Diversified Builders
Ty Breitman
(720) 459-2477
So first thing, THIS IS NOT TV! Before you grab that sledgehammer to demo anything in your house, like your bathroom or kitchen THINK ABOUT IT.
If you think your going to take out your frustrations, your not. Demo involves a lot of thought, preparation and stamina. Oh and lets not forget blood, so have some band aids or something. If you like your knuckles, gloves may help but also may allow your hammer to slip and break the window or floor.
Know where your water shut offs are and the correct electrical breakers that need to be switched off. Sometimes you can get a back feed so it’s good to have computers and TV’s off before disconnecting electrical, (it's best to be letting a qualified electrician handle the electrical.
When disconnecting a water supply you need to drain the system. To do this shut the water off, and open the lowest fixture and the highest fixture in the house. If there is a recirculating pump unplug it. When turning the water back on do it slowly and keep in mind that you will have air in the lines, and it will burp explosively so if you don’t want water everywhere open those fixtures part way.
Demolition (Demo) is actually a surgical procedure to remove pre-installed products. We rarely use a sledgehammer unless we are removing concrete, masonry or cement slabs. When you see the folks on TV grabbing the sledgehammer it's for drama and effect, not reality.
Think what you are trying to remove and how best to protect what is to stay. Prep your area with tarps, moving blankets and plastic everything off as it’s going to be dusty. Remember to remove register covers (vents) and cover ducts as to avoid getting dust and debris in the duct. Same with water closet after you remove a toilet. If there are fixtures, cabinets or appliances that need to be saved find a safe place to store them. Make sure whatever you set them on won’t get damaged and they are out of the way. Cover and protect them during construction. If it’s a toilet you are saving remember that there is water in the trap.
If you need a dumpster. When loading a dumpster I like to place wood planks under the metal wheels before the dumpster is dropped. Think where you want it dropped and where the entry to it is. Check for overhead wires and anything adjacent to it that can be damaged or is in the way.
When loading start at the back and work up and out. If you make it too heavy they won’t take it and you get to remove stuff.
Now it’s time to get the proper tools and leave the sledgehammer in that garage. You’ll probably need screw drivers and maybe a couple wrenches. Wire cutters, pliers, wire nuts, razor knife, hammer and prybar and don't forget the shop vac. EYE PROTECTION AND DUST PROTECTION IS A MUST. Hearing protection is also smart.
Remember to remove the doors and protect the corners of your openings. Seems they always get banged up and if you don’t want to patch and paint/stain them you better protect them.
If you are removing anything that has caulk applied, use the razor knife to score the drywall a couple few times if you don’t want to damage drywall.
If you are removing drywall but leaving a cabinet or not involving the adjacent angles (walls or ceiling) leave 6” of drywall if you can so you can tie in and that way, avoid having to do the other angles or re-texture. If you cut drywall to the cabinet you will have to remove the cabinet to tape the drywall seam. That’s a building code as it will compromise your fire rating not to drywall tape.
It’s good to know where your studs are before prying as you will hole the drywall. One way I find my studs quickly is to knock on the wall near an outlet, listen to the change in sound from hollow to solid and you know where your stud is. Figure what side the stud is on then measure 16” OC (on center) and hopefully if your studs are on lay-out your good. I will mark my studs below base board or where my mark will be otherwise covered. Place your prybar in front of the stud and gently pry or twist the bar to remove what you need.
If you are using a hammer to remove stucco, or wall covering like drywall remove any pictures on the back side of the wall and go in between studs (the bay) and punch holes vertically and horizontally to remove smaller manageable sections of wall covering. If you see any wire or lath you will need to cut it before prying the pieces off. Use your prybar or even a flat pick axe between the stud and wall covering and pry off. (If you are not wearing your eye protection it is likely you will find out why you should be, the hard way). Remove tile by getting between the tile and the drywall with a prybar and just try to always pry on a stud. When removing tile or stucco gloves maybe your friend.
When you remove concrete slabs and not having a company do it or using a tractor then rent or get a jack hammer and create punctures (holes) in manageable patterns. Then you get a long heavy duty pry bar (5’ or so with a point on one end and a chisel on the other) or a pick and pry one end up off the ground and now you can use a sledge hammer to take a few whacks and the concrete will break between all your punctures you made. Get something to cut through whatever re-enforcement in the slab and wheelbarrow it out.
Obviously there is a lot more to it so if you need some advice call or write me.
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