How Much Does It Cost To Gut A House?

Average Cost of Gutting a House

Cost to Gut a House Per Square Foot

The rate for gutting a house equals about $2 to $7 per square foot, or $2,800 to $9,800 for a 1,400-square-foot home. About $1 to $5 per square foot covers labor, while the price of a building permit for demolition is around $200. Also, waste fees are $300 to $500 for a dumpster rental and about $30 to $120 per ton for disposal.

Cost to Gut a Bathroom

Gutting a bathroom down to the studs runs around $500 to $2,300, or $15 to $60 per square foot. The price is higher than other aspects because there are many plumbing and electrical fixtures to remove, as well as heavier tiles and backers. The fixtures cost more to dispose of than other materials because they are usually quite heavy.

Cost to Gut a Kitchen

The cost to gut a kitchen is about $500 to $3,000, or $5 to $20 per square foot. The majority of the kitchen demo involves the removal of the cabinets, countertops and drywall. The price could go up if you want junk haulers near you to remove the appliances as well.

Gut a House Yourself vs. Hire a Pro

You could save on labor costs if you decide to gut the house yourself, but it involves a lot of heavy lifting and cleanup. You have to break materials away using sledgehammers and pry bars and then load it all into the dumpster by hand. “However, always shut off the gas before starting demolition if you plan on gutting your kitchen or demolishing a furnace or gas-powered fireplace,” ​​says Ezra Laniado, Angi Expert Review Board member and owner of Landmark Construction & Development Group, Inc. “Likewise, a pro should always be the one to turn off the electrical breakers that feed the area in which you’ll be demolishing.” If you'd rather not DIY it, you can hire a qualified contractor.

With a contractor handling the job, you can trust that they will carefully remove the interior materials without damaging the studs or other underlying structures. Professionals will know how to safely work around gas lines and electrical lines to preserve the safety of the structure. These professionals also follow all permit laws and avoid breaching building codes as they work. They also know how to discard each material to avoid harming the environment or incurring fines for improper disposal.

FAQs

Why would you gut a house?

Gutting a house removes all the old materials down to the studs and prepares the interior for a complete remodel. The result is a blank canvas that allows you to reimagine the space any way you would like it. This process can also help remove toxic materials, like mold and asbestos, to create a much healthier living space. “At times, it could be less expensive to remove all the existing drywall and start fresh rather than trying to patch all over,” says Laniado.

Is it cheaper to build or gut a house?

A complete gut renovation is usually cheaper than building a house. Demolition of the interior down to the studs and then remodeling costs $100,000 to $200,000. Building a house from the ground up costs anywhere from $155,000 to $400,000 or more. For either project, the size of the house and quality of the materials dramatically influences the total costs.

Is it worth it to gut a house?

The cost of demoing an interior is worthwhile if you want to start your remodel from a clean slate. It is also a great idea if you need to remove materials filled with asbestos or damaged by moisture, smoke or fire.

How much does it cost to redo a bathroom?

Expect to pay around $6,000 to $35,000 to redo a bathroom. Spa-style bathrooms with digital rain showers, jetted tubs and bidet toilets can easily reach over $50,000. The total depends on the size of the space and the overall quality of materials you choose.

How much does it cost to redo a kitchen?

Kitchen renovations cost $4,500 to $50,000 when working in the original layout. Moving load-bearing walls can add over $1,000 each, and high-end appliances can increase the price even more. The kitchen is typically the most expensive room to redo when covering the cost of remodeling multiple rooms.