cleaning and disposal. Mind you, if your house contains hazardous materials like asbestos, the cost of demolition will be higher because of the need for special disposal and handling of the ACM (asbestos-containing materials).
5. Value of Salvageable Materials
You can repurpose salvageable items such as interior finishes, casework, doors, lighting fixtures, etc., for a new project. Better yet, you can resell scrap metals and make some decent money out of your demolition project. Recycling also helps conserve natural resources and reduce the need for incinerators and landfills. So when calculating demolition costs, be sure to consider the value of salvageable materials as savings.
6. Type of Demolition
There are two major methods of demolition – engineering and non-engineering demolition. Techniques such as the wrecking ball method, thermic lance, concrete sawing, deliberate collapse, etc., fall under engineering demolitions. Non-engineering demolition is what is best known as manual demolition. Demolition methods differ in cost as some need specialized equipment and expertise more than others.
How to Calculate Demolition Costs
With the various factors that affect demolition per square foot in Canada in hand, you can now calculate the final estimate of your demolition project – you just need to determine your project’s critical elements as accurately as possible. These elements include:
- The volume of material earmarked for demolition
- Your chosen demolition company’s rate of production
- The cost of production based on equipment, labour, and disposal costs
- Demolition direct costs such as permits, insurance, security, site grading, etc.
- The current market value of your salvaged items
Once you have the estimates for these elements you can forecast the final demolition costs using the formula: Cost estimate= (V * ROP * COP) + DC-SC. Here, DC stands for direct costs, SC is salvage credit, V is the volume of material, and COP is the cost of production.
Too much work? You can alternatively use a house demolition costs calculator to estimate how much time and money your project will need.
Using a House Demolition Cost Calculator Canada
There isn’t a shortage of online demolition company calculators claiming to offer the most accurate results. A demolition cost calculator appears practical in theory, but its results can be extensively inaccurate because of the unpredictable variables affecting demolition works.
As such, it’s best to use a house demolition cost calculator from a reputable company. Go for demolition experts with experience working on similar projects in your area. You can even contact such companies for a rough estimate of your demolition costs because you’ll get a price that is as near as possible to the exact costs you’ll incur, including contingency sums for real unknowns.
Partial Demolition
There are cases where it might appear as if demolishing an entire home is necessary when it actually isn’t. Knowing whether your project will do with partial demolitions can save you a great deal of money. Take note that selective demolition is the best fit for adding extensions, enlarging existing rooms, replacing defective plumbing, and updating specific areas of your home.
It’s not a job for novices though. You’ll need to hire an experienced professional who’ll ensure your home’s structural integrity doesn’t suffer. On average, it’ll take you back about:
- $1200 to $5000 for interior wall demolitions to achieve an open house plan without affecting the exterior structure.
- $2000 to $10000 to tear down a garage without affecting the rest of the home.
- $1 to $2 per square foot to tear down the driveway.
- $5 to $15 to demolish a deck.
Compare those prices to the average costs for full demolition. $22500 or more!
Ask the Experts
It’s critical to hire professionals to walk with you in your demolition journey. A reliable demolition contractor will offer you some of the best estimates in addition to advising you on how best to approach your demolition project. Worry no more about your demolition costs – we are here to help you every step of the way.
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