Interior Demolition & Strip-Out in Ontario
Interior demolition, often called strip-out, is the gutting of a building's inside while the structure, envelope, and sometimes the mechanical systems stay in place. It covers stripping drywall, ceilings, flooring, fixtures, partition walls, and old mechanical or electrical runs ahead of a renovation, a tenant fit-out, or a full rebuild. Ontario crews handle this in office towers, retail units, restaurants, warehouses, and homes, and the job usually runs alongside asbestos or hazardous material abatement, since older buildings in cities like Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa often need a designated substance survey before anyone opens a wall.
We list 103 businesses across the province that do this work, ranging from small crews suited to a single condo unit or basement to larger outfits that can staff a multi-floor commercial strip-out on a tight schedule. Scope, equipment, and safety practices vary a lot between them.
What to check before you hire
- WSIB coverage and liability insurance, plus proof they carry it on request
- Experience with asbestos, lead paint, or mould protocols if the building predates the 1990s
- A written scope that specifies debris removal, dust containment, and disposal of hazardous materials
- Whether they coordinate with your permit and any structural or engineering sign-offs
- Clear pricing: flat quote versus time and material, and what happens if hidden conditions turn up mid-job
Our ranked guide to Ontario demolition contractors scores companies on licensing, safety record, responsiveness, and the consistency of the work they deliver, so you can shortlist a few before requesting quotes. The scoring criteria are laid out in full on our methodology page.
Find interior demolition & strip-out for your project
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All interior demolition & strip-out, ranked by score and relevance
We found 173 businesses offering interior demolition & strip-out; 169 met the criteria for the scored directory. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is interior demolition & strip-out, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist. Filter and sort below, or open the full map view.
When you submit a quote or contact form, we may share your enquiry with partner providers to carry out the work, and we may receive a referral fee. Our rankings and scores come from our published scoring method only and are never affected by referral fees.
Common questions about interior demolition & strip-out
- How much does interior demolition cost in Ontario?
- Most residential strip-outs (a kitchen, bathroom, or basement) run a few thousand dollars depending on square footage and whether hazardous materials turn up. Commercial strip-outs are usually priced per square foot and can range from a few dollars to well over ten dollars per square foot once disposal, dust containment, and any asbestos abatement are factored in. Get itemized quotes rather than a single lump sum so you can see what's driving the price.
- How long does a strip-out typically take?
- A single room or condo unit can be gutted in a day or two. A full office floor or restaurant space usually takes one to three weeks, depending on ceiling height, the amount of mechanical and electrical to remove, and whether abatement is needed first.
- Do I need a permit for interior demolition?
- In many Ontario municipalities, non-structural interior demolition doesn't need a separate demolition permit, but any work touching load-bearing walls, fire separations, or plumbing and electrical usually does. Check with your local building department before work starts, and confirm your contractor is handling that coordination.
- How can I judge the quality of a demolition contractor?
- Ask for recent references from similar projects, confirm they've handled asbestos or lead abatement if your building is older, and check that their quote spells out debris removal, dust barriers, and site cleanup. A contractor who wants to inspect the site in person before quoting is usually more reliable than one who quotes sight unseen.
Guides to choosing interior demolition & strip-out
- Mould, lead paint and other risks when gutting an older home
What to check for before an interior strip-out on an older Ontario property: mould, lead paint, asbestos, and how to sequence testing safely.