This page provides general practical guidance and does not replace project-specific legal, engineering, planning, ecological, asbestos or waste advice.
The short answer
Soft strip, strip-out and demolition are often used interchangeably, but they describe different scopes. The terms are not standardised across the industry, so the written scope — what is being removed, what must remain, and the condition required at handover — is more reliable than the label used to describe the work.
Why it matters
Mismatched expectations about what a label covers are a common source of variation and dispute. A client who expects a 'soft strip' to include partition removal, and a contractor who prices only fixtures and finishes, will reach handover with different expectations. Defining the scope explicitly prevents this.
Information that may be needed
Plans, photographs, specifications, lease or dilapidations requirements, and any refurbishment design information help establish the scope. For commercial work, the lease schedule of condition and any dilapidations assessment may define the required handover condition.
What can affect the scope
The terms in common use and what they typically cover: soft strip — removal of agreed non-structural fixtures, finishes and elements, commonly before refurbishment or structural demolition; internal strip-out — removal back to a clearly defined retained condition within a building; commercial strip-out — similar principle in commercial premises, with the actual scope defined by the specification, lease or dilapidations requirements, or refurbishment design; partial demolition — structural demolition of only part of a building while other elements remain; full demolition — removal of the agreed building or structure. In all cases, the written scope governs.
When specialist input may be needed
A structural engineer is required where the scope includes structural elements. An asbestos professional may be required where materials in the removal area need assessment. For commercial work, a dilapidations surveyor or solicitor may be involved in defining the required handover condition.