Strip-Out Calculator

This calculator estimates waste volumes and labour requirements for interior strip-out work on a room-by-room basis. It covers the three main strip-out elements: plaster removal, flooring removal, and fixture removal.

Calculation method

Plaster waste: Wall/ceiling area × plaster depth (typically 12-20mm) gives volume in m³. Plaster density is approximately 1.6 t/m³.

Flooring waste: Floor area × buildup depth (screed + floor finish, typically 20-50mm) gives volume. Weight depends on the buildup: lightweight finishes (timber/laminate/vinyl) ~0.7 t/m³, mixed materials ~1.2 t/m³, and tile or finish over sand-cement screed ~1.9 t/m³ (screed in situ is roughly 1.8-2.0 t/m³). Pick the "Flooring Type" that matches your buildup — the weight estimate will be low if you leave it on "mixed" for a screed-heavy floor.

Fixtures: Each fixture (radiator, door, window frame, built-in unit) is given a rough allowance of about 0.15 m³ of skip space for sizing the skip, and roughly 35 kg for the weight estimate (a typical wall radiator is ~15-35 kg and an internal door ~14-36 kg). Cast-iron radiators and heavy built-ins weigh considerably more, so treat these as ballpark figures, not precise weights.

Labour: Plaster removal ~0.15 hours/m², flooring ~0.1 hours/m², fixtures ~0.5 hours each. These are typical soft-strip productivity allowances used in UK estimating (e.g. SPON's / Wessex-style price books and contractor experience) — they are rules of thumb, not a published standard. Allow more for lime plaster, awkward access or asbestos-managed work.