Interior Demolition Contractor in Colorado
When your remodel or tenant improvement needs surgical precision — not a wrecking ball — you call Rocky Demolition. We’re Colorado’s trusted interior demolition contractor for everything from selective gut-outs and load-bearing wall removals to full interior strip-outs in homes, offices, restaurants, and warehouses. Our OSHA-certified crews work under engineered containment, follow lead and silica laws to the letter, and leave your site broom-clean, ready for framing.
Serving Denver, Aurora, Arvada, Colorado Springs, and the entire Front Range, we’ve spent 25+ years mastering the “tear-out without tear-down.”
Quick Reference
| What We Remove | Drywall • Ceilings • Partitions • Flooring • Fixtures • MEP drops • Non-structural walls |
| Also Handle | Load-bearing wall removals (engineered) • Tenant improvements (TI) • Soft-strip |
| Controls | Negative-air, HEPA filters, Zip-walls, OSHA silica limits |
| Recycling | 70–90% of drywall, metal, lumber diverted |
| Book a Quote | 📞 720-442-1092 or Request Free Quote |
What Is Interior Demolition?
Interior demolition is the careful removal of non-structural building parts — walls, ceilings, finishes, old MEP lines — without disturbing the load-bearing structure. The goal is a clear, safe shell ready for rebuild.
When Do You Need Interior Demolition?
| Scenario | Why Remove? |
|---|---|
| Residential remodel | Open a kitchen, add a bathroom, finish a basement |
| Commercial TI | Rebuild a retail bay, restaurant, or office suite |
| Damage repair | Tear out fire, mold, or flood-damaged drywall |
| Code retrofit | Add sprinklers, seismic bracing, ADA access |
| Exposing MEP | Rewire, replumb, or add HVAC in old building |
Many older Denver homes still have plaster + lathe, lead paint, or asbestos floor tile — we handle abatement before the tear-out.
Our 6-Step Interior Demolition Process
| Phase | What Happens | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Protection Plan | Zip-walls, floor mats, negative-air machines to contain dust | Keeps rest of building spotless |
| 2. Utility Isolation | Tag & lock-out electric, cap plumbing & gas lines | Zero shock or leaks |
| 3. Controlled Tear-Out | Hand tools, saws, mini-loaders remove drywall, ceilings, partitions | Preserves structure |
| 4. Load-Bearing Wall Work | Temporary shoring, PE beam calc, new LVL/steel placement | Opens layout safely |
| 5. Debris Sort & Haul | Separate metal, drywall, wood, bag dust; live-load roll-offs | 70–90% recycled, less landfill cost |
| 6. Final Sweep & Log | HEPA vacuum, magnet sweep for nails, moisture check, photo report | Clean & ready for framing |
Equipment & Controls
| Tool | Use |
|---|---|
| Negative-air machines (2,000+ CFM) | Maintains negative pressure |
| Zip-walls & poly sheeting | Contains demo dust |
| HEPA vacuums & filters | OSHA silica-compliant |
| Track mini-loader | Hauls debris out tight doors |
| Lead-safe RRP gear | For pre-1978 structures |
| Recip saws & saw shrouds | Controlled cuts, less debris |
Cost Factors & Typical Pricing
| Factor | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Area (sf) | 300-sf kitchen | 30,000-sf office floor |
| Material mix | Simple drywall | Plaster, tile, concrete topping |
| Ceiling height | 8 ft | 24 ft warehouse |
| Haz-Mat | None | Lead paint, ACM |
| Access | Wide doors, freight elevator | Tight stairs, partial occupancy |
Average:
• Bathroom/kitchen gut: $3–$6/sf
• Office TI gut (10,000 sf): $4–$8/sf
• Historic plaster gut: $6–$10/sf
👉 Fixed quote after site walk.
Permits & Compliance
| City | Permit | Must-Have |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | BK-INTR Demo | Dust log, noise under 75 dB (7 am–7 pm) |
| Aurora | Interior Demo Permit | Fire alarm disable letter |
| Arvada | Interior Alteration | PE letter for any structure wall |
| CO Springs | TI Permit | 50% recycling, pass final slope |
We post permits, manage inspectors, and hand you the sign-off.
Recycling & Sustainability
| Material | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Drywall | Sent for gypsum recycling |
| Metal framing | Scrap yard |
| Clean lumber | Mulched |
| Fixtures | Salvaged or donated |
| Dust/slurry | Bagged & legal landfill |
✅ Typical diversion: 70–90%, meets Denver & Boulder waste rules.
Case Study: RiNo Loft Gut
• 28,000 sf warehouse-to-loft
• Full ceiling & partition removal
• Load-bearing beam replaced with engineered LVL
• 84% recycling (210 yd³ drywall, 48 yd³ metal)
• Noise: avg 64 dB LAeq (within limit)
• 9-day turnaround, next-day framing
Why Rocky?
✔ OSHA silica & RRP lead-safe certified
✔ PE on staff for beam calcs
✔ Negative-air + Zip-wall = no dust complaints
✔ Live-load roll-offs — no mess on your curb
✔ 25+ years, zero OSHA citations
Ready for a Clean Slate?
📞 720-442-1092 or Get a Free Interior Demo Quote
Same-day walk, same-week gut-out if you’re ready.
FAQs
Q: Can I stay in the house?
Small rooms, yes — we contain dust fully. Full gut, better to relocate.
Q: Will you remove a structural wall?
Yes — we engineer shoring & permanent beam, file calcs with city.
Q: What about salvage?
We’ll save good cabinets or fixtures — just say which.