Clients assume demolition is quick. The real cost is not the breaking but the carrying out, hauling and disposal — which is where estimates usually go wrong.
Sections
Preparation — isolating services, dust barriers, protecting stairs and lifts; demolition by element with areas, linear metres and counts; carrying out as its own line where there is no lift; skips and haulage by volume or weight, with waste sorted by type; and final cleaning.
The number of skips decides whether the job made money. Masonry and concrete are heavy and skip pricing is often weight-linked, so estimate the volume and check the supplier's terms before quoting.
Special cases
Work in load-bearing structures needs a design solution, strengthening and the relevant approvals — a separate line, and not started before the paperwork is in place. Asbestos-containing materials need proper handling and never go in a general skip. Mechanised demolition brings plant access into the picture, and work in an occupied building brings time limits and noise restrictions.
See the apartment renovation estimate and the bill of quantities.