Large Shed Move

[Maknwine]

Have been working with a guy to take a shed off his hands. I'ts 12wx24Lx12'8"H. Too long & heavy for my dad's 16ft trailer, so the only guy around that could do it needs me to remove the roof. Will have to cut out the apex of the truss as well to lower it.

I'm hoping to just remove the shingles and top most apex of the gambrel but we'll see. I negotiated price on shed to $500 and the mover wants $650. It's about 30 miles away through busy Hampton Roads traffic.

It will be some work removing shingles but I wont have to dispose of them and if I have to remove all plywood from roof that will just be fartastic! So I'm hoping I can get away with removing plywood from the midpoint of gambrel to apex.

I hope that by doing this I'm saving dollars on a similar sized shed. What do you guys think? I'm nutz right?

 

[Gary Fowler]

That is a nice shed, well worth more than you will have in it if there is not rot. IIRC those would be about $3K or more here in new condition. Does it have a loft storage, it looks like it does.

 

[Maknwine]

Yep. It does have a loft/overhead storage. There was no visible rot when I looked at it. I could only briefly look underneath as it was raining but no leaks in roof while raining. It's on blocks and 6x6 pressure treat skids.

My daughter wanted an "art studio" and one side has a walled off, paneled room which I will surprise her with if I can make it happen. The other nice thing about this shed is that it has loads of wiring/outlets and it's own panel which that would probably run me another $200-$250 maybe to go buy new.

Wish I could rent a trailer to get it home without tearing into the roof but I don't think I could get one low enough.

 

[PILOON]

I'd say materials wise you are ahead, providing there is no rot.
If the roof was manufactured trusses you will need to tie them where U remove the top section.
From your pics it looks to be board siding so I'd add diagonal temporary bracing all corners in both directions to prevent racking the framework. Simple 1 by stock will do this, just nail at every stud. Were it plywood sheeting that would not be necessary.
Again if the floor is planking nail furring in a big X from corner to corner again to prevent racking. If plywood, don't bother.
Re shingling the whole roof will assure you of a good 20 years service so that's no loss to re do.
No, providing you have the skills and time IMHO you get a 'cost effective' shed with lots of space.
At 12'8" H you also get a cool loft for storage, even if U need to add a loft floor.
If no loft floor you might add joists before the move as that would keep the 'box' square (and be ready for loft flooring.)

Good luck, I know that I would very consider this for myself.
Hey, with a door change you'd have a cool tractor shed.

 

[PILOON]

"Wish I could rent a trailer to get it home without tearing into the roof but I don't think I could get one low enough."

Consider perhaps an excavator flat bed trailer? usually no more than 2 ft or so high and around here those guys move excavation equipment at good rates (like $100-200 a move) and usually those flatbeds are idle during daytime as moves generally occur off hours.
Power lines will be your enemy, well phone lines are generally the lower lines but U could ride on the roof with a long pole and help clear the lines.
In this area 12 ft is supposed to be the clearance but with the slack (droop) you would clear that with a helper pole.
Is there an alternate route with less power lines?
Do consider insurance or be sure the mover is insured as utility cos surely will demonstrate a heavy pencil should you cut a line.

 

[6011Artist]

That's a nice building. I would look at getting a house mover to go in and move it in 1 piece. They are experienced in doing this. You can get permits to move it overheight from the state. Do you have to go through Hampton Roads or can you take the long way home and go around?

The guy wants 650.00 to move it AND you take the roof off. I would think it should be worth someone going in there with a small set of rails and move it in 1 piece and if it cost you 1000.00 - 1200.00 I would think you'd still be ahead of the game. And no work on your part.

Legal height is 13' 6". if on a small set of rails you could keep it at 13'6" or just above it. Most power and phone lines are above the 13'6" limit. It won't cost you anything to look into this option. You might be surprised at just what they could do for you.

Another thought. Go to your local Lowes or Home Depot and talk to the manager to find out who moves their large storage buildings. Most are built on site but the models at the store get moved by someone. That too would be a thought, find out who moves theirs.

Taking the roof off would be my last option unless it is just too expensive to move it as is. The cost of removing and replacing the roof needs to be factored in as well.

I've moved oversize loads most of my life. It it was mine, I'd move it myself. But not everyone is capable of doing that. But still, look into it before you start tearing the roof off.

If you want to toy with my idea, I can teach you how to build a height pole and run your own survey. By doing that you install a long pole from a reciever hitch on your truck and set the pole however high you think your building might be and go drive around and find your way home without hitting any wires. That's what he's going to do and it will save you some money and might give you a whole new thought on getting this thing home. If you want to try it, let me know.

 

[6011Artist]

instead of riding on the roof with a long pole you add a 1x4 to the roof to make the wire "ride over" the top. You can also nail slick flashing over the top of your ridge cap to insure you don't snag the wire as you go under it. But have a long pole to help it out if needed. There are tricks to every trade. And you don't get in a hurry. Run your height pole out front is your best insurance.

 

[davedj1]

I think you will compromise the structural integrity of the building if you cut the tops of the truss's. 30 miles is a long ways to haul a building. You should brace the interior regardless.

 

[murphy1244]

6011artist has got it right.

 

[2458n]

Friend Moose brought his over width over height house home on a Sunday. Took the long way around town, but still arrived with a police escort. Had both Sherrif and city police with him when he arrived. I think it was probably pretty costly because he had his commercial truck driver career on the line.