Shed Moving: Need some advice

[Hybrid AWD]

Hopefully some of you guys can help me out here to give me a little insight on whether or not I should go through with moving a shed.

I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and I have access to a 16x10 shed for free if I want it. (Parents are building a large garage... shed has to go)

I reached out to a few "shed movers" and only one ever responded back. Now from browsing around on here and some other places, the going rate seemed to be about $400-$500 to move a shed. Here was the response I received:

For a shed that is wider than 12' the cost is $300 per hour starting when we arrive at the first location. There is also a mileage charge of $2.50 per mile from our shop to the final site. For us to move something that wide we are required to stop at the bridge and have an ****** through the tunnel which can add time to the move. The move would need to take place on Monday thru Thursday only. Without seeing it i would expect something like this to take 2-3 hours

The total distance the shed is being moved is 20 miles. Being charged from their shop, that adds an additional 10 miles. So $75 extra just in mileage.

Quoting that it would take 2-3 hours, that puts me somewhere from $675-$975 to move this shed.

One thing to remember is that the shed is older. Probably at least 10-15 years old. It's in good condition, new roof, and looks solid overall. But is it worth it to move it for almost $1000?

I'd love to get some input.

 

[Hybrid AWD]

It's worth the move if the shed is worth $1000+- to you.
Not much else can be figured in to the equation.

I have to guess if you wanted to build one for the same cost plus your labor, you would have mentioned that.
I'm going to guess if you want to dismantle it, you would have mentioned that.
I'm not going to think you are so incapable to not have thought of both of those alternatives and dismissed them as impractical.

I don't know the going build rate for a shed of that size. $1000 seems steep to move a shed to me. Random guess in my head is a brand new one of that size would probably only be a few hundred bucks more to build myself.

Honestly, I wasn't sure about disassembly. Is it doable, of course. Guess I could try and look into that option a little more to see if it's even feasible.

 

[purosananto]

Perhaps I missed something, but you said 16x10 and the emails said "sheds wider than 12 feet". Is there something that is requiring the shed be transported turned sideways?

If not, then I would assume it could be quite a bit cheaper as they don't have the same transport restrictions.

 

[Hybrid AWD]

Perhaps I missed something, but you said 16x10 and the emails said "sheds wider than 12 feet". Is there something that is requiring the shed be transported turned sideways?

If not, then I would assume it could be quite a bit cheaper as they don't have the same transport restrictions.

The shed roof overhang is what is making it wider than 12'. Actual dimensions because of the overhang is about 16 1/4' long x 13 1/4' wide x 9 1/2' tall

It's very similar to this, but with more overhang from the roof.

 

[Voi]

The shed roof overhang is what is making it wider than 12'. Actual dimensions because of the overhang is about 16 1/4' long x 13 1/4' wide x 9 1/2' tall.

I'm guessing with a 9 1/2' tall roof peak the sidewalls are under 8 1/2'?

My guess is that if you take the roof off you could get it on a flatbed on the long side opposite the door (once braced) and move it for way under $1000.

102" is maximum highway width so if you can get under that I think you'll save more money than the cost of a new roof.

Try to save the roof if you can but right now I think your greatest cost is the width being greater than 102".

 

[LifeLongWNYer]

Rent a flat trailer and move it yourself.

Several friends and I moved a 1-car garage once. We backed a truck with a vertical liftbed, similar to that used by roofers, into the garage, bolted some 2x12's in a vertical position between several wall studs and across the bed of the truck, raised the bed a foot and drove away.

It wasn't legal, but we were ready to go one Sunday morning at about 4:00 and all ended well. Yours is much smaller, you could either jack it up and back a trailer under it, or use pipe rollers and a come-along to pull it onto the trailer.

I'm sure where you are, and the amount of traffic, would be a factor but I see sheds of that size on trailers all the time. The Amish build them near here.




.

 

[ddurrett896]

I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and I have access to a 16x10 shed for free if I want it. (Parents are building a large garage... shed has to go)

I'm in Virginia Beach will take it for free if you end up not wanting it

What you can do is jack it up and put a stick of 4" PVC under it and start pushing it, adding an extra stick of PVC as you move (think Egyptian's moving stone). Get it to the street and have a flatbed pick it up and move.

Offload and repeat the move with the sticks of PVC. I've done it a few times and its simple with 3 guys. The charge for the flatbed shouldn't be more than $250.

 

[Boyd]

Call a flatbed tow truck. I bought a 10x12 display shed on clearance from Lowe's that is almost identical to the one pictured above. I called a tow company...they moved it with a flatbed for $75.

