How to Saw a Storage Shed in Half for Easy Moving

Sheds are great for storing tools, gardening equipment, sporting goods, and various other outdoor items. They can also look very stylish and add to the ambiance of the backyard. You may really enjoy your shed – and may not want to leave it behind when the time comes to move to a new home.

Moving a shed to a new house is not an easy task but, in most cases, it's quite feasible. You will need some specialized equipment and a bit of help – or a professional shed moving service – but with proper preparation and planning, you will have no trouble relocating your shed to your new location.

Here is how to move a shed from one house to another – safely, efficiently, and without any notable hiccups.

See if the shed is movable and structurally sound

Relocating a shed is quite the challenge – it's a lot of hassle and it's not cheap at all. So, before you decide to go for it, you need to be sure that moving your storage shed to your new place is worth it. And, even more importantly, you need to be sure that it is possible.

Some sheds are movable – others are not. It depends on the size, weight, and material of the outdoor structure, the way it is built, and the area where it is located.

How the shed is anchored to the ground is the key factor determining its "movability":

• Some sheds are attached to skids. Sheds on skids are portable and easy to move from one location to another;
• Some sheds are not attached to a foundation. They, too, can be easily relocated because there is nothing holding them down;
• Some sheds are attached to a foundation and can't always be moved. If the shed is cemented into the ground, relocating it is not an option (the shed will be damaged if it is removed from its foundation). In such a case, you'll have no choice but to leave your shed behind and buy a new one at your new place.

If your garden shed is movable, you need to decide if it is worth relocating. Consider the following questions:

1. What is the condition of the shed? If the building is deteriorating, there is no point in moving it to your new home – you'll have to replace the shed in a few years anyway, so you may as well do it now and save yourself all the time, effort, money, and nerves involved in relocating a shed;
2. What is the shed made of (wood, metal, plastic, composite materials)? Some materials are lighter than others (so the shed will be easier to move), some are more durable (so the shed will have a longer life), others are higher quality (so the shed will be more expensive), etc.;
3. How is the shed built (is it screwed, glued, nailed, or welded)? If the shed can be taken apart and rebuilt at the new location, moving it to a new house won't be a problem;
4. How much does the shed weigh? Needless to say, heavier structures are harder – and costlier – to relocate;
5. How big is the shed? Large sheds require large moving trailers – and they are really difficult to load and secure onto the vehicle;
6. Where is the shed located? If the building is not easily accessible due to obstructions such as fences, tree branches, or power lines, relocating it will be extremely difficult.

Last but not least, you need to consider the cost of moving your shed – it may turn out that replacing the storage unit will be your cheaper option.

Good to know: The cost to move a shed depends on its size and the selected moving method. If you're moving a small shed yourself and using the pipe method (see below), you'll only have to pay for the truck rental. If you need a forklift, renting the equipment and hiring a certified operator will cost you a few hundred dollars. If you hire a storage shed moving company, the cost will be based on the relocation distance, the size and weight of the shed, the type of specialized services required to relocate the unit, and the time it takes to complete the job.

If you decide that your shed is worth moving, you need to start thinking about how to get it to your new home.

Decide how to move your shed

Depending on the specific circumstances in your case – and your personal preferences – you can move your shed yourself or use professional shed relocation services:

• DIY shed moving -If you're moving short distance and your shed is a small one, you can successfully relocate it yourself. Just be sure to get the right equipment for the job (see below) and to ask several friends to come help you on moving day;
• Shed movers – If you have a larger shed or if you're moving across the country, a professional shed moving company is your best bet. The experts have the specialized equipment, technical know-how, and rich experience to safely and efficiently relocate any kind of shed – and they will take care of the job from start to finish, so you won't need to worry about a thing. It's the easiest way to move a shed – and the safest one.

If you hire storage shed movers, the pros will bring all the necessary equipment and will do all the work for you. If you choose to move your garden shed yourself, though, you will need to find a way to transport the unit and make all the necessary arrangements (find an appropriate moving vehicle, get the needed tools and equipment, ensure moving help, etc.). And you will have to put a lot of elbow grease into the job.

So, how to transport a shed? Depending on its size and weight, you have several options:

• Move your shed disassembled – As already mentioned, the best way to move a shed is to take it apart and move it in pieces. It will take some time and effort to disassemble the structure, of course, but the pieces will be safe and easy to move – you can simply transport them in the moving truck together with the rest of your belongings. You won't need any specialized equipment whatsoever. Just be sure to take a lot of pictures when dismantling the shed (for reference during reassembly), label the disassembled parts with numbers and symbols (so you know where each one goes), and put all the hardware parts into a sealable plastic bag (so they don't get lost during the move);
• Move your shed in a truck – Most small sheds can fit into average-sized truck beds. They're also light enough to be lifted by several people, so getting them on the truck won't be a problem;
• Move your shed on a trailer – Bigger sheds should be moved on trailers. Tilt trailers work best as they have a tilting system that makes loading and unloading faster and easier.

