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Demolition & Protection

The first trade on site — strip out the old, protect what stays, and set the stage for everyone after.

Demolition & Protection is trade number one. Before anything is built, the space has to be cleared back to a workable shell and the parts that must survive — lifts, lobbies, neighbouring units, existing finishes you're keeping — have to be wrapped and guarded.

What it covers​

  • Strip-out of existing finishes, fittings and non-structural partitions.
  • Hacking of floor and wall finishes where new build-up is needed.
  • Protection works: hoarding, floor protection, lift and common-area protection.
  • Debris removal and disposal.

Where it sits in the sequence​

First. Nothing meaningful starts until demolition is done and protection is up. The next trades — electrical, aircon and plumbing first-fix — can only begin once the shell is clear.

What a PM watches for​

  • Protection of common property. In condos and HDB blocks, damage to lifts, corridors and lobbies is the fastest way to a dispute with the MCST. Photograph the condition before you start.
  • Scope creep on hacking. "While we're at it" hacking that wasn't quoted is a classic source of cost. Capture it as a variation.
  • Permits and notifications. Structural alterations need the right approvals before demolition touches anything load-bearing.

Generic Singapore fit-out guidance — confirm project specifics with a senior PM.