 

[Kaizen]

Call a flatbed tow truck. I bought a 10x12 display shed on clearance from Lowe's that is almost identical to the one pictured above. I called a tow company...they moved it with a flatbed for $75.

yup used to work at hd and sold more then one shed like this. you buy some 2x8's to use as runners as the flat bed is usually not really flat but rippled. add some 2x4's screwed to the walls and diagonally for added insurance.
maybe be a couple hundred bucks if they charge you by the hour at 120 an hour. only issue is that bridge you talked about. so measure to the peak and call the tow company or go down there with a nice bottle of shine to discuss it

 

[Jhoff310]

I build a 12X16 last year shed with a roll up door and concrete floor last year.. minus the cost of the concrete I had $1200 in it.
I just built a new chicken coop this year 6X10 on 4x4 runners and studs 16 o.c. with a 4/12 shed roof and moved it into place with 2" PVC pipe. I have to agree with everyone else, rent a flat bed and get a few cases of beer for your buddies and move it yourself. If I was closer I would offer to come help

 

[Bondo]

Rent a flat trailer and move it yourself.

Ayuh,..... I agree,... something that small, I wouldn't even bother with gettin' a permit,....

Nice little Sunday mornin' drive,....

 

[-dirt-]

I'm in Virginia Beach will take it for free if you end up not wanting it

What you can do is jack it up and put a stick of 4" PVC under it and start pushing it, adding an extra stick of PVC as you move (think Egyptian's moving stone). Get it to the street and have a flatbed pick it up and move.

Offload and repeat the move with the sticks of PVC. I've done it a few times and its simple with 3 guys. The charge for the flatbed shouldn't be more than $250.

I've used this method. Worked great. I used a truck winch with a pulley at a 90 deg. angle to drag up onto flatbed trailer.

 

[Kevin54]

Call someone with a rollback bed. I moved mine and it was loaded and moved in less than an hour. They can tilt the bed, slide it back, and slide it under, then pull it up. Our shed was 14' with the eaves on it. Total price was $150 to do it.

 

[CJM8515]

Rollback aka flatbed tow truck can do this easily. reinforce the inside and make runners out of wood for them. Ive moved some with a flatbed before. Generally you need someone whose bed rails can come off (or oyu need to build runners to raise it ABOVE THEM), has experience moving it and can strap it down right. Its not difficult with the right equipment. Know anyone with a flat deck car trailer? or even a car trailer at all? Make runners to make it go over the rails if need be. Winch it up using a come along thats wrapped back to itself either with chains or the wire. Also the pipe method like the Egyptians works well too.

ALSO BIG ISSUE: Make sure wherever your moving it you do the following:
-Check to see if you need permits. I doubt the cops will care IF you stay off major roads, but you never know.

-Check clearances. Make sure if there are any low hanging wires, trees, bridges, etc. You dont wanna windup on the news cause you smashed the shed into something.

-****** vehicles! I highly suggest you have 2, one in back and one in front. JUST incase. If there is anything questionable you might hit the lead car measures it!

-Stay off major roads and highways if possible.. Might take longer but anywhere the police might be you dont wanna be. You also dont wanna hold up traffic or cause other issues. Again, you dont want to play with fire-if you needed a permit cause of oversize then the police might nail you to the wall. Pleading stupid may work..

 

[glider]

I charge $250 for a local move. Check out your local Craigslist.

 

[captain14]

Not all tow companies can handle moving a shed. I went to HD one day and there was a flat bed trying to load the shed. After looking around AND selecting my purchases the flatbed was still out there attempting to get it loaded. They had not even got it on the bed. Probably was in the store maybe 30 minutes. I could see everyone was getting frustrated. Even one of the managers was out there the whole time.

Ask if they have experiences and what they need done before by you.

 

[nickelmore]

Max legal width is 102 inches on primary roads.

Getting a permit is optional. If you get caught around here you get a ticket and get parked until you get a permit.

Jacking it up and rolling on PVC is the right track.

The local tow company will need the height measurement as well. 13'6 is max they will go. Cable and phone companies tend to hang their lines around 13'8....

Wish I could get $300.00 per hour port to port plus mileage. Around here you would be in the 105 per hour plus 50 permit.

 

[jonjon1]

I moved one of the amish built 12x14's before, We took it apart and moved it with a 7x12 tractor supply trailer, it took us about an hour and a half to take it apart and an hour to put it back together. Cost about $50 in hardware... We sawzalled most of the nails that held the walls, floor, and the roof, it went back together perfectly...

I would take the roof off of that thing and trailer it on its side...

