Is it cheaper to tear down or renovate?
Renovating your home may be exactly what you need to make it truly yours. But be careful. This decision could take you down a never-ending (and pricey) rabbit hole of home improvement. After you’ve transformed your kitchen from drab to spectacular, your family room may appear out of place, your living room may appear outmoded, and so on.
In many circumstances, demolishing an old house is less expensive than a complete remodel, with or without an extension. But not all the time. It all depends on your house, your location, and your circumstances. Here are five things to think about while assessing your alternatives, as well as tips on how to make this pricey financial decision.
Does your older home have a lot of character?
Who could do away with solid core doors, marble window sills, crown molding, pocket doors, and arched doorways? Some older homes are built with higher quality wood and feature finishing details that are difficult to recreate today. If you wish to maintain your home’s original details, you should renovate.
But don’t feel terrible if a historical enchanter isn’t your cup of tea. Furthermore, not all antique houses are worth preserving. While many homes and historical structures are 100, 200, or more years old and yet in good shape, properties that are more than 75 years old or so require a careful eye. They must have received excellent treatment.
Examine the electrical, plumbing, and heating systems. If they’re in bad shape, you might want to rebuild. A teardown will allow you to use new materials and make your home much more energy efficient. Just make sure you can demolish your existing house. If it is in a historic district, you must obtain approval from your state or local regulator, as well as your local historic preservation commission.
Is your home structurally unsound?
A house with a shaky foundation is a severe problem. If your house has structural problems, I would advocate tearing it down. But how do you know? When viewed from the outside, your walls should be straight.
Water should not be present in your basement or crawl area, there should be no fractures in your internal walls, and your windows should open and close freely. A structural engineer might be a valuable resource in assisting you with your decision. If you reside in an earthquake-prone area, having the foundation of your home assessed becomes much more crucial.
In rare situations, a home that was designed and built prior to the implementation of new earthquake legislation may sustain considerable structural damage after an earthquake. In such circumstances, starting from scratch is frequently more cost effective.
Does your town have restrictive regulations?
The choice of whether to refurbish or rebuild may not be entirely yours. If your jurisdiction has stringent regulations, it may be easier to follow them. It’s nearly never preferable to tear down in regions where there are a lot of rules.
Is there water damage?
Water and houses do not mix. Water damage in houses is unfortunately a widespread issue, ranging from burst pipes to water gathering in the basement to flooding after a storm. When the damage is severe enough, it may necessitate a refurbishment or complete dismantling. But how can you possibly know what to do? If only a few feet of the first floor sheetrock is wet, stripping the lower half of the walls of sheetrock and insulation and rebuilding them will enough for a makeover. However, if water has entered the house past the first level, the damage to various portions of the house will be so significant that rebuilding is the best option.
How much money do you want to spend?
Building demolition costs around $2,000 on average, although this can vary depending on the job. Some structures are more intricate than others, which can make demolition more expensive. The cost can be significantly higher if you need a building demolished soon. You can save money by outsourcing the full demolition procedure to a demolition company.
I’ve had acquaintances that paid more than the norm for their home just to have the builder deliver a subpar product. What would make you want that? A knowledgeable contractor is worth paying a premium for. You want someone to listen to your ideas and collaborate with you to ensure that you receive exactly what you want.
Do you think tearing it down is a better idea?
Our article about DIY Demolition has got you covered about the critical information you need in tearing something down.
How much does it cost to demolish a building?
Building demolition costs around $2,000 on average, although this can vary depending on the job. Some structures are more intricate than others, which can make demolition more expensive. The cost can be significantly higher if you need a building demolished soon. You can save money by outsourcing the full demolition procedure to a demolition company.
I’ve had acquaintances that paid more than the norm for their home just to have the builder deliver a subpar product. What would make you want that? A knowledgeable contractor is worth paying a premium for. You want someone to listen to your ideas and collaborate with you to ensure that you receive exactly what you want.
How do you calculate demolition costs?
Reach out to companies for free estimates to acquire the most accurate quotation for your demolition project. They are professionals at estimating project expenses based on a variety of factors. While estimating the precise cost of your unique demolition project is more complicated than a simple calculator can provide, understanding how the most common demolition projects are priced can help you know what to expect.
Residential House Demolition
$5-$15 per sq ft x Home’s Square Footage = Cost
Mobile Home Demolition
$3.50-$5 per sq ft x Mobile Home’s Square Footage = Cost
Commercial Building Demolition
$4-$8 per sq ft x Commercial Building’s Square Footage = Cost
Concrete Removal
$3-$6 per sq ft x Concrete’s Square Footage = Cost
Pool Removal
$8-$15 per sq ft x Pool’s Square Footage = Cost
Contact Professionals
Lastly, for your demolition projects, it is also recommended to leave it to the pros. The Pink Dumpster offers light demolition throughout Central Ohio. We perform partial or complete structural exterior demolition. You can rely on us for all of your home and business demolition needs!