Strip-outs and gut-outs
Interior Demolition in Toronto
From our Thornhill base we handle interior demolition in Toronto: strip-outs in houses, semis and condos, done with protected routes and dust control so the rest of the home stays livable. Whether you need one room opened up or a whole floor taken back to the studs, you get a written scope and a swept, trade-ready space at the end.
WSIB
Clearance on request
$5M
Liability insured
Licensed
Ontario contractor
Swept-clean
Debris hauled same day
Straight numbers
What it costs
Typical pricing
| Interior demolition (to studs) | $2–$7 / sq ft | Non-structural strip-out |
| Kitchen demolition | $1,000–$3,500 | Cabinets, counters, flooring, backsplash |
| Bathroom demolition | $800–$2,500 | Full gut to studs including tile and tub |
| Basement gut-out | $2,500–$8,000 | Framing, drywall, flooring, drop ceilings |
Typical ranges. Finishes, home age, ceiling height, and disposal volume determine final pricing. Every quote is free, written, and firm before demolition day.
Scope
What's included
- Floor and pathway protection before work begins
- Poly containment and negative air where dust control matters
- Strip-out to a marked, confirmed scope
- Nail-swept studs and clean subfloor at handoff
- Debris removal and disposal included in the quote
Strip-outs in houses, semis and condos
Most Toronto interior demolition falls into three kinds of property. Detached houses are the most open: usually a clear route out and room for a container. Semis and row houses share walls with a neighbour, so noise and vibration are kept in check and the shared wall is left alone. Condos come with building rules that decide how the job runs.
In a condo, expect to book the freight elevator, work inside the building's allowed hours, and protect the corridors, lobby and elevator walls we pass through. Some buildings ask for a deposit or insurance certificate first. Send us the building's contractor rules at the start and we build the schedule around them.
Protected routes and dust control in occupied homes
Plenty of Toronto owners stay in the house during a renovation. Before any demolition starts, we cover floors and stairs along the route from the work area to the door, hang taped poly walls around the room, and seal the heating and cooling registers so dust doesn't travel through the ducts. Where dust control matters most, we run negative air, a fan that pulls air out of the work area so dust stays inside it.
Material leaves in covered containers, not loose through your living room, and we sweep the work area and the route out at the end of each day.
What we find in older Toronto houses
Toronto has a lot of houses from before 1950, and the walls tell the story. Plaster and lath, thin wood strips under a thick plaster coat, is heavy, dusty and slow to remove, and it adds weight to the disposal bill. Behind it, you may find knob-and-tube wiring, an old electrical system using ceramic knobs. If we see it, we stop and flag it so a licensed electrician can deal with it before we continue.
Houses built before 1990 can also contain asbestos in things like old floor tiles, insulation and plaster, and lead in older paint. Testing for these before anything is disturbed is standard practice, and the owner arranges it. A lab report tells everyone what is safe to remove and what needs a specialist. We can work from that report.
Selective demolition vs. whole-floor gut
Selective demolition removes only what is marked: a kitchen, a bathroom, one wall, a bulkhead. Everything else stays and is protected. A whole-floor gut takes the level back to studs and subfloor, which is the right call when you're replacing wiring, plumbing and finishes together.
We mark the scope with you at a walkthrough, in writing, so it is clear what stays and what goes. Related jobs have their own pages: wall removal and kitchen demolition.
Across the city
We work all over Toronto from our Thornhill base. See how we handle Toronto jobs, including tight streets and building rules. North York projects, with their post-war bungalows and teardown-rebuild streets, are covered on our North York page. For east-end houses and split-levels, see Scarborough.
Local answers
Interior Demolition in Toronto FAQs
How much does interior demolition cost in Toronto?
A strip-out to studs typically runs $2–$7 per square foot. By room, a kitchen is usually $1,000–$3,500, a bathroom $800–$2,500, and a basement gut-out $2,500–$8,000. Older houses with plaster or materials that need special handling can push a quote higher. See interior demolition for the full table.
Can you work in a condo?
Yes, when the building approves the work plan. We schedule around the freight elevator booking, permitted work hours and the corridor protection the building requires. Send us the building's contractor rules with your request.
Do I need a permit for interior demolition?
It depends on the scope. Taking out non-structural finishes often needs none, while removing structural walls or changing plumbing and electrical can. The owner confirms requirements with Toronto Building. We do not file permits, but we provide a clear written scope for your builder or designer.
What if you find knob-and-tube wiring or asbestos?
We stop work in that area. Wiring is flagged for a licensed electrician. Suspected asbestos or lead needs lab testing arranged by the owner, and anything that tests positive is handled by the right specialist before we continue.
Can I stay in the house during demolition?
Usually yes. With protected routes, poly walls and sealed vents, the rest of the home stays usable. Dust and noise still happen, so owners often plan to be out of the work area during the day.
How long does a strip-out take?
A bathroom or kitchen is often one to two days. A basement or whole-floor gut can run several days depending on size and finishes. The written scope confirms timing before we start.
Call for a written quote
Send the address and a few photos. We'll look at the job and give you a firm written quote.
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