Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: Elcie on August 20, 2009, 13:52

Title: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Elcie on August 20, 2009, 13:52
I got two bargain sheds from B&Q today (see frugal living for details!)  Part of the deal is that I dismantle them myself.  They are 8x4 with pitched roofs.

I have never put up a shed, let alone took one down so if anyone has any advice or experience they can offer that would be great.  I had a quick look and can see the screws it was put together with but I couldn't work out how or where the roof was attached.  Any ideas?

Thanks all.
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: noshed on August 20, 2009, 22:34
Take the roof felt off first if they've put in on - there are battens on the front and back edges. Then take the screws out of the pitch. It should come off in two sheets then.
In my experience B&Q sheds are not very heavily constructed...
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Elcie on August 21, 2009, 09:12
No they don't look heavily constructed!  Thank you very much for the advice.  For some strange reason I forgot about taking the felt off.  Shows how much I know about sheds!
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Rangerkris on August 22, 2009, 07:07
I would imagine there would be something in there insurance that you would not be able to take the shed down with my health and safety hat on. 

There's a good chance you may rip the felt trying to remove it.  Take an electric screw driver with you a claw hammer and a crowbar i would think you will need all these tools at the very least.   

Can you get in the store early to do this just be careful of people around you ask for some cones or tape if its not in an secure area.  I know i know its all stupid stuff but you dont want anything to happen to anyone while doing this.

Good luck
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: pumpkinpatch on August 22, 2009, 22:40
Drive a car through it ?  :lol:
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Elcie on August 25, 2009, 11:32
Thanks for the advice everyone.  The man on the plot next to me is a lorry driver and he has offered to pick them up for me.  We are just trying to work out whether they would fit on the lorry without dismantling them and whether they would be liftable?  I'm sure the store would load it on for us but it is getting it off at the allotment.

Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: noshed on August 25, 2009, 17:45
You need a few men for that
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: sunshineband on August 25, 2009, 18:52
Don't stand inside it when you are taking the walls to bits  :ohmy: :ohmy: :ohmy:
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Elcie on August 25, 2009, 22:12
You need a few men for that

That's what I was thinking.  Guess 4 would be a good number, one on eah corner, but not sure if that is enough.
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: tode on August 26, 2009, 08:04
Suggest you contact Poolfield for advice on eyelash fluttering  ;)

If you move it in one piece, may be a good idea to brace it inside before moving: nail a couple of bits of wood diagonally inside. Just a precaution to stop it "wobbling".
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: death of rats on August 30, 2009, 21:35
The felt on the roof may not all need to come off. If they are constructed like the ones I have seenclose up the middle roll of felt needs tp come off first because it is cooveringhte thinks that hold the roof on. Good luck in the dismantling. I would suggest a socket set if the shed is held together with coach screws or bolts.
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: philskin on August 31, 2009, 09:48
When i moved mine we used the big tying straps tilted shed up slid straps under and 4 of us just lifted her on to a trailer saves awkward bending and the weight can be taken more on your shoulders :D :D :D
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Elcie on September 01, 2009, 22:51
They have now been dismantled, transported to the plot, and put up at the plot!  One took 2 1/4 hours to dismantle, the other 20 mins!  The first one was a nightmare as they had screwed the screws in so far that you couldn't see them through the wood.  We had to dig them out one by one.

Anyway, it is done now, and it was certainly easy putting them up when you knew exactly how they had come down!  The roofing felt is ripped in one or two places but I have put it back on for now and will get something new next year when finances allow.

In terms of H&S, they hadn't moved them to the yard and therefore we were taking down 2 sheds whilst customers walked around us.  No one batted an eyelid and not one B&Q staff member came to see us to see if we were following guidelines/rules etc.  Which is handy as we proably weren't!
Title: Re: Any advice when taking down a shed please?
Post by: Yorkie on September 02, 2009, 18:53
Pleased to hear how you got on - was wondering  :D