Shed demolition should never be a haphazard process. In other words, it should be systematically performed. The best way to carry out this procedure is what we’re about to show you.

Throughout this article, you’ll learn the basic shed demo tips to follow.

Sheds are structures that eventually outlive their usefulness. This could be due to the need for bigger storage space or could be a result of deterioration.

Whatever the case is, demolition seeks to take down the structure and this is where our focus lies.

How To Tear Down A Shed: Storage/Garden/Metal Types

Before the actual demolition process begins, a decision has to be made about the demolition strategy to adopt. Here, you’ll need to figure out whether to call a demolition expert or perform the procedure yourself.

This is one decision every homeowner needs to make.

Calling the pros is a much easier alternative as the job complexities are figured out by the contractor. Your obligation or role is simply to call the technician and show them the project site.

Also, you’ll need to foot all demolition expenses.

The other alternative involves performing the job yourself. For DIY shed removal to be successful, you’ll need an appreciable level of understanding of how the process goes.

More importantly, you’re given a template on how to proceed.

The contents of this article will prove crucial to your overall success.

  • Hiring a Demolition Contractor

Old shed removal isn’t a complex procedure. As such, the services of a handyman will suffice. However, only a reputable handyman should be hired for the job.

For a demolition contractor, customer reviews will be a great place to begin.

This guide will be of greater benefit to DIY’ers seeking to carry out or perform shed demolition themselves. The reason is obvious; a pro already knows what needs to be done.

Also, there’s little or nothing you’ll need to do when hiring a pro. However, the dynamics are much different for a DIY procedure.

  • DIY For Shed Tear Down And Removal

DIY shed removal places a greater responsibility on you. Here, you’ll need to carry out all demolition work yourself. Luckily, you have several tips to guide you such as those contained in this article.

Implementing them gives you an edge and enhances your chances of success.

The DIY option is what most of this article will be focused on. By the end, you should have a fairly good idea of how to handle a shed demolition project.

Preparing For An Old Shed Demolition

A series of preparatory steps must be taken to ensure that storage or garden shed demolition goes on smoothly.

These include renting a dumpster, getting the tools necessary, checking if a permit is necessary, turning off utilities, and emptying the shed. These actions precede the actual demolition procedure.

Due to their importance, let’s take a look at each.

  • Renting a Dumpster

One key element of shed removal preparation involves planning for debris disposal.

Here, you’re making a timely provision for easy hauling away of demolition debris. Every demolition job leaves you with a pile of debris.

This can be more challenging to clear out when there’s no container to hold such contents.

A dumpster comes in handy as you get to dispose of all sorts of shed demolition debris including nails, wooden beams, and shingles among others.

Having a disposal plan saves you a lot of stress, thus making the project more manageable.

  • Getting the Tools Necessary

Tearing down a shed will require using the right tools. There are several such tools to purchase or hire. Also important are safety gear for enhanced protection.

Tools include roofing shovel, ladder, reciprocating saw, adjustable wrench, spare 2x4s, pliers, and crowbar.

Other tools include a screwdriver, chisel, sledgehammer, and hammer. For safety gears, you’ll need a hard hat, long-sleeved shirt and pants, goggles, heavy-duty boots, and heavy-duty gloves.

Each of these tools is useful at some point during the demolition process.

  • Checking to see if Permits are Necessary

Various locations have their different demolition requirements. While some will demand the issuance of permits, it’s not necessary for other locations.

To be doubly sure, it’s necessary to still check what applies to your location or city.

  • Turning off Utilities

Is your shed hooked up to any utility likes? If there are, consider turning them off completely.

We recommend having a professional (electrician and plumber) remove all wiring and pipes connected to the shed. These are either capped or completely removed to prevent any incidence.

  • Emptying the Shed

At this point, the shed needs to be emptied of all its contents. Most sheds are used to store a variety of items such as home and garden tools. Also, equipment like gardening supplies and tractors may be kept there.

