A strip out contractor specialises in the controlled removal of internal building fabric — everything that sits between the structural shell and the occupants. Strip out is distinct from demolition in that the structural frame is typically retained; the objective is to return the building to shell or core condition, ready for refurbishment, fit-out, or full demolition.

What Does a Strip Out Contractor Do?

The scope of strip out work commonly includes:

• Suspended ceiling removal — grid systems, tiles, plasterboard soffits, and bulkheads
• Partition demolition — stud, block, and demountable partition systems
• Floor finish removal — carpet, tiles, screeds, raised access floors
• M&E strip out — electrical cabling, light fittings, pipework, ductwork, boilers, and plant
• Joinery and fixtures — kitchens, toilets, doors, ironmongery, and fitted furniture
• Specialist installations — data cabling, security systems, escalators, mezzanine floors

Types of Strip Out

Interior / office strip out is the most common type — clearing an office, retail unit, or commercial space back to shell and core. Soft strip out is the industry term for this process when applied as a preliminary to demolition.

Warehouse strip out involves the removal of racking systems, mezzanine platforms, dock levellers, fire suppression systems, and M&E across large footprint industrial buildings. See our warehouse strip out service for more detail.

Building strip out — sometimes called a full internal strip — involves the removal of all internal fabric including all services, leaving only the bare structural frame.

Asbestos in Strip Out

Many commercial buildings contain asbestos in materials that are only exposed during strip out — textured coatings on ceilings and walls, floor tile adhesives, pipe lagging behind suspended ceilings, and insulating board around structural elements. A pre-strip asbestos survey is essential. JWD holds an in-house HSE asbestos licence, so we manage asbestos removal ourselves — no sub-contractors, no delays.

What to Look for in a Strip Out Contractor

• SSIP accreditation (Acclaim or equivalent) confirming H&S compliance
• In-house HSE asbestos licence (or named, verified sub-contractor)
• Project-specific RAMS and waste management plan provided before start
• Fixed-price quotation inclusive of all waste disposal
• Clear programme and named site supervisor

Jim Wise Demolition delivers strip out projects of all scales — from single-unit retail strip outs to full building clearances across multiple floors. Call 0800 222 9772 for a free quotation.