Before anything beautiful can be built, a space needs to be properly cleared and prepared, and this is the step most contractors rush or skip. We handle safe removal of old tile, drywall and fixtures, followed by a thorough assessment of the substrate, identifying moisture and structural issues before installation ever begins.
SERVICE 04 | FOUNDATION OF EVERY REMODEL
Before anything beautiful can be built, the space needs to be properly cleared and prepared. Our demolition service handles the safe removal of old coverings, tiles, drywall, fixtures and structural elements, followed by a thorough assessment of the substrate condition. We identify moisture problems, uneven surfaces and structural issues that most contractors miss and address them before installation begins.
For Whom
Clients who want to completely change their bathroom layout, remove failing structures or prepare an existing space for a new installation. Also available as a standalone service for those who have their own installation team.
Small Bathroom
$800 to $1,500
Medium Bathroom
$1,500 to $1,800
Large / Master Bath
$2,200 to $3,000
Safe removal of tiles, drywall, fixtures and coverings
Substrate condition assessment
Moisture and leak detection
Surface leveling and preparation
Debris removal and site cleanup
Structural problem identification and reporting
Most tile failures we are called to fix in Charleston did not start with the tile. They started underneath: old thinset left on the slab, a flexing subfloor, hidden moisture, or a shower pan that never had the right slope. Demolition and substrate preparation is the stage where those problems get found and fixed, which is why we treat it as its own service instead of a step to rush through.
Our crews remove old tile, flooring, drywall, and fixtures safely, contain the dust, and haul away the debris the same day. Then we assess what the demolition exposed: we check the substrate for flatness and deflection, look for moisture and leak damage, and identify structural issues that need attention before anything new goes in. You get an honest report of what we found, with photos, before installation starts.
Depending on what the space needs, preparation can include self-leveling underlayment to flatten a slab, cement board or foam board installation, waterproofing membranes in wet areas, crack isolation over hairline slab cracks, and rebuilding shower pans with the correct slope to the drain. These preparation systems are exactly what our 3-year materials warranty covers, because when the prep is right, the tile above it stays right.
Tile can sometimes go over an existing surface, but in Charleston homes it usually should not. Old tile that sounds hollow when tapped has already separated from the substrate. Cracked grout lines, loose or lippy tiles, and dark staining near a shower base point to water behind the tile. Setting new tile over any of that just hides the problem for a year or two. Demolition is also the right call when a floor has too many height transitions, when a fiberglass surround is coming out for a tiled shower, or when large-format tile is going in and the old surface is not flat enough to carry it.
What we do not do is tear out more than the project needs. If the floor is sound and only the shower is failing, the demolition stops at the shower. The scope is written down before the first hammer swing, and if we find something unexpected behind the wall we stop, show you, and price the fix before continuing.
After the old material is out, the substrate is tested before it is trusted. Concrete slabs are checked for moisture vapor and for flatness; a high spot gets ground, a low spot gets filled with a self-leveling compound. Wood subfloors on raised Charleston homes are checked for deflection, soft spots, and rot near plumbing, then reinforced or replaced where they fail. Large-format tile needs a floor within roughly 1/8 inch over 10 feet, and we bring the surface to that tolerance rather than trying to hide the difference with extra thinset. Walls get the same treatment: damaged drywall around a tub or shower comes out and is replaced with cement board before any waterproofing goes on. That is what makes the next step, whether it is tile installation or a full bathroom remodel, hold up.
Removal of existing tile typically runs $2 to $5 per square foot depending on the tile, the setting bed underneath, and access to the space. Haul-away and disposal are included in our written estimate, never a surprise line item afterward.
Demolition is loud and dusty by nature, but containment is part of the job: plastic barriers, floor protection on the path to the exit, and daily cleanup. Most single-room demolitions are done in one day.
We document it with photos, explain your options, and price the repair before continuing. You decide how to proceed; nothing gets covered up.
Yes. Some clients want the space cleared and prepped so another trade or a DIY project can follow. We leave the substrate ready to build on, in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, and the surrounding Lowcountry.
A bathroom floor or a shower surround is usually one day, including haul-away. A full bathroom gut with substrate repair is one to two days. Demolition is scheduled so the new tile can start as soon as the substrate has been prepped and tested.
Yes. Removal, bagging, and haul-away are part of the demolition scope. We protect the path from the work area to the exit, and the site is swept and cleared at the end of each day.
Luxury bathroom remodeling and tile installation. Based in Charleston, SC, serving the region for 5+ years.
Licensed & Insured · Charleston, SC
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Charleston, SC
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Serving a 50-mile radius across Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties.
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