Whether you have an itch for DIY projects or want to save money, moving a shed with PVC pipe is one of the cheapest ways! Yes, you can move the shed without disassembling it. PVC pipes may look fragile to you, but in reality, these pipes can withstand pounds of weight. When moving heavy objects like a shed, PVC Pipes don’t warp or break. Moving heavy objects with PVC pipes is not unusual and is referred to as ‘pipe rolling.’
So if you are interested in moving your shed but don’t have the forklift at your disposal, then here’s something that you may want to try.
Essential Precautions To Move Shed With PVC Pipe
Many people prefer to move or relocate their sheds using PVC pipes. While others may find it absolutely overwhelming or exhausting, do understand that it is nothing like that. However, it may not be equally easy for everyone, but it is possible. A well-executed shed relocation requires planning and considering some precautions in the process. Take a look at the checklist of things that you must do before moving the shed:
1. It Is Not a Person Show
It is definitely not a one-person task so don’t try to do it all by yourself. Due to the weight of the shed, it requires the physical capabilities of more than one person. As a matter of fact, trying to do it all on your own puts you at a higher risk for physical injuries. So instead of trying to move the shed on your own, take the help of 3 to 4 persons. You don’t need to ask for professional contractors, instead, seek help from your loved ones.
2. You Must Ensure That It’s Not Full
When moving the shed, it is essential to take out every item. Removing items from the shed will make it lighter and you will be able to lift it quite easily. Moreover, when you empty the shed and take out all the items, you get to declutter and organize.
Furthermore, it will prevent injuries and damage to the equipment or tools inside the shed. Some people also prefer to remove the shed window for extra safety and precaution. So if it’s possible to remove the window of your garden shed, don’t hesitate. Do remember that going slightly the extra mile doesn’t hurt a bit if it makes your task easier and safer overall.
3. Clear The Shed Site
Merely emptying the shed is not at all enough. Many things, like small nails, wires, gauze, broken pots, or glass, can lie inside or around the shed. Though it may look unharmful, it increases the risk of accidents. Moreover, such items may also hinder the pipe rolling during the shifting, and you may need to restart.
So, the best thing to do is to clear the existing shed site after taking out all the items. Make sure nothing around the shed may harm you or slow down the process. The more smooth the process flows, the less exhausted you will feel at the end of the day. And you may actually end up enjoying the whole process and also will have the opportunity of getting rid of all the unnecessary things.
4. Wear Necessary Protective Gear
A simple precaution that people often forget to take is to wear protective gear. When you use PVC pipes to move the garden shed, the pipes don’t roll themselves. You must push the shed with your hands to reach its destination. As garden sheds are made of wood, there might be a risk of splinter injury, which is nothing to be treated lightly. Therefore it is best to wear protective gloves. For extra safety, wear the contractor’s helmet as well.
5. Secure the Shed
Sheds are easy to move, as they are made out of wood. However, it depends on the age of your shed. Newly built sheds are more sturdy, making relocating easier. If your shed has been standing in your garden for years, it might not be that sturdy. So it is best to check if the shed is sturdy and stable enough to endure the lift and move.
The shed that may look stable while on the ground may not be the same when lifted or moved. Thus before lifting the shed, inspect it thoroughly. Check the window frames, roof, bolts, and all sides of the shed. Make sure that nothing is flimsy. It will help you take the appropriate action before lifting the shed and avoid any safety risks.
Now that you have gone through all the precautions, it is time that we move to the actual act of moving the shed and how can you best execute that.
Let’s Relocate the Shed!
Now that you have ensured all the safety measures, it is time to gather the necessary tools and materials to shift the shed. Depending on your plan to move the shed, you may use some or all of the following tools:
- A hydraulic jack or floor jack: to lift the shed off the ground
- PVC pipes: for rolling and moving the shed
- Nylon rope: for tying up the shed with the puller
- Shovel: dig holes around the shed to lift it up
- A car, trailer, golf cart, or riding mower: to pull the shed forward
- Cinder blocks: optional
- Long planks of 2×6 or greater measurement: to act as a rolling track
Step1: Map Out The Shed Moving Process
It takes a well-crafted plan to successfully move the shed from one place to another. Give in some time to plan out the whole process. When planning to move the shed, one of the most important things to consider is the size and type of your shed. Usually, moving a smaller shed by hand and PVC pipes is more feasible. It might take more than hands and pipes if you have a big shed with big doors.
Often, the methods of the rolling pipes don’t work for bigger sheds and require a professional contractor. However, if the parts of the sheds, including windows, interior shelves, doors, etc., can be dissembled, you still have the chance to move the bigger sheds.
Another significant thing to consider is the new site for the shed. Before moving the shed to its new spot, it is essential to ensure the site is prepared. It has enough space to accommodate the shed. You need to clear the site for the relocation.
Step 2: Start to Lift The Shed
Once you have the plan, it is time to execute the pipe-rolling process to move the shed. If you think of lifting the shed directly, hold your thought. Lifting the shed is a whole process in itself.
You can’t put the jacks under the shed directly. It may result in shed destruction or worse. To begin the process, dig four big holes on each side of the shed. That’s where the shovel comes in handy. However, if your shed is placed on concrete ground, there’s no need to dig up the holes.
It will create a space for the jacks to go under the shed. Lift off the shed to its maximum height and place lumber to hold. Now repeat the same process on the other three sides. Note that when you are lifting off the shed, make sure there’s nothing that will hit the shed roof.
Step 3: Make it Rolling
Here comes the most important part of the whole process. It’s time to get your shed rolling on the pipes. For this, you need to slide 4 PVC pipes under the shed. But that’s just not all. The pipes will not roll on the dirt ground or grass. You need to facilitate the rolling. Thus you need wooden planks that will act as a track for the pipes.
The whole setting of PVC pipes and wooden planks will act as a conveyer belt. Once you are sure everything is in its place, you start pushing the shed slowly toward the new site. When you move the shed, after some time, one of the PVC pipes will come out. Take that pipe and put it under the shed from the front position.
Repeat this process until you reach the new site. If the shed is big or heavy, you can try to pull/push it with a riding mower, golf cart, or trailer. But you may still need people to put their hands on the shed. Once you reach the new site to place the shed, slowly remove the wooden planks from under the shed first. After removing the planks, take out the PVC pipes one by one.
Now pat yourself on the back for executing a job well done!
Conclusion
To be precise, PVC pipes are highly effective when moving a shed. PVC pipes are accessible and easy to get. Plus, when it comes to the overall cost, moving a house shed using PVC pipes is very cheap. Speaking of strength and durability, PVC pipes used in domestic installations can withstand 28 to 30 pounds. However, large industrial PVC pipes can withstand more weight.