Gutting A House

I've been presented with the opportunity to gut a house. It is an older house that is going to be torn down and rebuilt (They won the lottery). It is about an hour and 45 minutes from where I live. If we take this on we will have one weekend to tear it apart. It is going to be me (16 year old) and my Partner (17 year old) doing the demolition. My question is how should be go about this. I'm thinking we are going to pull all the appliances first, then pull the dry wall and do the plumbing. Also do do the pipes in the floor. Try to get all the hot water heat registers out. Then finally shut the electricity off and pull the romex. Being that we only have about 20 working hours or so. I'm not sure what the most efficient way to do this is. Should I focus on the plumbing or try to get all the wiring out. Also I think I need to start compiling a list of equipment.

Thanks for your help
-JnJ Junk

Safety first. Depending on how old the house is you might need to take more precautions when removing walls/ceilings. But yes that I the order that I would do it but I don't know if 20 hours is enough time.

If you're limited to 20 hours on your time, then I would probably pass. Have either of you done any type of demolition before? My guess is probably not simply because of your age, which is not me trying to be disrespectful to you simply because you're both young, but I know this would take more then 20 hours to complete. How many square feet is the house? Two stories, ranch style, old farm house? I've done construction, demo, and renovation on houses in the past (last job we just finished was ripping off the old rubber roof, replacing the sheeting, and putting on a torch down roof) so I can tell you that it's going to take more then 20 hours with just the two of you. Try getting a couple other people involved if possible, depending on what you're getting out of the deal, and if you can plan on being there for more then 10 hours each day. Just my opinion. Good luck make sure to let us know.

"asbestos"

Google asbestos and read everything you can about it, particularly where it can be in a house and how to deal with it.

Then don't do the job unless you are getting paid more than just the scrap. Too much work, too far away, for too little reward otherwise.

I once solo totally demolished a house buy cutting and smashing it into pieces and putting them in to 4 dumpsters. The first dumpster involved a few extra steps to get all the asbestos from the house safely into it. Just ripping out the scrap would have been a time consuming low reward venture. If you do do it, a reciprocating saw, pry bars, and sledge hammers are your friends.

Well basicly we have as much time as we can get. We are going to sleep in the truck and tear down throughout the day. I've done demo before but not an entire house. One way or another they are going to knock it down. I figured by the time we pull the easy stuff like appliances, light fixtures and all that stuff we have covered fuel. We would leave after school on Friday and then work the night pulling drywall, and pull all the looses stuff Saturday morning. And I mean we can take everything down to the nails that hold it together if we wanted to. It really is about the experience. I know what it would take me to process the stuff, but getting it out is my concern.

Its about 130 miles round trip at 10-12 mpg that is about 11-13 gallons of diesel at $3.70 a gallon. $41 -$48 dollars in fuel plus our labor

Another thing is we don't have to dispose of the rummage just pile it in the house somewhere. So that makes it easier. Maybe its not worth it thought I don't know.

And how far and in what will you be hauling the scrap? Multiple trips to yard?

We are going to take it home in a F250 Long bed with a 13x7 enclosed trailer. Then once we get it home it will be separated processed and the steel will be loaded onto the flatbed trailer then taken to the yard with the rest of your iron.

Are you going to be able to fill the truck bed and trailer with appliances, wire, fixtures, etc? It's hard to really tell you if its worth it to me, or anyone on here for that matter, but ask yourself "Is it worth it to you?' If you're looking for experience then I would say by all means do it. If you're able to cover your costs and make a little bit of money, then I think you should go for it. The fact that you can leave the waste materials inside the house and not have to deal with loading it into, and paying for, a dumpster is a plus. Take some pictures and post your results/progress/totals.

That is exactly my thinking. If we make lets say $150 and 100 of that goes to food, fuel, and supplies. That may be only $50 dollars profit but we got the chance to do it. Then if we ever have the chance to do it again we are more prepared and more experienced. Right know my neighbor is up their visiting his sister (she owns the house). So when he gets back he is going to tell us what their is to take and time constrictions.

