Getting your home ready for interior demolition takes about 2-3 hours of prep work. The more you do ahead of time, the faster and cleaner the demo goes — and the less chance of something getting damaged that shouldn’t.
Here’s your checklist.
1. Clear the Work Area Completely
Remove everything from the room being demolished:
- Cabinets and drawers: take out dishes, food, utensils, cleaning supplies
- Countertops: small appliances, knife blocks, spice racks
- Walls: remove pictures, mirrors, shelving, curtain rods
- Floors: roll up area rugs, move furniture to another room
- Closets: empty everything if closet walls are coming down
Don’t leave anything behind and assume the crew will work around it. Demo produces dust and vibration that gets into everything.
2. Set Up a Temporary Space
If you’re demolishing a kitchen, you’ll need a makeshift setup for however long the remodel takes:
- Folding table with microwave and toaster oven
- Coffee maker (non-negotiable for most people)
- Cooler or mini-fridge for perishables
- Paper plates and disposable utensils for the first few days
- Water jug if the kitchen sink is your only water source on that floor
For bathroom demos, figure out your alternative bathroom situation before demo day — not after.
3. Protect Adjacent Rooms
A professional crew handles most of the protection, but you should:
- Move fragile items off shelves and mantels in rooms that share a wall with the demo zone. Vibration from tile removal can travel through framing.
- Roll up rugs in hallways the crew will use to carry debris
- Move vehicles out of the driveway if the crew needs space for a dumpster or truck
The crew will hang plastic sheeting on doorways and lay drop cloths on floors, but your valuables shouldn’t be in the blast zone.
4. Know What’s Staying and What’s Going
Walk the room with your demo crew before work starts. Point out:
- Keep: any fixtures, trim, or surfaces you want preserved
- Remove: everything that should be torn out
- Uncertain: anything you haven’t decided on yet (decide before demo day — changes mid-demo slow everything down)
Mark items that stay with blue painter’s tape. It’s a clear visual for the crew.
5. Handle Utilities
Your demo crew should handle disconnects, but confirm this in advance:
- Water — shutoff valves for sinks, toilets, dishwashers, washing machines
- Gas — stove, dryer, water heater (if in the demo zone)
- Electrical — flip breakers for the room being demolished. Label your breaker panel ahead of time if it isn’t already.
- HVAC — close vents in the demo zone to keep dust out of your duct system
If your breaker panel isn’t labeled, use demo prep as a reason to map it. Flip each breaker and note which rooms lose power.
6. Plan for Dust
Demo dust is fine and pervasive. Even with plastic sheeting on doorways, some gets through.
- Close HVAC vents in the demo zone and one room beyond
- Put a new furnace filter in after demo is complete
- Cover electronics in adjacent rooms (TVs, computers)
- If anyone in the house has asthma or respiratory issues, plan to be away during the loudest demo days
7. Talk to Your Neighbors
Interior demo is loud — sledgehammers on tile, pry bars on cabinets, saws cutting countertops. Let your neighbors know:
- What days the work is happening
- Approximate hours (most crews work 8am–5pm)
- That it’s temporary
A quick text or doorbell visit avoids complaints and keeps things friendly.
8. Check for Hazards in Older Homes
If your home was built before 1980, ask about:
- Asbestos — found in floor tiles (especially 9x9 tiles), pipe insulation, some drywall compounds, and popcorn ceilings. Get tested before demo.
- Lead paint — common in homes built before 1978. A professional crew follows EPA guidelines for lead-safe work.
- Mold — if you’ve had water damage, demo might uncover mold behind walls. Your crew should stop work and let you address it properly.
Testing is inexpensive and avoids much bigger problems.
Day-of Checklist
- Room cleared of all belongings
- Fragile items moved from adjacent rooms
- Temporary kitchen/bathroom set up
- Vehicles moved for truck/dumpster access
- Pets secured away from the work zone
- Breakers identified and labeled
- Items marked “keep” or “remove”
- Neighbors notified
Prepping for a demo project in Metro Detroit? Call us at (586) 371-7905 — we’ll walk through everything with you before the first hammer swings.