People use the word demolition for very different jobs. A kitchen tear-out, a full gut down to the block walls and knocking down the whole house all get called demo. They need different permits, different crews and different budgets, so it helps to know which one you're actually asking for.
Side by side
The three kinds of demolition, compared
| Item | What comes out | What stays |
|---|---|---|
| Selective demolition | Specific rooms or items, like a kitchen, bathrooms, a wall or a ceiling. | Everything else, often with people still living or working in the building. |
| Interior gut | All finishes, cabinets, fixtures, drywall, flooring and non-structural walls. | The exterior walls, roof structure, slab and usually the main utility services. |
| Full demolition | The entire structure, and usually the slab, footings, driveway and anything else on the lot. | An empty lot, filled and graded. |
Interior work can still need a permit, and structural walls can't come out without an engineer and a permit for the new framing.
Choosing
Signs that point one way or the other
Interior work is usually enough when
The roof structure, walls and slab are sound, you like where the house sits on the lot, and the work stays under the flood-zone improvement limit if you're in one.
Full demolition makes sense when
There's structural damage, termites in the framing, a layout you'd have to gut anyway, or a remodel big enough that it would force the house up to today's flood elevation.
Watch the 50 percent rule
In a flood zone, a remodel that costs half the building's market value or more usually has to meet current flood rules. Sometimes a big gut costs almost as much as starting over.
Don't lose the footprint by accident
Older houses can sit closer to the property line than today's zoning allows. Keeping the walls keeps that spot. Taking the house down usually doesn't.
Budget and schedule
How the two compare in practice
Permits
A full demolition needs a demolition permit with utility letters and, for some buildings, asbestos paperwork. Interior work is usually part of the remodel permit.
Utilities
A full teardown means disconnecting everything. An interior gut usually keeps service at the meter, with circuits made safe inside.
Debris
A gut fills a few containers. A full demolition with the slab can fill dozens of trucks.
Related
Keep reading
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between interior demolition and full demolition?
Interior demolition removes finishes, fixtures and non-structural walls while the shell, roof and slab stay. Full demolition takes the whole structure down, usually including the slab and footings, leaving an empty lot.
Do I need a permit for interior demolition in Florida?
Often, yes. Many building departments require a permit for interior demolition, usually as part of the remodel permit, and anything touching structure, electrical or plumbing needs one. Check with your city before work starts.
Is a full gut cheaper than tearing the house down?
The demolition itself usually is, but the total project may not be. If the remodel would cross the flood-zone 50 percent limit or needs major structural repair, building new can come out close in cost.
Can I gut a house and keep the walls to save my setbacks?
That's a common reason to do an interior gut or partial demolition instead of a teardown. Confirm with the zoning department how much of the structure has to stay for the existing setbacks to remain.
This article is general information. Permit, flood-zone and zoning rules vary by city and county. Confirm with your building and zoning departments before deciding.