Partial Demolition
Taking part of it down, and protecting what stays
Removing part of a structure while the rest remains: extensions, garages, sheds, carports, verandahs and pools. The work is defined by what stays rather than by what goes, which is why it is a different job from a knockdown even when it looks smaller.
Carried out under demolition licence AD214737
Before anything starts
Six things have to be settled first, and not all of them are ours
Most jobs that run late run late on this list rather than on the work itself. Each line says who owns it.
- 01
Hazardous materials survey of the part coming out
Who Max, through an accredited laboratory
An extension added in the 1970s often carries more asbestos than the original house does.
- 02
Structural advice on what is being removed
Who You, through an engineer
Whether the part coming out is doing any work for the part that stays. This is the one that cannot be assumed.
- 03
Approval or exemption
Who You or your certifier
Some partial demolition is exempt development and some is not. Which one it is depends on the property, not on the size of the job.
- 04
Service isolation to the removed section
Who You, with each authority
Power, water and gas to the part coming out, isolated without cutting the part that stays.
- 05
Make good scope
Who Agreed between you and us before we start
What the exposed face looks like when we leave: capped, sealed, weatherproofed, or left for your builder.
- 06
Protection of the retained structure
Who Max
Bracing, propping and weather protection, designed around what the engineer says is needed.
Scope
What the quote does and does not cover
Stated side by side so there is nothing to discover later. Anything in the right hand column can be added, it is simply priced separately.
Included as standard
| Item | What that means |
|---|---|
| The removed section | Structure, roof, slab and footings within the agreed line |
| Bracing and propping | Of the retained structure, to the extent the work requires |
| Clean separation | A cut line that your builder can work to |
| Separation and cartage | Material separated and removed as it is generated |
| Weather protection | Temporary protection of the exposed face while we are on site |
| Asbestos management | Survey, licensed removal, clearance and licensed disposal |
Quoted separately
| Item | Why it is separate |
|---|---|
| Permanent make good | Rendering, cladding, roofing and flashing the exposed face is builder work |
| Structural design | Engineering for the retained structure is designed by others |
| Pool shell removal and backfill | An excavation scope of its own, quoted separately |
| Relocating services within the retained building | Trade work, not demolition work |
| Rectifying pre existing defects | Found when the section comes off, and not caused by its removal |
| Retaining walls shared with a neighbour | Whoever shares them has to authorise the work |
The detail
What makes partial work harder than a knockdown
- The cut line is the job. Everything is decided by where the new edge is and what condition it has to be in when we leave.
- What stays has to be held up. If the removed section is doing structural work, propping and bracing go in before anything comes out, to a design rather than to a guess.
- There is no room for the machine to swing. Close to a retained wall, much of the work is done by hand or with a small machine, which costs hours rather than horsepower.
- The weather does not wait. An opened wall or roof needs protecting the same day. That is planned, not improvised.
- The asbestos is often in the part coming out. Later additions carry fibro, eaves and wet area linings, and they have to be removed under clearance before the structure does.
- The retained face is somebody else’s next job. Agreeing what condition it is handed over in, before we start, is what stops the argument at the end.
What we need to quote it
- The address
- So we can look at access and what is around it
- Photographs
- One from the street and one of the work itself
- Any reports you hold
- Hazardous materials, structural, survey or levels
- Your dates
- What has to be finished by when, and what is waiting on it
We attend the site before quoting anything substantial.
Where the machine cannot go, the work goes by hand
Against a retained wall, inside a building, or next to a neighbouring structure, demolition is done by hand because precision matters more than speed.
Before you book
What people ask about this one
Do I need approval to remove an extension?
Will the rest of the house be safe?
What condition is the exposed face left in?
Can you take out a pool?
Is partial demolition cheaper than a knockdown?
Get a quote
Show us the line and what has to stay
A photograph with the section marked on it, and a word about what your builder needs the exposed face to look like. That is most of a partial demolition scope.
- The cut line and the handover condition agreed in writing before we start
- Propping and bracing to the engineer’s advice, not to a guess
- Hand demolition where a machine cannot work safely
Special demolition offer
Get your free demolition quote
Demolition and removal services from $15,999*. Tell us about your project and we'll help you understand the costs.
*Starting price applies to eligible demolition and removal projects only. Final pricing depends on structure size, materials, site access, location, waste disposal requirements, hazardous materials and any necessary approvals. A final quote will be provided following project assessment.