Soft-Strip Demolition

Soft strip demolition is usually a form of preparatory works for the structural demolition of a building, however we can also carry out soft strips solely for the purpose of clearing a structure or preparing it for future development, refurbishment or reuse.

Soft strips are carried out to clear the building of almost all hand removable fixtures, fittings and sometimes even floor structures leaving the building as a “shell” like state with only the main rubble structure remaining. This not only makes demolition or refurbishment methods easier but also allows our team to reclaim, recycle and reuse as many materials as possible during our works.

Although soft strip activities are predominantly carried out on non structural elements of the building It is not always the case. We can also carry out works to remove structural elements of a building if required.

The Old Boots Store, Torquay

​These works consisted of the removal of three suspended ceilings, a lift shaft spreading over 3 floors, a mescaline floor and a one ton 28ft long RSJ. All of the materials had to be taken through a 5 by 7 ft doorway onto the footpath and loaded away for recycling.

Derriford Hospital, Plymouth

These works were not strictly classed as soft strip activities, However they were all undertaken using hand tools and labour. They included the removal of the existing reinforced concrete wall cladding. This was cut into small manageable sections and placed into skips. Although a lengthy process it was carried out this way to avoid any obstruction to the hospital entrance, rooms and canteen which all remained live during the works.