A Shed Built by Hand, Taken Down the Same Way
The homeowner called about a shed in her Fairfax backyard that had been there for decades. Her late husband had built it himself — a lattice-sided open structure with a shingled roof, tucked into the wooded corner of the yard beside the house. It wasn't a prefab kit from a hardware store. He had put it together piece by piece, by hand, years ago.
Over time, it had reached a point where it couldn't really be used anymore. The frame was leaning. The roof had lost its shape. The wood was rotting through in places. Old yard tools and a few gas cans had been sitting inside it for years, undisturbed. At some point it had stopped being a storage shed and had become just another thing in the yard that was getting harder to look at.
She had been sitting on the decision for a while. You don't rush these things. But when she called, she was ready — she wanted it gone, cleanly, and she didn't want it to be a production.
It wasn't. We cleared the items from inside, broke the structure down starting from the roof — the shingles, the framing, the lattice panels, the corner posts — and loaded everything into the trailer. By the time we swept the area, the only thing left where the shed had been were the tree roots and the gravel path leading up to where it used to stand.
After it was gone, she walked back and looked at the space for a moment. She said it felt lighter somehow, which is a thing people say after these jobs, and which is always true.
Video — The Demolition
How a Shed Demolition Works
Shed demolition is one of the more straightforward jobs we do — but there are a few things that determine how quickly it goes and whether there are any surprises.
1. We Assess Before We Start
We walk the shed with you first — check the structure, the base, whether there's electricity or plumbing, and how access looks for getting debris out to the trailer. Most sheds have none of those complications and we can start right away.
2. Clear the Contents
If there are items inside — old tools, paint cans, yard equipment — we clear those out first and separate what's staying (if anything) from what's going with the shed.
3. Tear Down From the Top
Roof first, then walls and framing, then the base. Older or deteriorated sheds like this one come apart faster — the wood is already compromised, which actually makes the job go quicker.
4. Load and Sweep
Everything goes straight into the trailer. We sweep the area for nails, screws, and loose debris before we leave. You're not left with a pile of lumber to deal with yourself.
💡 Got a shed with concrete footings? We remove the above-ground structure. Concrete slabs or footings are priced separately — tell us about them when you call so we can quote accurately.
Shed Demolition Pricing
We price shed demolitions by size and complexity — not by the hour. The Fairfax job in this case study, a lattice open-sided structure in deteriorated condition, came in at $399.
| Shed Size | Material | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 6×8 ft | Wood or metal | $399 |
| 8×10 or 10×12 ft | Wood or metal | $599 |
| 12×16 or 12×20 ft | Wood or metal | $899 |
Concrete slab / brick construction / electrical connections → these require an on-site assessment before we can commit to a price. Text us photos of the base and we'll give you a realistic range.
Got a Shed That Needs to Come Down?
Same-day available. We serve Fairfax, Great Falls, Vienna, Herndon, Ashburn, Burke, Springfield, and all of Northern Virginia. Owner on every job.
Shed Demolition Across Northern Virginia
Fairfax isn't the only place we're regularly tearing down old sheds. Here's what these jobs typically look like across some of our most active areas:
Great Falls, VA
Great Falls properties often have larger, better-built sheds — 12x16 or bigger, sometimes with electrical and concrete foundations. Wide driveways make access easy, but we always assess electrical disconnection before we quote.
Vienna, VA
Vienna's older ranches and craftsman homes frequently have detached sheds from the 1970s and 80s in very poor structural condition — like this Fairfax job, they break apart quickly. Some Vienna sheds were fenced in after installation, so we factor fence removal into the quote when needed.
Herndon, VA
Herndon townhomes and single-family homes in McNair Farms, Countryside, and Fox Mill often have small to mid-size sheds in tight side yards. Access can be the main challenge here — we plan the tear-down path before we start.
Ashburn, VA
Ashburn's newer communities (Brambleton, Broadlands, Belmont) typically have HOA-approved prefab sheds — these are often in decent shape but no longer wanted. Good driveway access makes most Ashburn jobs straightforward.
Centreville, VA
Centreville's Virginia Run, London Towne, and Bull Run properties span a wide range of shed sizes and conditions. Some of the oldest structures in the area, similar to this Fairfax job, are handbuilt and in significant disrepair by the time we get there.
Leesburg, VA
Leesburg properties — from in-town lots to the larger Lansdowne and Raspberry Falls homes — often have sheds that were part of the original build. These tend to be solidly constructed, which means more time but also cleaner debris.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shed demolition is priced by size: 6×8 ft runs $399, 8×10 or 10×12 ft runs $599, and 12×16 or 12×20 ft runs $899. Concrete slabs, electrical connections, or brick construction require an on-site assessment. The handbuilt open-sided structure in this Fairfax case study came in at $399.
In most cases, no. Fairfax County does not require a demolition permit for residential sheds. However, if you have an HOA, you may need to notify them before we start. We're familiar with the rules in most Northern Virginia communities and can advise when you call.
A standard 10x12 shed in average condition takes 2–4 hours from arrival to cleanup. Older, deteriorated structures like the one in this case study often go faster — the wood is already compromised and breaks apart more easily. We hauled everything away the same day.
We remove the above-ground structure completely. Concrete footings or slabs underneath are a separate scope and priced separately. For the Fairfax job in this case study, the shed sat on wooden posts — no concrete to remove. Tell us about any slab or footings when you call and we'll factor it into the quote.
Everything goes in the trailer and gets hauled to a licensed transfer station the same day. We sweep the area for nails, screws, and loose debris before we leave — no pile of wood left for you to deal with.
Yes — shed demolition is one of our most common calls across Great Falls, Vienna, Herndon, Ashburn, Burke, Springfield, and all of Fairfax County and Loudoun County.
Ready to book? Visit our Shed Demolition Service page or try our free price calculator.