Gut the space. Keep the schedule.
Controlled interior demolition for commercial tenants, restoration projects, and residential gut renovations across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties. Walls, flooring, ceilings, and mechanicals removed to studs or slab. Dust containment, HVAC isolation, and same-day debris haul-away standard on every scope.
What interior demolition
actually covers.
Every interior demolition scope Liora Works runs breaks down the same way. Here's what comes out, and what's built into the price.
Down to studs or slab.
Everything between the structural shell and the finished surfaces, depending on your scope.
Interior walls
Load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, framing, and sheathing.
Flooring systems
Tile, VCT, carpet, hardwood, underlayment. Down to subfloor or slab.
Ceiling systems
Acoustic tile grids, drywall, plaster, and above-ceiling mechanicals.
Mechanical systems
HVAC ducts, plumbing rough-ins, non-service electrical, fire suppression.
Fixtures & millwork
Casework, countertops, lighting, interior doors, trim, built-ins.
Baseline on every job.
Things most demo contractors upcharge for are standard in every Liora Works interior demolition scope.
Dust containment
Plastic sheeting barriers, negative air pressure where required, entry/exit airlocks.
HVAC isolation
Supply and return vents sealed. Adjacent-space air quality protected.
Surface protection
Ram Board on floors, corner guards, plastic on adjacent finished surfaces.
Utility disconnects
Coordination with DTE, Consumers, and local utilities for required disconnects.
Debris haul-away
Continuous debris removal during work. No separate dumpster or hauling contractor.
Six common
applications.
Interior demolition is most of the demolition work we run in Metro Detroit. Here are the scenarios we see most often across Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties.
Tenant rip-outs
Office, retail, and industrial tenant spaces cleared to base-building condition for new occupancy. Ready for next tenant's fit-out.
Water, fire, mold tearouts
Damaged interiors removed back to structural sound framing. Fast mobilization lets restoration crews rebuild sooner.
Gut renovations
Single-family homes and condos stripped to studs for full renovation. Kitchens, bathrooms, or whole-house scope.
Unit turnovers
Multi-unit residential turnovers for property managers. Damaged or aged units stripped for full refresh between tenants.
Space conversions
Retail space cleared for new use cases. Restaurant-to-retail, office-to-retail, or big-box subdivision prep.
Office reconfiguration
Existing office layouts removed for new open-plan, hybrid, or tenant-driven configurations. Common in Troy and Southfield Class B work.
Three things
most crews upcharge.
The three items most interior demolition quotes leave out are dust containment, HVAC isolation, and debris hauling. On every scope we bid, those three are priced in. Always. The number you see in the estimate is the number on the invoice.
Occupied buildings are where this matters most. A commercial tenant in a multi-tenant property can't afford drywall dust migrating into the adjacent law firm's server room. A condo unit getting gutted in a high-rise can't afford HVAC blow-through into neighboring units. We price for that up front.
Residential gut renovations often fall apart on the same three items. Homeowners get surprised by a separate dumpster charge, a "dust protection addendum," or an adjacent-room overspray fee. None of those exist in our scope.
Need a different
scope?
Three adjacent Liora Works services that often come up alongside interior demolition scopes.
Commercial demolition
For full building teardowns or structural commercial scope rather than interior rip-outs. Office buildings, retail centers, warehouses, multi-unit residential.
See scope →Selective demolition
For precision removal of specific walls or structural elements while keeping the rest of the interior intact. Common in partial renovations of occupied buildings.
See scope →Post-demolition cleanup
If demolition has already happened and you need fast debris removal and site cleanup from another contractor's leftovers or an owner tearout.
See scope →Questions we get
about interior demo.
Cost per square foot, typical timelines, occupied-building work, scope differences, and hazmat procedures.
What does interior demolition typically cost in Metro Detroit?
Interior demolition in Metro Detroit typically runs $5 to $15 per square foot depending on finish level, mechanical density, and whether hazmat abatement is required. A 1,500 square foot commercial tenant rip-out usually falls between $8,000 and $20,000. Residential gut renovations for a 2,000 square foot home range from $10,000 to $30,000 including debris haul-away.
How long does interior demolition take for a typical commercial space?
Interior demolition for a 1,500 to 3,000 square foot commercial tenant space typically completes in three to seven working days. Larger multi-unit residential gut-outs can run two to four weeks. Turnaround depends on mechanical complexity, whether the space is occupied nearby, and if any hazmat abatement is required before demolition begins.
Can interior demolition be done in occupied buildings or during business hours?
Yes. Liora Works regularly performs interior demolition in occupied office buildings, retail centers, and multi-tenant residential properties across Metro Detroit. Dust containment, HVAC isolation, and after-hours scheduling are standard for occupied-building work. Noise-generating work can be scheduled outside business hours to minimize disruption to adjacent tenants.
What's the difference between interior demolition and selective demolition?
Interior demolition removes the complete interior of a defined space, typically down to studs or slab, to prepare for renovation. Selective demolition removes only specific walls, floors, or structural elements while preserving the rest of the interior. Interior demolition is broader in scope. Selective demolition is more precise and usually involves occupied or partially finished buildings.
Do you handle debris hauling as part of interior demolition, or is that separate?
Debris hauling is included in every interior demolition scope Liora Works runs. Debris is removed continuously during the work, not stacked. At the end of each workday, the site is left clean. There is no separate dumpster rental to coordinate, no waiting on a third-party hauling contractor, and no additional invoice for debris removal.
What happens if asbestos or hazardous materials are found during interior demolition?
If hazmat is suspected, Liora Works halts demolition and coordinates testing with a licensed industrial hygienist. Confirmed asbestos, lead paint, or other regulated materials are abated by licensed partners before demolition resumes. All regulated debris is handled per EGLE, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, requirements. Pre-demolition hazmat assessment is included in our standard site walk.
Let's gut the space.
Call us today or request a quote online. We respond within 24 hours with a clear, honest estimate.