An old shed that leaks, leans or has rotted at the base is usually quicker to take down than to repair. Removing it properly means emptying it, dismantling it safely, separating timber, felt, glass and metal, and taking it all to the right disposal sites. It is also the job where one hidden hazard, asbestos, matters most.
We connect you with one local clearance specialist in your area, checked as a registered waste carrier. You get an indicative price here, and they confirm a fixed price from your photos, usually the same day.
What it costs
Prices include dismantling and taking the waste away.
| Item | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Small shed (around 6×4 ft) | about £150 |
| Medium shed (around 8×6 ft) | about £220 |
| Large shed or summerhouse (10×8 ft and up) | about £300 |
| Concrete base broken out and removed | Extra, priced from photos |
| Fence panels | about £20 each |
| Soil or rubble | about £50 per bulk bag |
Prices are indicative. Access through the house or more than 20 metres from the van adds about 15%. If the rest of the garden needs work too, a shed can be included in a garden clearance or an overgrown garden clearance. For how the prices combine, see the garden clearance cost guide.
What affects the price
- Size and construction. A light overlap-board shed comes apart quickly. A tongue-and-groove workshop with a heavy floor, or a summerhouse with glazing, takes longer and fills more of the van.
- What's inside. The price assumes the shed is empty. Old paint tins, garden chemicals, tools and general junk are extra, and some chemicals need separate disposal.
- The base. Timber bearers and paving slabs usually come away with the shed. A concrete slab needs breaking out and the rubble removed, which is priced separately once the specialist sees its size and thickness.
- Extras on the same visit. Fence panels at about £20 each, old decking, or rubble at about £50 per bulk bag are cheaper added to a shed job than booked separately.
- Access. Every panel has to be carried out. Through a terraced house, or down a long garden, adds about 15%.
Example: a rotten 8×6 shed and four old fence panels in a garden in Edgbaston and Harborne would be around £220 plus £80, so about £300. If a small concrete base is left behind and you want it gone, the specialist prices that from your photos.
What the job involves
- Check the materials before anything is touched, particularly roof and wall sheets on older sheds.
- Clear the contents, if agreed, and set aside anything you want to keep.
- Strip the roof first: felt, sheets, then roof panels, before the walls come down in sections.
- Separate the waste. Timber, glass, metal and felt go to different places.
- Deal with the base if it's included, and leave the area swept or raked.
A standard shed is usually down and gone within a few hours.
What to photograph for a quote
Good photos usually mean a fixed price without a visit. More photo tips.
- The whole thing, with your house or fence in shot for scale
- The base or ground level and what’s around it: walls, sheds, beds
- The route in from the road: side gate, steps, the path through
Questions about shed removal
How do I tell if my shed roof might contain asbestos?
You often can't tell by looking. Grey, rigid corrugated sheets or flat panels on a shed built before 2000 are the usual suspects. Newer bitumen or plastic sheets are unlikely to. Take close-up photos, including any markings on the underside, and let the specialist judge. If in doubt, a sample can be tested.
Can the timber be reused or burned?
Sound timber can sometimes be reused, and some specialists will leave it if you ask. Burning treated or painted timber and roofing felt gives off harmful smoke and can cause a nuisance for neighbours, so most people have it taken away.
Do I need to empty the shed first?
It helps and keeps the price down. If you'd rather leave the contents, say so on the form and include photos of the inside. Paint, oil and garden chemicals need to be pointed out, as they cannot go in with general waste.
Can you take away the concrete base as well?
Yes, but it is priced separately because slabs vary a lot in size and thickness. Many people leave the base and lay a new shed or a patio on it. If you want the area turned into lawn or beds, it needs to go.
What photos should I send?
One of the whole shed from a distance, one of the roof close up, one of the inside, one of the base and one of the route to the road. Our photo guide is written for tree work but the same principles apply.
Do you cover my area?
We connect customers across Birmingham and the West Midlands, including Solihull and South Birmingham. Enter your postcode on the quote form to check.