Frequently Asked Questions
Most folks call us having never done this before, and they all end up asking a version of the same eight or nine things. Here they are, answered the way we'd answer them on the phone.
How long does it take?
Most residential sheds come down in a few hours. A small resin or metal one can be gone before lunch. A big wood shed with a shingled roof and a floor deck takes most of a day.
What stretches it out is almost never the demolition. It's the carrying. If the shed is behind a narrow gate and everything gets hauled by hand to the street, that adds real time.
Do I need a permit?
For a typical backyard shed, usually not. Most jurisdictions around the valley don't require a demo permit for a small accessory structure without utilities.
It changes if the shed has electrical or plumbing run to it, if it's large, or if it sits on a permanent foundation. Rules also differ between Boise, Meridian, Nampa, and unincorporated Ada County, so it's worth a quick call to your city's building department.
Separate from permits: if you're in an HOA, check your CC&Rs. Some want notice before demo work starts.
What's left behind when you're done?
That depends on what the shed was sitting on, and it's worth deciding up front.
Gravel pad: the gravel stays unless you want it gone. We rake it level.
Concrete slab: it stays unless you ask for it out. Removing a slab is a separate scope, since breaking and hauling concrete is heavy work with its own disposal.
Posts in footings: if the shed was set on 4x4s in concrete, those footings either come out or stay in the ground as buried plugs. Fine under gravel, a problem under lawn.
Tell us what the space is becoming and we'll tell you what needs to go.
Do I have to empty it first?
You don't have to, but it helps your price. Anything left inside gets loaded and disposed of, and disposal is billed by weight.
The one thing you should pull out regardless is chemicals. Old paint, thinner, pesticides, weed killer, and fuel cans are household hazardous waste. They can't go in a mixed debris load, and Ada County has a free drop-off for residents.
If sorting it sounds like a chore, just tell us what's in there and we'll sort out what rides along and what doesn't.
Will you tear up my yard?
Some flattening of grass is unavoidable where we stage debris and walk loads out. It bounces back.
If we can get a trailer close, we lay down protection on the path. If the only access is across the lawn, we talk about that before anything starts. Sprinkler heads are the thing to point out — every yard in the valley has them, and we'd rather know where than find out.
My shed might have asbestos. Now what?
If it went up before about 1980 and has cement-board or transite siding, that's a fair question to ask.
Nobody should guess. It gets tested first. If it comes back positive, abatement is a separate licensed job with its own disposal path, and only then does normal demolition happen.
Don't start pulling that siding off yourself to check. Breaking it is what releases fibers.
Can the shed be moved instead of demolished?
Sometimes. It depends almost entirely on whether the structure can survive being lifted.
A newer shed on skids with a solid floor has a decent chance. A shed with a rotted floor deck, or one built in place on a slab, generally does not — it comes apart during the lift.
If yours is in good shape and you just want it somewhere else, mention it when you call and we'll take a look.
What about wasps?
Extremely common, especially July through September. Nests turn up under eaves, in the roof peak, and behind loose siding.
If there's an active nest, it gets handled before demolition starts, not during. Worth checking yourself before you even open the door if it's been closed up all summer.
What areas do you cover?
Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell, Eagle, Star, Kuna, Garden City, and the surrounding Treasure Valley.
How do I get a real quote?
Photos are the fastest path. Three of them: the whole shed, the base where it meets the ground, and the route from the street to the shed.
That's usually enough to give you a straight answer without anyone scheduling a visit. Call us at (208) 943-5231 and we'll walk through it.