Hand Demolition Tools – 5 Must-Have Items For Manual Demo Jobs

Which tool is used for demolition by hand? I’ll look at the hand demolition tools you need for any demo job.

Tools For Hand Demolition

When you’re planning to tear down a section of your home to rebuild a new structure, you will need some essential tools to accomplish your mission.

These aren’t heavy-duty tools that only trained experts can handle. They are simple to hand demolition tools you already have at home or can buy from a hardware store.

So what are these tools?

1. Pry Bars

All minor demolition jobs require pry bars, so you must include them in your shopping list when gathering the tools you need to remodel your home.

A pry bar is excellent for safely removing almost any type of nailed wood, thanks to its claw-like tip. It can also be used to remove tile flooring and deeply sunk nails.

Pry bars come in many sizes, and the size you will use determines the nature of wood or tile work you are trying to rip off. The size and depth of nails are also determinants of the type of pry bar you will use.

Since all the woodwork in your home isn’t built the same, it will be wise to buy different sizes of pry bars when you visit the hardware store.

You can start with an S-shaped crowbar (within the 18- and 2 feet range). This is ideal for taking out almost any type of interior framing wood.

You will also need to buy a smaller-sized pry bar (the flat pry bar). Its small size and balanced nature will allow you to rip off woodwork located in tighter spaces, which a large-sized crowbar will not be able to reach.

A flat pry bar is also lightweight, which allows for better maneuverability and less fatigue.

A claw hammer can also be used alongside a pry bar for pulling out nails.

2. Hammers

What better hand demolition tool to have than a set of hammers?

A sledgehammer can break up large sections of a concrete wall or patio, while smaller hammers can break up the smaller leftover chunks.

I have already mentioned how a claw hammer can be used alongside a pry bar to pull nails from wooden fittings. But that’s not all it can do, as it can also be used to smash tile fittings on the wall and floor.

A claw hammer can also create tiny holes in your drywall in cases where you need to access plumbing/gas pipes and power cables.

Now there’s the heavy hammer, which is one step below a sledgehammer. It is similar to a claw hammer but is fitted with a heavy sled for more complex tasks.

You can also use a heavy hammer for working your interior framings and other forms of wood support.

Remember that these smaller hammers aren’t ideal for knocking complex brick masonry, so you must always keep your sledgehammer close by.

3. San Angelo Bar

This tool is similar to a crowbar but also looks like a spear. Thanks to its weight, it can also be used to smash some complex masonry when a sledgehammer is unavailable.

Although not with the same efficiency, with some extra effort, you can get the job done.

A San Angelo bar is about 72 inches long and weighs about 18 pounds. It is made with high-carbon steel and takes a hexagonal javelin-shaped form.

Even though its design is semi-complicated, it remains a fundamental hand demolition tool.

It is designed with a chisel at one end and a sharp point at the other. With this design, it can be used to rip up hard floor tiles or chip them off if you wish.

A San Angelo bar can also be used to break away harsh concrete. You must push down the pointed end with adequate force, and the concrete surface will crack open.

Remember that this is a complex tool, so using it on other works besides your flooring would be harmful.

4. Screwdrivers

Not all demolition work requires the use of a sledgehammer. Remember that hammers are meant for tough jobs like smashing your concrete flooring.

If you were to handle more delicate work, it would be in your best interest to use a lighter tool. And this is where a screwdriver comes in.

A screwdriver can remove electrical switches and outlets from your walls without being destroyed. It is also great for removing small sections of tiles and wood flooring.

A long flathead screwdriver should be on your shopping list, as it will come in handy in most delicate situations.

The good thing about the long flat head screwdriver is the chisel head tip, which can also act as a pry bar for minor lifting.

5. Safety Equipment

Home restructuring can be tedious, but it can also be dangerous if the tools are not handled responsibly.

This is why safety should be fully considered when working with even the most basic hand demolition tools.

You will need to put on some safety gear to avoid untold injuries.

Here’s what you’ll need –

A hard helmet: You may think domestic remodeling is too safe to have to put a helmet on. However, you are wrong, as domestic accidents can also occur.

All the hammering, tearing off, and drilling comes with extra chipchipsh pings. This means a portion of your ceiling boards or concrete sub-decking can break off and fall.

In a case where you’re standing right beneath the breakage, you would want to have your helmet on to keep your head safe from serious injury.

If you don’t have a hard helmet, you can buy one from a hardware store around your neighborhood.

Eye goggles: When you’re working with a sledgehammer on concrete floors or tiles, there will surely be bits and pieces of debris flying around. And as tiny as these pieces are, they can pack a punch if they hit you in the eyes.

Besides the solid pieces of debris, there will also be dust floating around the spaces where you work, and you wouldn’t want them to get into your eyes either.

That being said, putting on a pair of eye goggles while you work would be best.

Remember, the human eyes are exceptionally delicate, and being hit with flying debris can lead to impaired vision and even blindness.

Face mask: Speaking of dust, it isn’t just a threat to your eyes; it can also get into your mouth and nostrils.

Remember that some of the chemicals used in a concrete mix are harmful to the human lungs and must not be inhaled.

A facemask can protect you from inhaling the dust build-up and spare you from unforeseen respiratory issues down the line.

Gloves: Handling tools like pry bars for long hours can take a toll on your palms. Extended work may lead to uncomfortable blisters, which will take some time to heal.

This is why hand gloves are essential. They not only protect your palms from blisters but can also give you a better grip on the pry bar, reducing fatigue during the time spent on the job.

Work boots: Broken tiles and concrete breakouts can be dangerous if they get stepped on barefooted. Even if you have a pair of regular sneakers, their soles will get damaged, as they are not designed to step on concrete and tile debris.

The ideal footwear for breaking up concrete and tiles are rugged work boots. They are made with stiff soles that step on hard, jagged material like broken concrete.

Their bodies are also rigid so that they can last very long.

Headphones: If you are using a power saw to rip up your concrete slabs and steps, you must be prepared to deal with all the noise this handheld machine makes.

The good news is you can block out all the noise by using a pair of headphones. Buy the ones with thick pads around the ears – the more comprehensive the places are, the more noise they can block out.

Final Words

Minor home remodeling can be done without heavy machinery, as the parts of the building that will be worked on are not large or complicated.

When it comes to demolition works of this nature, your best bet will be small handheld tools that can be used to remove some portions of the flooring and the like.

If you don’t have these demolition tools at home, you can buy or rent them from pretty much any hardware store around your area.

I hope this has been helpful.