I would cut the copper,

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Originally Posted by DevinThaScrapper

I would cut the copper,

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Yes that is something I would do also.

I've demoed several buildings in the past, my first was a root cellar when I was 13. If you are looking to get experience I'd say go for it. From what you've said it sounds like the house is being lived in so it will have active/live utilities, power, water, sewer and maybe natural gas/propane/fuel oil. You will need to make sure that they are shut off before you start demolishing things. It will make for an intersting day and not in a good way if you cut/sever/break an active utility line. Depending upon the age of the house you may find asbestos in the house, on the furnace, on pipe joints, in floor tiles, and in spray on texturing on the ceiling just to name a few of the most common locations.

The electrical system in the house, again depending upon the age of the house may range from tube and post, to aluminum to romex. (I have all three types in my house, or did until we had the electrical redone.) Tube and Post is a PITA to remove, you have to physically find each post and pull it out or cut the wire at each post.

The plumbing can also be a huge pain to deal with depending on the age of the house, as an example in my house I have galvanized, copper, and plastic piping.

Another thing to be aware of is it will be dusty, I'd recommend at least a dust mask and if you can a half face respirator. Gloves and eye protection are also a must. Also knee pads are helpful if you spend any time crawling around.

A sawzall with a good assortment of blades, sledge hammer, crowbar/pry bar, and basic hand tools will make the job easier.

Finally I salute you for your willingness to tackle this job and am looking forward to a report on how it goes. Best of luck

Respirator FOR CERTAIN. I've done demolition work in old houses for about 10+ years. I can tell you the Plaster Dust Alone is horrid.. but it is the 80 or 90 years of ash, dust, blown insulation that will kill you if you spend even 20 hours sucking it in!

If you run into Asbestos.. that's a tricky one. Technically you have to be certified in Asbestos removal to do it. If the property owner gets nailed disposing of it improperly he is in for one helluva fine!

Be on the look out for non-metal items too. Good long 2x4's. Trim boards. Shelf boards. How are the windows? Cedar shakes? Might want to run an ad selling stuff for the weekend directly from the house.

You're on track getting the easy stuff first, then plumbing. When the power is off, the service line from the meter is easiest even though it's probably aluminum. Check the kitchen cabinets for pots and pans. You may want to get the cabinets themselves too. They are usually easy with only a few screws holding them on. The closet hangers may go on steel pipes that are usually easy to remove by just sliding up out of a slotted hole on one end. With time limits, don't get bogged down on one thing, just bang it out of there and load it up. Air conditioners are a nice find if you get one. Don't forget to look under the house and in the attic and check for an antenna.

The romex is one of the toughest projects. If it's not nailed inside the wall, you can break the switches and receptacles, clip the wires, go in the attic and pull them all up in one trip. If they are all nailed to studs inside the wall, then you're in for a long day pulling drywall and it may not be worth doing so leave it for last.

If you have time check for copper flashing on the roof and window weights in the walls beside old windows. You'll know they are there if the windows have pulleys in the boards at the top. The weights can be cast iron or lead.

Non metal items may bring some money. Wood doors and windows sell and are easy to get, fireplace mantles are good. Many light fixtures sell for more than scrap.

Haztecs tool list is good. I'd add wire cutters, a cordless drill and a hatchet(sometimes the best way to cut copper pipe in a tough place or to get through a wall)

Grab the low hanging fruit first. Grab all appliances first. Get them out of your way. Next do the plumbing and plumbing fixtures. Next would be electrical. Start at the outlets. Smash a hole in the walls above the outlets and see which way the wire runs. Cut wire at the outlet and pull so it pulls through the plaster or drywall. It will save you time instead of pulling down all the walls. You may want to bring a small generator to hook up some drop lights to if you have to cut power before starting the job. If you only have 20 hrs that is what I would go after. Get as much of the non ferrous first and grab the steel last. Good luck.

