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Although it might seem like a difficult task, dismantling your garden shed can actually be an easy process. When you dismantle a shed, there are some key points to bear in mind, though. That’s why we came up with this step-by-step guide to dismantling a shed.
Key takeaways when dismantling a shed:
- Remove any windows first. It’s best to remove anything fragile before dismantling. This prevents any glass from being broken.
- Be careful of any rusty screws or nails. Make sure you don’t leave these lying around and ensure they’re properly disposed of.
- Take into consideration which parts may be too heavy to move. It might be best to ask for some help moving certain parts, so checking if you’ll need an extra pair of hands is essential.
- Dispose of any debris. Once you’ve taken down your shed, or before you put a new one up, make sure any debris is properly disposed of.
Before you start, you need to consider if moving your shed base is possible or if building a new one is the best option for you. If you need to assemble a new base, this is best done before you start dismantling your garden building unless you’re moving your existing shed base, then dismantling your old shed base can be done after.
Another important factor to remember before you start the dismantling process is the space. It’s always recommended that you leave enough space around your shed for you to walk around.
This ensures you’ll be able to maintain your garden shed with ease whenever you need to. Take a look at this step by step guide below for the best way to dismantle your shed!
Once you’ve considered these points above, it’s now time to start taking down your shed. Don’t forget, another pair of hands is always best to have! Heavier parts of the building like the roof shouldn’t be attempted alone.
Step By Step Guide
Step 1: Removing the Windows and Doors
To start taking down your garden shed, you’ll need to remove the windows and the doors. To make sure no glass is broken, remove the glass first before starting to take out the window frames or door frames.
Removing the windows should be an easy process, the material used is perspex, a strong plastic and an alternative to glass. This can be removed easily by slipping them out of the window frames. Once the windows are removed, make sure you take them away from the area you’re working in to prevent them from getting broken.
To remove the windows and doors, it’s best to use a drill or screwdriver to remove them. This is because they’ll have hinges and screws attaching them to the building.
TIP: Make sure to place all the screws in one place when removing them so you don’t lose any.
Step 2: Removing the Roof Boards
Removing the roof panels will be the hardest and heaviest part and will require a helping hand. Start by taking off the roof covering, this has most likely been nailed down so a hammer will be needed here to remove the nails. You can do this by taking the back of the claw hammer and prising the nails from the roof, lifting them up one by one to remove the roof cover.
Once the roof covering has been removed, along with someone else, start to take off the roof. The roof will be in sections and the roof boards will more than likely be screwed in; your drill will come in handy here.
One by one, remove each of the roof panels, placing it to the side so it doesn’t get broken whilst the rest of the shed is dismantled. To remove the roof panels, take your claw hammer again and lift each nail one by one, keeping the nails in a safe space once they’ve been removed.
If your shed has an apex roof, you’ll also need to remove the gables, this should be done with care because over time, the roof structure may have become affected by the weather. Removing the gables will require a drill. Take the drill and remove each of the screws one by one until all of them have been taken out and you’re able to take down the gables.
TIP: If you’re aiming to rebuild the shed, look into getting a new roof covering for when you start the new construction process.
Step 3: Removing the Walls
The last step is to remove the walls. Depending on the style of shed you have, you may be able to pry the wood panels off.
If your shed is an overlap style, this will likely need a hammer to remove the nails, then you can take each piece of wood off. To do this, take your claw hammer and with the back of it, lift the nail off the wood until it’s been completely removed. Repeat this until you’re able to take down each wall.
If your shed is tongue and groove, this may require a hammer or crowbar to lift the wooden panels off. Fewer nails should need to be removed here. Place your crowbar in between the wooden panels, then gently lift each piece of wood until you’re able to take it off and place it to one side. Repeat this process until you’ve removed each piece of wood.
During this process, you may need a temporary timber support to hold up standing walls whilst you take the others down.
Remember to start from the outside of the shed, removing the nails one by one using and placing the nails and screws in a safe spot away from where you’re working.
If you’re dismantling an old shed, you could tear down the walls using a crowbar. However, if you’re just taking down your shed to move it, undoing the fixtures and fittings one by one is the best option for you.
Step 4: Removing the Floor Boards
Once the walls have been successfully taken down, you can then move onto the floor boards. To dismantle this, you’ll need a drill or claw hammer. Your floor will have been fixed into place using screws more often than not, so a drill is ideal. To do this, take your drill and place it onto the screw you’re looking to remove. Once this is done, place the screw in a safe space and repeat the process until all of the screws have been removed.
The floor will also be in sections so once you’ve taken out a panel, place it to one side to prevent it from getting damaged whilst you work on removing the others.
Once the floor has been completely removed, this is when you can work at dismantling your existing base if you need to.
Check out this helpful video for a recap:
Helpful Tips!
- If you’re looking to dispose of your shed, it may be helpful to look into a removal service or disposal service in advance.
- Rotten wood can crumble or splinter so make sure you have a good set of gardening gloves with you.
- You can put a shed on any sturdy base, like an eco-base, concrete paving slabs or decking.
- Larger sheds will take longer to dismantle so prepare for this to take longer.
- If you have any metal items or metal sheds, consider taking them to a recycling centre.
- Make sure to secure any loose pieces of wood in case of strong wind if you’re dismantling your shed over a few days!
- If you want to protect any of your shed overnight, consider using protective sheets!
- This process also applies to other garden buildings like Log Cabins for example.
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Is it easy to dismantle a shed?
Yes! Although every garden building is different, as long as you follow these simple steps, dismantling your garden shed can be done with ease!
How do you dismantle a shed to move it?
If you're looking to keep the same shed, it's best to take apart the shed carefully piece by piece. Undo all of the fixtures and fittings and don't pull at any wood.
What is needed to dismantle a shed?
To dismantle a shed you'll need:
- A claw hammer
- A crowbar
- Somewhere to store nails and screws
- A friend or family member willing to get stuck in with you!
What can you donate or recycle?
You can recycle:
- Metal - This includes any hinges or screws
- Glass - Just be careful in case any of it is broken
- Wood or timber - This can be taken to your local recycling centre.
You cannot recycle:
- Perspex - A great alternative would be to use this on a DIY project because of its long durability
How do you move a shed by hand?
The best and only way to move a shed by hand is to dismantle it first. By doing this, you'll be reducing the risk of any damage and moving a shed by hand just isn't possible in one go!
How long does it take to dismantle a shed?
This depends on how many people are taking apart the shed and how large your garden shed is, but it should take you less than a day, especially if you have an extra pair of hands!
