Removal Specialists | Calgary and Edmonton
Commercial demolition here means stripping the inside of a commercial space back to the shell and hauling the debris away. We work in occupied buildings, test for asbestos first through an independent consultant, and keep dust under control.
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It is the work of taking the inside of a commercial space apart. Ceilings, walls, flooring and fixtures come out. The shell stays. Then the space is ready for the next tenant, the next layout or a full renovation.
You may also hear it called commercial interior demolition or a tenant space tear-out. Our work is inside buildings. We do not take down whole buildings, and we do not do structural demolition.
Most jobs are in buildings that stay open. Other tenants are working next door, so the plan matters as much as the demolition itself.
Choose inside-only work when the building stays and only the inside changes. Full building demolition takes down the structure. That is a different trade, with heavy machines and excavation.
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Tenant is leaving and the unit needs a new layout | Inside work only (our work) |
| Office floor is being renovated while other floors stay open | Inside work only (our work) |
| Shell needs to be cleared before new finishes go in | Inside work only (our work) |
| The whole building is coming down | Full building demolition (not our work) |
If you are unsure which one you need, call us. We will tell you if the job is not a fit.
Office demolition clears partitions, ceilings, carpet and fixtures from a floor or a suite. We work around other tenants on the same floor.
Shops and restaurants often have tight timelines before a new opening. The crew plans loading access and debris routes before the first day.
Clinics need clean work areas and a careful plan for dust. The wet and shrouded methods we use keep dust close to the source.
Tenant improvement starts with demolition. We clear the unit so the general contractor can build the new layout. See how we work with them on our For General Contractors page.
A job in an occupied building follows a set order: plan, check, protect, strip and clean. Here are the seven steps.
We walk the space with you, the landlord or the property manager. We agree on what comes out, what stays and where the debris goes.
We confirm hours, elevator or loading dock use and any building rules with the property manager.
In older buildings, an independent consultant tests suspect materials first. If a test is positive, our crew handles the abatement before the demolition starts.
Power, gas and water in the work area must be shut off or isolated before demolition starts. Licensed trades do that work.
We poly off the work area, protect common areas and set the debris route.
The crew takes out ceilings, walls, flooring and fixtures in the agreed order. Our own crew does all the cutting, and our tools have dust shrouds connected to HEPA vacuums.
We haul the debris out of the building, vacuum with HEPA filtration and leave the space ready for the next trade.
We plan around the people who stay. The plan is agreed before the first day, so nobody is surprised.
Each building is different. A retail unit near Chinook Centre, an office floor in the Beltline and a downtown Edmonton tower all need a different plan, because loading access and neighbouring tenants differ.
Three checks come first: asbestos, utilities and permits. Each one can stop a job if it is skipped.
Older commercial buildings can contain asbestos in flooring, adhesives, ceilings and wall compound. An independent consultant tests before we start. We do not test our own work. Read how asbestos testing works. Alberta’s OHS Code says building materials that could release asbestos fibres must be removed before a demolition. See our asbestos removal and abatement page.
Power, gas and water in the work area have to be shut off or isolated first. The City of Edmonton also expects gas lines and services to be dealt with before a demolition permit moves forward.
Permit rules depend on your city and the work. In Calgary, a renovation or demolition permit needs an asbestos abatement information form. In Edmonton, a renovation or alteration application needs written notice about asbestos, such as a consultant’s letter of clearance or completion. See the City of Edmonton asbestos and utilities form. Check with your city, and ask us if you are not sure.
Dust travels. In a shared building, it reaches the next unit. Cutting and breaking can send up dust that contains crystalline silica, and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) says breathing it can cause silicosis, an incurable lung disease. See the CCOHS silicosis page.
Our tools have dust shrouds connected to HEPA vacuums. The dust is pulled out at the source. The work is virtually dust-free. A little dust still escapes, but there is no big cloud filling the space. We also poly off the areas we are not working in.
Demolition is loud. We cannot remove the noise, so we agree on hours with the property manager. The loudest work happens when it disturbs the fewest people.
Every commercial space produces a lot of debris. Ceiling tile, drywall, framing, flooring and fixtures all have to leave the building. We load the debris and haul it away.
Commercial demolition waste disposal depends on the material. Tile and concrete go to recyclers, who grind them up. It is normally used as filler for concrete. Mixed loads follow each facility’s own rules, so clean separation makes the haul-away simpler.
If asbestos is found, that material is handled as asbestos waste. It never goes in with regular debris. See our asbestos removal page for how that works.
The cost depends on the space and the building, not on one set rate. These are the main things that change it.
We set the price after we see the space. Call or send photos and we will go through the scope with you.
The time depends on the size of the space, what is in it and how easy the building is to reach. Setup and cleanup add time before and after the demolition itself.
If asbestos testing is needed, it comes first and can add time before the work starts. Testing early keeps the schedule clear for the next trades.
Good commercial demolition services answer these questions without hesitation. Ask any contractor before you hire.
If you are searching for commercial demolition near me, our crews are based in Calgary and Edmonton. We work across both cities and the nearby areas.
In Calgary, that includes office floors in the Beltline, retail units near Chinook Centre and the commercial corridors along Deerfoot Trail. In Edmonton, it includes downtown towers, shops along Whyte Avenue and the streets near the University of Alberta.
For details on each city, see our Calgary and Edmonton pages. Our interior demolition page covers the wider demolition work for homes and commercial spaces, and For Property Managers shows how we work with building teams.
Calgary: 403-874-3000
Edmonton: 780-977-2444
Tell us about your space and we will walk through the scope with you.