Gutting before renovation – process & costs
Before renovation, old floors, walls, ceilings and installations have to go. How gutting works, what to watch out for with hazardous substances and what determines the price.
What gutting involves
Gutting strips a building or apartment back to its load-bearing structure. Depending on the project, this includes floor coverings, screed, tiles, non-load-bearing walls, suspended ceilings, doors, plumbing and electrical installations. Load-bearing elements stay. Exactly what is removed is agreed in advance with the architect, site manager or us.
Clean gutting saves time later: electricians, plumbers and drywall installers start on a clear, broom-clean space.
Gutting in four steps
Assessment
Viewing, defining the scope, checking for suspected hazardous substances.
Clearing
Furniture and belongings out, if still present.
Strip-out
Coverings, walls, ceilings and installations removed properly.
Disposal
Separated into wood, metal, rubble, gypsum and residual waste.
Hazardous substances: clarify before strip-out
Buildings constructed or renovated before 1993 may contain asbestos (for example in floor tiles, adhesives, plasters or facade panels) and old-type man-made mineral fibres. These must not simply be torn out. In Germany, work on asbestos-containing materials is only permitted for specialist companies with certified expertise under TRGS 519.
If there is a suspicion, we recommend a hazardous-substance survey by an expert before starting. It takes time but protects health and budget: a work stoppage in the middle of strip-out is far more expensive.
How we handle it
We raise any suspicion openly during the viewing. Work that requires special expertise is planned so it is carried out by a specialist company licensed for it.
What determines the cost
Scope of strip-out
Just floors and wallpaper, or everything down to the shell?
Materials
Tiles set in mortar, screed or timber-beam ceilings mean different amounts of work.
Volumes and categories
Rubble, gypsum, wood and metal are disposed of and charged separately.
Access
Floor, lift, skip location and carrying distances.
Hazardous substances
Survey and specialist removal are added separately.
Schedule
Tight deadlines before trade appointments may need more staff.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit for gutting?+
For purely internal gutting without touching load-bearing elements, usually not. Changes to the structure, listed buildings or skips on public ground may require a permit. Check with the building authority beforehand.
How long does gutting take?+
An apartment often a few days, a house correspondingly longer. We fix the schedule after the viewing.
Is it cleaned afterwards?+
We hand over broom-clean so the next trades can start right away.
Is damage insured?+
Yes, we carry business liability insurance of €5 million.
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Planning a renovation?
We gut properly, dispose of waste separately and hand over broom-clean – at a fixed price.