Soft Strip Demolition
Soft strip demolition is the first step in most dilapidations and refurbishment programmes.
- Fixed-price quotes within 48 hours of a site visit
- Internal strip out of all non-structural elements
- £10m public liability, SafeContractor accredited teams
Accreditations & certifications
If you are a tenant or landlord clearing a commercial building ahead of refurbishment or hand-back, we remove every non-structural element internally under one fixed-price contract, leaving the core shell intact – with a quote within 48 hours of a site visit.
What is soft strip demolition?
Soft strip demolition is the complete internal removal of all non-structural elements from a commercial building, leaving the core structural shell intact and ready for major refurbishment or hand-back.
Typical scope includes:
- Suspended ceilings
- Raised access floors
- Internal partitions (non-structural)
- Floor finishes
- M&E services
- Internal doors and frames
- Kitchen and WC strip
- Data and comms infrastructure
- Internal fit-out elements
How much does soft strip demolition cost?
Soft strip demolition typically costs between £4 and £10 per sq ft for standard commercial spaces. The exact price depends on waste disposal constraints and the complexity of service disconnections. You receive a transparent, fixed-price breakdown covering the entire internal clearance – our pricing page shows how the rate shifts with scope.
How long does soft strip demolition take?
Depending on the floorplate size, most soft strip projects take between 1 and 3 weeks. An office strip-out generally sits at the faster end of this range, while a dense retail unit with heavy refrigeration can take longer.
What happens to structural elements?
Structural elements stay untouched during a soft strip. Where the lease demands it, though, we do remove specific heavy non-structural items such as a steel mezzanine floor as part of the same contract. If you want to understand what the landlord's schedule can and cannot require, read our introduction to dilapidations.
Who is this for?
Tenants use a soft strip to clear their fit-out and meet reinstatement obligations at lease end. Landlords, developers and surveyors use it as the opening phase of a refurbishment – emptying a floor back to shell so the space can be re-fitted or re-let. Either way, we work to your date and provide a photographic sign-off pack.
Where do we carry out soft strip demolition?
We strip commercial buildings across the region, including the industrial estates of Basildon, offices and units in Ipswich, the science and business parks around Cambridge, commercial premises in Southend-on-Sea, and floors across London.
Been served a schedule?
Get a fixed price for the works. We price line by line against your schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a non-structural element?
Anything that can be removed without affecting the building's load-bearing structure – partitions, suspended ceilings, raised floors, floor finishes, joinery, M&E services, doors and internal fit-out. The structural frame, slabs and external walls stay in place.
Do you handle asbestos found during a soft strip?
Yes. Where asbestos is identified, our licensed partners carry out the removal under controlled conditions before the main soft strip continues. See our dedicated asbestos page for how this is managed.
Is soft strip demolition the same as an office strip-out?
An office strip-out is a soft strip applied specifically to a commercial office. Soft strip demolition is the broader term, covering the internal clearance of any commercial building type ahead of refurbishment or hand-back.
What happens to the waste?
Materials are segregated on site and sent to licensed recycling facilities, diverting as much as possible from landfill. You receive waste transfer documentation as part of the sign-off.
How it works
Site visit
We visit the property and walk the schedule with you. No charge.
Fixed quote in 48 hours
You receive a written fixed price, priced line by line against your schedule.
Works completed to schedule
Our teams strip, remove, make good and reinstate to the agreed spec. We work to your expiry date.
Photographic sign-off pack
We provide a full photographic record of completed works. Your landlord gets evidence; you get closure.