Before anyone swings a hammer
Asbestos survey. Federal rules (EPA NESHAP, 40 CFR 61 Subpart M) require an asbestos inspection before a commercial building is renovated or demolished. In Texas, that survey has to come from a licensed asbestos inspector on most commercial buildings. If asbestos is in the scope, a licensed abatement contractor removes it before demolition starts.
Utilities off and verified. Electric, gas and water to the demo area are disconnected, capped and verified by the owner's or GC's trades before the crew arrives.
Engineering survey. OSHA 29 CFR 1926.850(a) requires a competent person to survey the structure before demolition, looking at framing, floors and walls and the risk of an unplanned collapse.
Permits. Check with your jurisdiction whether interior demo needs its own permit or rides on the remodel permit.
Put the scope in writing
- What comes out: ceilings, flooring, walls, fixtures, millwork, finishes.
- What stays, and how it gets protected.
- What the owner keeps (salvage) and where it goes.
- Working hours. Occupied centers usually mean nights or weekends.
- Where the roll-offs and any fence go.
Get haul-off tonnage in writing
Every disposal line should state the tons included per container and the overage rate per ton. An uncapped "all disposal included" line on a lump sum is how demo bids go sideways. Tile, plaster and concrete weigh a box out long before it's full, so heavy material gets its own container and its own tonnage.
Concrete means silica controls
Saw-cutting or breaking a slab falls under OSHA's respirable crystalline silica standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.1153). Use water or vacuum controls as listed in the standard's Table 1, or run an exposure assessment.
How SolidSite bids interior demo
You get a lump-sum bid per scope, or time and materials for small and open-ended jobs. Haul-off rides in SolidSite roll-offs with the tonnage stated, and fence and restrooms can go on the same ticket. Asbestos, utility disconnects and engineering are listed as exclusions on every proposal. We carry workers' comp and general liability, and we send a COI on request.