Good to know: Some flatbed trucks and trailers have powerful winches capable of pulling a heavy shed up onto the bed. Most trailers, however, don't have such equipment, so you'll need to slide the shed up onto the bed manually or to use a forklift or a crane to get the storage unit onto the trailer.

Once you've decided how to move your shed to your new home, it's time to get down to work.

Prepare the shed for moving

Now that you have a plan for how to relocate your storage shed, you need to get it ready to be moved.

Your first task is to empty the unit. Removing the contents will reduce the weight of the shed so it will become easier to handle. It will also prevent the items stored in the shed from getting damaged during the move (make sure you pack and move these items separately).

See also: How to pack tools for moving; How to pack and move outdoor furniture

Once the shed is empty, you can take it apart for moving. If that's not possible, or if you prefer not to disassemble the unit, you need to:

• Take out doors and windows from their hinges so they don't break or get warped when the shed is lifted;
• Provide support to wooden and plastic sheds that don't have floors or skids. Put bracers from one corner to the opposite (making an X-shape on the wall) and install planks on the shed openings (where the doors and windows were) to keep the shed from twisting during the move;
• Ensure easy access to the shed – remove obstacles from the yard (debris, stones, garden tools and decorations, etc.) and make an even path for moving your shed by raking the area and mowing the grass;
• Dig out the storage shed from the ground (if necessary) – dig around the base to "free" the shed. Be sure to create pickup points at even intervals around the shed and at the four corners – dig at least half a foot deep, so you can put your hands, or a jack, in the hollows to get a grip of the shed from underneath.

Bonus tip: Be sure to get the new site ready too – you need to have a spot where to put the shed when you take it to your new home. Choose a clear, open area, away from gas lines and water lines. Make sure there is plenty of space and adequate drainage and the ground is level. For sheds that don't have skids or floors, you also need to make a foundation – such as a concrete slab the size of the shed.

Load the shed on the moving vehicle

When everything is ready, get the trailer (or truck) as close to the shed as possible and see how you can load the unit on the moving vehicle:

• If your shed is small, you may be able to lift it, take it to the moving vehicle, and load it on the truck with the help of several friends.
• If the shed is too big to lift and carry manually, you can move it with a forklift – or use the rolling method:

1) If you'll be rolling the shed, you're going to need some thick plywood sheets (to create a smooth surface for the shed to move across), several PVC or metal pipes (to act as rollers), and a few helpers.

Use the plywood sheets to set up a path from the shed to the moving vehicle, then place the rollers on top, about 3-4 feet apart (perpendicular to the direction in which you'll be moving the shed).

Use car jacks to lift the shed high enough for the metal pipes to fit under. Place the shed on the first few pipes and start pushing it slowly forward. The shed will begin to roll over the pipes. When a pipe rolls out the back, take it and place it back in front of the shed. Keep pushing and placing the pipes under the shed (make sure they're evenly spaced). Roll the shed all the way to the trailer, watching out for low hanging branches, power lines, and other obstacles.

When you get to the trailer, see if you can jack the shed up high enough to simply slide it onto the vehicle. If that's not possible, you'll have to slide the shed up the ramp (make sure there are enough people to push and pull the shed as needed and to support the structure from the sides). Loading the shed will be much easier if the trailer has a tilting body and a winch.

2) If you intend to move your shed with a forklift, it will be best to hire a certified operator who has proper training and rich experience using the machine. Keep in mind that there must be enough space to place the forklift prongs underneath the shed – and the forks have to be spaced apart to better support the structure. You can use the forklift to take the shed to the moving vehicle and lift it on the trailer.

After the shed is loaded, make sure it is centered on the trailer and secured properly with strong straps. Drive slowly and carefully. Once you arrive at your new home, repeat the previous steps in reverse to unload the shed and position it in its new location.

So, how to move a shed to a new house?

1. What is the best way to move a shed? – Taking the shed apart and moving it in pieces is your best bet for a smooth and safe shed relocation.
2. How to move a shed across town? –  Rent an appropriate truck or trailer, get the necessary equipment, and ask several friends to help you lift the shed and load it on the moving vehicle (if necessary, use the rolling method). Consider using a forklift to make the job faster and easier.
3. How to move a shed to another state? – Moving a shed long distance is a job better left to the professionals.

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