Relocating Your Backyard Shed

You might need to move your garden or backyard shed to install a swimming pool, to take it with you to a new home, or to build a larger one in its place. Here are factors to consider before your shed relocation, and several tips on how to keep your shed intact while moving it.

Step 1 - Consider Various Factors Before Moving Your Shed

Determine how far you're moving the shed. You can move even a large shed intact from one end of your yard to another. If you're taking it across the city, state, or the country, find out from the public works office about transporting wide loads. You may need a permit and an escort vehicle.

Examine the shed's construction for the stability and soundness of its materials. It may be easier to disassemble it and rebuild it at the new location rather than trying to transport it all in one piece. It may be too old and damaged by dry rot, or termite infestation, to transport so build one at the new location.

Choose the sunniest, driest day to move your shed. Any soil dampness or rainy weather will make the move much more difficult.

Step 2 - Move Shed on Trailers

Lightweight metal sheds sitting on, but not attached to, a foundation can be moved on a trailer. Empty out the shed, use four jacks to raise the corners, and slide it onto a flatbed trailer. If you're moving it within your yard, two people can tow it to its new spot. Have a slim foundation of patio stones or plastic grid ready, and slide it off the trailer onto the new foundation. You can move prefabricated sheds with metal frames and plywood or fiberboard sides the same way. Suitable trailers include those for houseboats and for transporting two snowmobiles.

Step 3 - Try the Rolling Pole Method

Use an even lower-tech method to move sheds of 100 square feet or less with a solid floor. Buy 10 cylindrical poles, 10 feet long and 6 inches in diameter. Lay them on the ground 3 feet apart, parallel to each other. Place them between where your shed is and where you want it to go. Lift the shed off the ground or off its foundation with jacks, and put the first pole under this leading edge. Attach a heavy-duty chain to the base of the frame and fasten it to a pickup truck. When the truck moves forward the shed will slip onto the first pole and roll along over the others. When you get to where the shed will be placed, align the poles with the foundation, and roll it on with the truck. This operation will take at least four people and can be done in an afternoon. Recycle or sell the poles when you're finished.

Make an event of relocating your backyard shed. Invite a group of friends to help, one of whom has a pickup truck and chains, and celebrate your success with a barbecue afterward.