DIY Home Improvement Forum banner

Demo'ing / Disassembling a shed

2K views 16 replies 6 participants last post by  ratherbefishing 
#1 ·
I've asked plenty of questions around here on how to put things together. This might be the first on how to take something apart.

I have a 12x24 manufactured building that is going to be replaced. The replacement will be stick built, on site. The question is how to dismantle the old one.

The roof is corrugated metal, maybe aluminum. It's never leaked, though the top plate is rotted in a few areas. 12'x4' Panels appear screwed together. The ridge appears to be welded. Not sure how it's fastened to the beams. Sorta post and beam construction. I say sorta, because the posts don't go to the floor. They rest on the top plate. I've never felt comfortable walking on the roof. I was thinking about salvaging the roof panels for another project. Now, I'm not sure if that's feasible.

I'll probably reuse some of the lumber. Most of the 2x4s are short. But there are quite a few 12 foot 2x6s that I'd like to save.

I will NOT be whacking the building down with a back hoe or a bucket. All by hand, probably alone. How would you go about removing the metal roof? Does the diagonal bracing look adequate that I can remove the siding? Once the siding and roof is off, I figure a cat's paw, wrecking bar and a sawzall ought to get the rest down without it all falling on top of me.

Pictures coming, as soon as I remember how to do it.

Thanks!
 
See less See more
#7 ·
How would you go about removing the metal roof?
How wide are the panels? One way would be to get a ladder up on one end and reach over to remove the fasteners. Once you have the first panel off you go inside with a tall step ladder and repeat.

Another way is throw a couple of sheet of plywood on top. You work of the one sheet and then stand on the other to shuffle the other sheet over.

If the roofing is just nails and not screwed you may be able to from underneath just them beat up with something heavy. Maybe just up enough to get a sawzall blade in there.

Does the diagonal bracing look adequate that I can remove the siding?
Yes.

Once the siding and roof is off, I figure a cat's paw, wrecking bar and a sawzall ought to get the rest down without it all falling on top of me.
That's how I'd do it (but I'd add a chainsaw to that list).
 
#12 ·
I would remove the siding first with a 2x4 first. Siding because wall frames would be stiffer with the roof beams, and maybe the panels, on. Then roof panels by cutting the screws from inside. Long sawsall demolition blade should bend enough. If any, removing rake trims probably will expose all the gaps you need for the blade.
Then hold the beams at the ends with a rope tied to the wall stud and cut the ends off or cut the studs around it. Then let the beam swing down on its own with you far away from it.
 
#13 ·
There would be no ropes involved in removing the roof beams if I was doing it.

I'd nail or screw a 2x tight under the beam and then another 2x against that creating a 3" shelve on both ends.

Then I'd cut the beam as close to the wall as possible on both ends (chainsaw would be my tool of choice).

If you have a helper then great but it you don't then with a little common sense you can walk the beam down to the ground and then go get the rest of it.
 
#14 ·
Thanks for all the advice and speculation!

A little more info:
The roof is aluminum. Panels are 4' wide, with no visible seams along the long dimension. (Does it come off a roll?) The roof is nailed to the beams at 4" intervals. So any thought I had of salvaging the roof material for another project probably ain't gonna happen, unless I can use 4'x4' sections.

Tomorrow, I'll either beat the roof off the beams from inside, or run a sawzall blade along the beam, cutting the roof off in 4x4 chunks.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top