DIY - How To Move a Garden Shed, Without Using Heavy Equipment

Original Location, preparing to move

Determination will move - A Garden Shed!

What do you do when your garden shed you own is not sufficient for your storage needs?

There are a few options-

1) - add on to the shed

2) - tear down the shed

3) - deal with it and remain cluttered

4) - move the shed

Well, depending on the location and style of the shed, adding on is not always the best solution. Surrounding obstacles or the architectural style of the shed may make this impossible.

You could tear down the shed, but if it is still in good condition you stand to lose a lot of money. Sheds are expensive. If it is a shack, then remove it and start over with a shed like you want.

Deal with the clutter, Well I don't think so, after years of not being able to use the garage as a garage that has gets way to old!

The answer that works best on most situations is # 4 - move the shed. If you want a new and larger shed in is location. This also makes sense for another reason. If you are short on storage space, you need the storage space this shed provides.

With a few helpers this DIY project can be easily completed over a weekend. So, what are you doing next weekend?

For example the shed featued in this Hub is 8 ft x 12 ft, that is 96 square ft of needed storage space. A new shed that size installed on your property sells for around $3,000!

For around 100.00 the shed can be updated and minor repairs needed can be made for a shed that still has a lot of life left in it.

So keep it, use it for lawn equipment storage and keep the gas cans, lawn mowers and related items out of your new shed.

But you may be asking, How can you possibly move a garden shed without using heavy equipment?

The answer - Determination, that's how!

Keep reading to get the full story on how to move a garden shed. This is another DIY Hub in the series. Follow me on hubpages to get updates on the entire DIY Series.

Shed on the move!

Notice the pipes under the shed, and the strapes around it. | Source

This is how you move a garden shed

So, you have made the decision to move your garden shed. Now what ? The method I am going to describe is for the types of sheds that have 2 4x4 skids under them, like the one in the photo above.

Let's figure this out, so you can get on with other backyard projects! Such as building the new shed that you need!

Before you begin to move the shed know exactly where you are going to relocate it . Determine if any leveling needs to be done to the new space. And measure the area to make sure the shed will fit into the space.

1) - First of all, empty the contents out of the shed. Place the contents out of the area that the shed will be traveling in. Far out of the way, because you will need as much access room as possible to get the shed moved.

2) - Move any objects that are in your pathway to another area.

3) - Also dig down under the shed so that you have enough space to place a car jack under the front and back of the shed.

4) - After the shed is jacked up - Place 3 4inch CPVC pipes under the shed. One at the front, one at back and one in the middle. The shed will be resting on top of the pipes.

And yes it will hold it up! The pipes will have to be moved back into place as the shed moves forward. So keep the car jack handy for repeated use. Notice the photo on the right.

Wrap heavy weight tie down webbing around the shed. Place it low, about 12 inches from the bottom of the shed. Location of the webbing is very important for this method of shed moving.

Drive a nail in each corner for the webbing to rest on, so it does not fall down when the pressure is off it between pulls.

Let's assume that you have a limited area what makes it difficult or impossible to bring in a truck to attach to the shed. If that is the situation this can still be done.

If you have the idea that a lawn tractor will pull your shed forward, unless it is a very large tractor more like something that would move a field, you could be out of luck.

We thought our lawn tractor would move our shed, we even bought it for that purpose more than for moving the grass.

Well let's just say, the tractor let us down on that little shed moving project. It is doing a great job on other projects , so I did not kick it to the curb! But after that It had to prove it's self.

With no other plan in place, and knowing that the shed had to be moved. To my amazement, the journey proved to be not so bad after all.

The new plan was implemented and the shed was on it's way. Slowly but still it moved forward.

Come-A-Longs from Amazon

Shed Moving along

Plan B

With nothing to pull the shed, we attached a set of Come-A-Longs, like the ones on the right, to the hooks in the webbing.

The other end of the Come-A-Longs was attached chain that was wrapped around the bottom of a 4x4 post that was concreted in the ground.

It is just a garden post. See photo below.

The location of the post was in the direct path of the shed. WIth careful attention to details and location of webbing, and chain the Come-A-Longs moved the shed forward inch by inch.

This method was used until the shed moved as far as it could in that direction. But when you have to make a turn, then back up, well, there is a lot of directions to deal with. Imagine moving a car from point A to point B in a parking lot.

Only the shed cannot be driven, it has no wheels, but it had to be moved. The pipes become the wheels, and the webbing attached to the pole is the steering wheel and the Come-A-Longs is the engine.

Shed in the middle of the yard

Notice the small pole in front of the shed on the right side | Source

It is amazing how large a shed looks when it is setting in the middle of your yard, and has to be moved!

Suddenly it looks huge, when it is in the wrong place. Notice the pole to the right of the shed. That is the pole that if was attached to and pulled forward. Then it was attached a garden post and pulled to the point shown in the photo.

The shed had to be pulled farther, cross over the firepit, which was partially disassembled and covered up and be turned to back into it's final location. Notice the wood privacy fence in the photo. That was the original location.

The new location is backed in between the stack of barnwood and the garden post . It goes to within 3 feet of the chainlink fence.

Notice that the webbing is attached down low. The pipes have been shifted as needed so that there is always 3 pipes under the shed at all times. The jack is used to raise the shed as needed to replace the pipes when the shed rolls past a pipe.

With proper care the shed should never hit the ground during the move.

What do you do when you run out of concreted posts in the right direction? This part is truly amazing. See the next photo.

Simple Tools for a Big Job

Webbing hooks and Metal Bar | Source

Work Smart,Not Hard

If you look closely at the photo on the right you can see the web hooks and a matal bar on the ground. The bar looks curved. That is because it had just been used in this project.

The metal bar was driven into the ground with the top facing away from the shed. About 6 inches was left sticking out of the ground. Chain was wrapped around the bar. Come-A-longs were attached to the chain and web hooks and the shed was on the move again.

This method was used repeatedly until the shed was turn and then backed into place. The webbing was reversed and attached onto on the back. It was shortened as the shed was winched closer to the fence.

So instead of losing the shed and the storage space, we still have it and cna make the needed repairs to continue to use it for many years. This is the way to save a lot of money when you move a shed yourself.

Now on to the rest of the story- Building a new shed. Look for that one as it developes. The area has been prepared, footers poured, floor going on and some walls so far. Much more to do, and I will give you all of the details when it is farther along.

Share your thoughts, questions and comments below.

More by this Author

When you go outside to your backyard do you feel like you in full view of the street, or neighborhood?
You can create better privacy in your backyard and even your front yard without feeling too closed in. And best...

Do you have a side yard that is shady and basically is just used as a pass through to your backyard?
Transform it into an interesting space that you will love to spend time in. Usually one end of the house gets more...

If you have a garden bench, or other outdoor furniture, that is in need of a new look, you can make the repairs yourself and save money.
The great thing about outdoor furniture is, it does not have to be perfect to...

I would suggest it be noted that anyone planning on driving a stake, especially a metal one into the ground, that all utility lines have been located prior to doing so. I almost drove a metal pipe into the ground at the point where I knew, but forgot, where the neighborhood underground power lines were going to a transformer. Granted, they should have been at least 24 inches deep, but better safe than sorry, or killed rather. Just a suggestion.