House Demolition
Full demolition of single and double-storey houses — approvals checked, services disconnected, structure down, block handed back level.
Learn more →Removing part of a building is precision work
Full demolition runs top down and the goal is volume. Partial demolition is the opposite: the goal is to remove exactly what the design says, and nothing else.
That means slower work, more of it by hand, and a lot of attention to the structure that stays.
Common partial demolition jobs in Sydney
Rear extensions. The fibro or brick-veneer lean-to added to a Federation or interwar house in the 1960s or 1970s is one of the most common jobs in the Inner West, St George and the lower North Shore. It is also one of the most likely places to find asbestos.
Second storeys. Removing an upper level, or its roof and walls ahead of a rebuild, needs careful propping and weatherproofing of the level below.
Internal walls. Opening up a floor plan. Where a wall is load-bearing, the beam or support that replaces it has to be designed and in place before the wall comes out.
Wings, garages and attached structures. Removing part of the footprint to make room for a new addition or a pool.
Façades retained. In heritage conservation areas, a common approval condition is to keep the street-facing part of the house and rebuild behind it.
What protects the part that stays
- Structural advice where anything load-bearing is removed.
- Temporary propping in place before support is taken away.
- Weatherproofing of every opening at the end of each day — Sydney storms do not wait for the builder.
- Services re-routed or isolated so the retained section stays safe and, if occupied, usable.
- Dust and noise controls suited to people living in or next to the building.
- Hand demolition close to shared walls, particularly on semi-detached houses and terraces.
Semis and terraces
Much of the Inner West, Eastern Suburbs and inner south is attached housing. Partial demolition on a semi or terrace touches a party wall shared with a neighbour. The condition of that wall is recorded before work starts, the work beside it is done by hand, and the neighbour is notified in line with the approval conditions.
Asbestos
Additions from before about 1990 are frequently fibro. That sheeting is surveyed before the price is finalised and removed by a separately licensed asbestos removalist before any other demolition happens. See asbestos-aware demolition.
Approvals
The demolition is usually covered by the approval for the new work. In heritage conservation areas — common across the Eastern Suburbs, Inner West and parts of Chatswood and Hornsby — the demolition itself can be the most closely examined part of the application. See council and approvals.
Costs
Priced by the volume removed, the construction, the amount of hand work, propping and weatherproofing, and disposal. See the 2026 cost bands.
Call 02 5943 7968 or send the job details through.
More services
Explore our other services
Knock Down Rebuild Site Prep
The demolition half of a knock-down-rebuild, sequenced to your builder's start date rather than to ours.
Learn more →Garage & Shed Removal
Detached garages, carports, sheds, granny-flat shells and outbuildings removed, slab in or out.
Learn more →Concrete & Driveway Removal
Driveways, slabs, paths and footings broken out and carted, reinforced or not, with the kerb and neighbours protected.
Learn more →Site Clearing
Blocks cleared of structures, rubbish and fill for sale, survey or construction — with protected trees left alone.
Learn more →Asbestos-Aware Demolition
How asbestos is found and dealt with before a Sydney demolition. Removal is carried out by a separately licensed asbestos removalist — referred, never done in-house.
Learn more →
FAQs
Questions people ask before they commit
Is partial demolition cheaper than full demolition?
Usually cheaper in total, but more expensive per square metre. The work is slower, more of it is done by hand near the retained structure, and temporary propping, weatherproofing and protection are needed. The saving comes from the smaller volume, not from simpler work.
Do I need an engineer?
Where load-bearing walls, roof structure or anything carrying another part of the house is being removed, a structural engineer's input is normally needed so the retained structure is supported properly. Your renovation builder or architect usually arranges this as part of the design.
Does partial demolition need approval?
It depends on what is being removed and the approval for the new work. Many alterations and additions are approved as complying development or through a development application that includes the demolition. In heritage conservation areas, even removing a rear extension can need consent. Confirm before any work starts.
Can we live in the house during partial demolition?
Sometimes, if the demolished section can be sealed off and the services feeding the retained part stay live. It is noisy and dusty for several days. For bigger jobs such as removing a second storey, living elsewhere is usually more practical and safer.
Free, no-obligation