How Do You Dismantle and Reassemble a Shed?

How Do You Dismantle and Reassemble a Shed?

Wooden Garden Sheds - Disassembly & Reassembly Guide

Whether you are moving home or simply looking to move your shed to a different part of the garden, it is essential to know the correct way to dismantle and reassemble it. As taking your shed apart and putting it back together again can be quite tricky, here is a quick and easy guide to help you.

how to dismantle a wooden garden shed - garden sheds ni

To begin, it is a good idea to try and take apart the largest pieces first. The most labour intensive part will be moving the shed floor as this is the heaviest. For this reason, it is a good idea to dismantle your shed with the help of someone else too. The main pieces of your shed will include -

  • Floor
  • Walls x 4
  • Roof - including trusses (rafters) and sheeting

Step One:

To start dismantling your shed, first you will need to take apart the roof. This can be harder to do if the roof has shingles, particularly asphalt, which will most likely break off once removed.

Keep in mind if your shed has this type of roof, you will need to replace these shingles with new ones once your shed has been reassembled. However, if your shed roof is made of metal or fibreglass, this should remain intact, as long as you remove it carefully.

Step Two:

Now that the largest part of the roof has been removed, it is important to check that all the fittings, such as nails and fastenings, have also been removed. These can be reused in most cases. The nails should be easily exposed with the roof removed and clearly visible in the structure of the rafters.

You will also need to remove any trim too. As the exposed nails will be sharp, be sure to do so carefully. As the trim will most likely be damaged during removal, this is something you will also need to replace for the reassembly process. Useful tools to use to help you remove these nails without injury include -

  • Pry bar
  • Nail bar
  • Hammer
  • Nail punch



These tools can help you remove the nails from any excess sheeting, minimising any damage to the sheeting itself.

Step Three:

Once the roof and nails have been successfully removed, now it is time to dismantle the walls. It is a good idea to remove the wall with the door last in order to retain maximum access to the interior of the shed. Once inside, you should be able to see the 2x4 corner joins that attach the walls to each other and to the floor.

You will need to remove the nails holding the walls to the floor, which are around 2 inches, plus the nails holding the walls to each other, around 3 inches. It is a good idea to start by removing the smaller siding nails first. This will allow you to remove each wall in turn. Just as with the roof, a pry bar makes an excellent tool to pry apart the 2x4 frame from any sheeting. If the nails are stubborn and hard to remove, try using a nail punch tool instead.

It is unavoidable that this process will cause some damage. However, small holes can easily be caulked in or hidden by trim when you come to reassemble your shed later. Once all of the walls have been pulled apart and all nails removed, you can then start removing their bases from the floor. The walls will start to drop quite rapidly, so it is a good idea to have someone help you with this part to prevent any injuries.

Step Four:

Next, it is time to remove the wall with the door. Before you attempt to remove this, it is important to make sure the door is screwed shut. This will help to keep the wall stable and avoid any damage to the door or to the person dismantling it.

The wall with the door will not usually have a bottom plate, unlike the rest of the walls. To screw the door properly, try using 2x4s at 12 inch intervals from both the top and bottom of the door. This will help to keep everything stable and in place.

Assembly

Now that your shed has been dismantled, it is now time to assemble it. Again, you will need someone to help you lift the walls, especially if there is a wall piece still attached to the floor. If you need further assistance when carrying your shed pieces, you can also attach temporary 2x4 handles to assist with moving it.

However, whether you are moving home or simply altering the position of your shed, you should now be able to do so easily. Just remember to clear up any mess left behind, especially rogue nails, which can fall into the grass and be left unseen.

Armagh Garden Sheds NI