Interior Demolition in Memphis, TN

Interior demolition, sometimes called selective demolition or a strip-out, removes what is inside a building while the structure stays standing. In Memphis it is the first step for kitchen and bathroom remodels, for rehabbing older rental houses, and for gutting a house to the studs after a fire, a flood or a burst pipe. Done well, it saves the remodeling crew days of cleanup and keeps them from finding surprises halfway through the job.

Common interior demolition jobs

• Kitchens: cabinets, countertops, backsplash, flooring and soffits out, appliances disconnected and hauled.
• Bathrooms: tub, shower, tile, vanity and toilet removed down to the studs and subfloor.
• Flooring: carpet, vinyl, tile and old sheet goods taken up, down to a clean subfloor.
• Drywall and plaster: walls and ceilings opened for new wiring, plumbing or insulation.
• Non-bearing walls: partitions removed to open up a floor plan.
• Full gut-outs: the whole interior stripped to the framing for a complete rehab.

Older Memphis houses need extra care

Point2Homes' Census summary puts about two-thirds of Memphis homes before 1980. In houses that age, interior materials are the most common place to find asbestos: vinyl floor tile and its black mastic, popcorn ceilings, joint compound and pipe insulation. Paint in houses built before 1978 may contain lead. A Southern Avenue house that went before the Landmarks Commission in 2026 had a survey showing asbestos in its floor tile and mastic, exactly the kind of material a flooring tear-out disturbs. Before we demo a pre-1980 interior, we talk through testing so suspect materials are dealt with by trained abatement workers first.

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Protecting what stays

Interior demolition is precise work. Before we start, we confirm which walls are load-bearing, which plumbing and wiring must stay live, and what finishes, trim or fixtures you want to keep. Power is shut off to the circuits in the work area, water lines are capped, and gas appliances are disconnected. Doorways to the rest of the house are sealed with plastic to keep dust contained, and floors on the way out are covered.

Salvage and reuse

Old Memphis houses often hold things worth saving: heart pine flooring, solid wood doors, cast-iron tubs, vintage lighting and trim. There is steady local interest in reclaimed wood and used building materials. Tell us what you want kept and we will pull it carefully and stack it on site before the rest comes out.

Debris and dumpsters

Interior demo fills dumpsters quickly, especially plaster and tile. Fixr's interior demolition guide lists dumpster rental at $200 to $550 per week. We size the dumpster or plan truck loads to the job, place it where it will not crack your driveway, and keep the work area swept at the end of each day.