I defiantly am going to get the appliances because that is the easiest thing to remove.

Would the fire dept be interested in it as a practice burn? Our FD burned 2 homes a few years ago and I got salvage rights to it. If that's an option, you'll likely need documentation from the FD for burned copper. I did.

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Originally Posted by Haztech5

I've demoed several buildings in the past, my first was a root cellar when I was 13. If you are looking to get experience I'd say go for it. From what you've said it sounds like the house is being lived in so it will have active/live utilities, power, water, sewer and maybe natural gas/propane/fuel oil. You will need to make sure that they are shut off before you start demolishing things. It will make for an intersting day and not in a good way if you cut/sever/break an active utility line. Depending upon the age of the house you may find asbestos in the house, on the furnace, on pipe joints, in floor tiles, and in spray on texturing on the ceiling just to name a few of the most common locations.

The electrical system in the house, again depending upon the age of the house may range from tube and post, to aluminum to romex. (I have all three types in my house, or did until we had the electrical redone.) Tube and Post is a PITA to remove, you have to physically find each post and pull it out or cut the wire at each post.

The plumbing can also be a huge pain to deal with depending on the age of the house, as an example in my house I have galvanized, copper, and plastic piping.

Another thing to be aware of is it will be dusty, I'd recommend at least a dust mask and if you can a half face respirator. Gloves and eye protection are also a must. Also knee pads are helpful if you spend any time crawling around.

A sawzall with a good assortment of blades, sledge hammer, crowbar/pry bar, and basic hand tools will make the job easier.

Finally I salute you for your willingness to tackle this job and am looking forward to a report on how it goes. Best of luck

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yes
ensure all utilities are shut off first
test it to be certain

then u can start demolishing

good luck to u
and take pics of whatever u get
& before/after of the house.

Ugggh .... demo work on an old house .... NAAASTY ! Sorry Bro, just had to say that first. Done too much of that kind of thing over the years. Don't want to discourage you from doing it but there are a lot of hazards. As long as you know what to look for the rest is your choice.

If you run into asbestos just walk away........

Wear coveralls,steel toe boots,respirator,gloves ,safety glasses etc. At the end of the job you're going to be covered in filth so remember to stop and decontaminate before you go into your home.

There's probably lead paint.

As Sledge mentioned ....plaster dust.

Most old houses have rat's nests buried in the walls,ceilings, and attics. They pee & poop in the nests and it's a Bio-Hazard. There's some kind of lung infection that you can get from them.

There's always a chance of something collapsing down on you as you're ripping stuff apart.

Better to have all of the utilities shut off before you get there.

There's fatigue .... you're prone to making mistakes that get you hurt when you're tired and in a rush to meet a deadline.

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Aside from the risks Brasscatcher laid it all out pretty well. Check the sewer and vent pipes. Sometimes they're copper in an older place. If you run into 2" - 3" copper pipe with brass fittings you've hit the motherload ! :winner:

good points above ^^^

u dont want to inhale all that dangerous dust

try to get good ventilation

and go get some fresh air every 15 mins or so
if u can get a respirator- then do it
cos it will help u to work for longer without going for those breathers

Scrappah- Yep forgot to mention the poop.. Guess I'm so used to seeing it I forget to tell someone about it. And it isn't just mice. Think Racoons, Bat guano, dead birds.. oh the list goes on and on!

I'd like to say thank you to everyone. I haven't made a decison yet but I'm not sure if I am going to go forward. It depends on the work load I have for that weekend. The stuff from the auctions has been piling up and I need to get a move on. No shop just a garage that has to stay somewhat clean. Not the easiest for me

+1 Brass

What is there to loose.. jump on it!!!
take what you want and leave the rest... easy peasy

wanted too add
I can think of more than one way to convince a few more friends to... smash up a house.... in another town...... on a weekend ;)