Have all of these removed to make way for demolition work to begin.

In emptying the shed, also consider taking out anything considered hazardous. Such may include nails, unstable shelves, shattered or broken window panes, and screws lying around.

So here is how to take down a shed safely.

How To Demolish A Shed: Step By Step

With adequate preparation made, what remains is the demolition process to begin.

Several steps are involved here. These range from the removal of doors & windows, roof tear down, dismantling shed walls, and demolishing shed floor.

Cleanup follows immediately.

  • Removal of Doors and Windows

Doors and windows are targeted for removal before any part of the shed gets demolished. This is also performed alongside the removal of shelves and wall fixtures among other things.

Here, doors are removed by unhinging them.

Your screwdriver comes in handy for this procedure. With the screws out, hinges can be completely removed. If you’re interested in salvaging the doors, and hinges, this process will be very beneficial.

Get the hinges off completely by unscrewing them from the frame.

The window is also targeted for removal to forestall the chances of injuries resulting. Here, your screwdriver, hammer, and chisel will come in handy for removing caulking material.

Using these tools, pull or pry out nails and screws holding the window in position before sliding it out.

One useful tip to ensure you don’t make a mess of the job is by using heavy masking or contact tape on both sides of a glass pane.

This provision prevents glass pieces from scattering around by holding them in one piece when broken.

  • Roof Tear Down

To get to the roof, you’ll need a ladder to climb up.

This wouldn’t be a project for persons scared of heights. The most common types of roofs found on sheds include metal sheets and shingled roofs. Removal procedures are different for both types.

i. Removing Metal Sheet Roof

As the name suggests, sheets of metals are used and held in place by screws or nails.

Start removing these from the roof peak using your pry bar or other appropriate tools. This is repeated until all sheets are completely removed.

Some metal roofs have rafters beneath. For these, a hammer should be used to pry them apart. A reciprocating saw is an alternative tool for performing this procedure.

This helps cut through points where the rafters connect to the walls.

ii. Removing Shingled Roof

The removal process for a shingled roof is quite different from sheet metal roofs.

Here, use your pry bar and hammer to remove the shingles. Next, you’ll need to expose the rafters by pulling off sheathing ad underlayment with the help of a pry bar.

At this point, some sections of underlayment will need to be removed to locate the seam between sheathing boards. Using your hammer and crowbar, pry open the rafters for the roof removal process to be completed.

  • Dismantling Shed Walls

With the shed roof removed, your next target should be the walls. As a safety precaution, you should know that wall dismantling can be risky. This is because walls increasingly become unstable as they’re demolished.

You might want to increase their stability by positioning 2x4s at 45-degree angles to the shed wall.

Be careful when choosing a wall to start with. It’s best to start with the wall where the door opening is. Why? Because it’s the least (structurally) unsound of the four! Now, shed walls are either made of metal or wood.

For metal walls, you’ll need to loosen connections to the floor. This can be done with the help of pliers, adjustable wrench, or hammer. Apart from the floor, loosen connections to adjoining walls.

At this point, the wall should fall outward. If it doesn’t, it may require some hitting with a sledgehammer.

Wooden walls will have to be disconnected from the floor. Pliers and the adjustable wrench will prove useful here.

For walls proving difficult, cut through such with reciprocating saws or dislodge them with sledgehammers. Connection to other walls must be removed.

Now push on the wall frame. This demolition procedure should be applied to all other walls.

  • Demolishing Shed Floor

Shed floor demolition can be performed by using a crowbar.

Wood planks are lifted off by prying them up. For shed flooring on legs, a reciprocating saw will prove useful in cutting through the floor.

  • Shed Demolition Clean Up

Clean-up is as important as the demolition process. Debris created needs to be cleared up and hauled away. Your dumpster will prove invaluable to the cleanup process.

Shed removal and demolition tips have been provided. We started by looking at the options available, the preparations involved as well as the demolition procedure itself.

These are all crucial to a successful shed demolition process.