 

[NUTTSGT]

If I couldn't get a local tow company to do it with a roll back for less than $200, I'd build a new one myself. Personally a grand for a 10 plus year old building a stretch for me.

 

[brienwwright]

That seems very expensive to me. My buddy moved a 16 x 12 icehut. The towing company showed up with a tilt and load trailer, they loaded it moved it 12 kms and unloaded it in under 1.5 hours. Price including wide load permit was $240. Probably helped that it had skis on it and a point to winch it up.

 

[mjbasford]

For a shed that is wider than 12' the cost is $300 per hour starting when we arrive at the first location. There is also a mileage charge of $2.50 per mile from our shop to the final site. For us to move something that wide we are required to stop at the bridge and have an ****** through the tunnel which can add time to the move. The move would need to take place on Monday thru Thursday only. Without seeing it i would expect something like this to take 2-3 hours

This is a major concern that i see. You are moving the shed from the southside to penninsula or vice versa? the max clearance for the HRBT is 13'6" total and MMMBT is 14'6". You may have much more mileage if they need to use mmmbt for height reasons, as they can not use the downtown and midtown tunnels either to route around.

What is the height of the shed? and what is the proposed route.

Also, wide-load closure on either bridge has got to be $$$, especially if they are not willing to transport in middle of night.

Edit: Just saw the 9.5' Height, sounds like it will be pretty tight after factoring the truck bed height in.

 

[volleyball]

Is the shed well built enough to take the trip? The ones at big box stores tend to be weak.

I'd use a recip saw and cut through corner nails, cut top down ridge and stack all on a flatbed if you cannot get a towing company to do it on the cheap or it just won't fit.
Get a bunch of friends and do up a BBQ after it is in its new place

 

[6768rogues]

If it is oversized, don't try to move it yourself illegally. A friend did that and he got into a snoot full of trouble. No utility crews, no highway crews, no insurance for the job, no county permit, oversized load, picked apart the tow vehicle and wrote tickets, a fist full of citations.

 

[glider]

I gave up on permits years ago. In the past I paid for yearly permits for three surrounding Counties. They say on them not valid on weekends and holidays. I asked and one or two of them would write weekends ok. That was in the past, not anymore. When I get pulled over they have no problem with my load. I drive away with a non-moving violation ticket for no permit, oversized load. About $100 compared to $400 a year in permits that are no good on weekends. The lasts 10 years I think I have got 4 tickets. This shed is 137" wide. Height is everything!
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[Hybrid AWD]

The garage is still being built. It should be done within the next 15 to 20 days. I'm really hoping to find another company to give me a quote as well.

I'm going to do some investigation on whether or not it's worth it to take apart the roof for a cheaper price.

 

[Newbeme]

Call the local places that build and or sell sheds and ask them who or how they move theirs. I just moved a shed two weeks ago and used a car trailer for hauling it and four 4" PVC pipes to move it on the ground. To make the tubes role a little easier I laid 2x6's on the ground and let the tubes roll on them.

 

[geartow]

I drive flat bed tow truck for a living the shed size you mention is a easy move for an experianced driver/ operater will be able to move that easy. Expect to pay around 125-150 an hour port to port plus permits.

 

[Hybrid AWD]

A little update. We ended up taking the shed apart and moving it. It actually wasn't nearly as bad as I expected. The hardest part was loading it but we had the help of a Kubota for that.

Going up, we recruited 5 guys to help and it was up in a few hours.

The only thing left now is the roofing and I have decided to go with a metal roof. Looks like Home Depot will be getting more of my money.

 

[nadogail]

Everything depends on your local circumstances and geography.

I remember the newspaper story about the guy who moved the oversized boat while all the highway patrolmen were having their customary group breakfast at Denny's on a Sunday morning.

 

[FigureItOut]

Call the local places that build and or sell sheds and ask them who or how they move theirs. I just moved a shed two weeks ago and used a car trailer for hauling it and four 4" PVC pipes to move it on the ground. To make the tubes role a little easier I laid 2x6's on the ground and let the tubes roll on them.

Yes, do this. That's how I found the guy who did mine and he'll move any non-permit needing shed anywhere in within three counties for $250.

Off the subject, his trailer setup was amazing. I'll see him again next month and I'll take some videos and start a thread.

 

[kbs2244]

At 9 1/2 tall putting it on a flat bed truck will get you into some height clearance questions.
And 12 wide will for sure get you into some width problems.
I think you will have to take it apart and move the walls and roof slabs as pieces.
Putting it on the trailer at an tilt will keep you under the width limits.