Old sheds are one of the most common things Long Island homeowners want gone. Metal sheds rust through at the seams, wood sheds rot from the bottom up, and resin sheds crack and warp after enough summers and nor’easters. Sometimes the shed is in fine shape but sits right where the new patio, pool or garden is going. Either way, here’s what shed removal actually looks like, from the first photo to the clean patch of yard where it used to stand.
Why you usually can’t just put a shed out for bulk pickup
Long Island town programs are built for household items, not structures. A shed has to be taken apart before any of it can be moved, and the pieces are often too long, too heavy or too numerous for curbside limits. Lumber, sheet metal and roofing count as construction or demolition debris in many programs and are refused at the curb or capped at a small amount per collection. For example:
- The Town of Oyster Bay limits breakdown items like lumber and metal to 10 items and 200 pounds per collection, tied in bundles under 50 pounds and 4 feet long.
- North Hempstead’s districts expect contractor-type material to be removed by a contractor or private hauler.
- In the Town of Hempstead, masonry and concrete brought to the Homeowner Disposal Area in Merrick are limited to two 32-gallon cans per trip.
You’ll find the details and official links in our guides to the Town of Hempstead, the Town of Oyster Bay and North Hempstead. For a full shed, a removal crew is almost always the faster and safer route.
Before: getting a quote
Shed removal is one of the easiest jobs to quote from photos. Send a few pictures that show:
- The whole shed from two or three angles
- The inside, so we can see what has to come out with it
- The path from the shed to the driveway or street, including gates, steps and tight spots
- What it sits on: dirt, gravel, pavers, a wood platform or a concrete slab
The price depends on the size and material of the shed, how much is inside it and how far everything has to be carried. A small, empty metal shed near the driveway is a quick job. A large wood shed in the back corner of the yard, packed with old tools, bikes and lawn equipment, is a bigger one. Read more about how our pricing works.
Metal, wood or resin: what changes
Metal sheds
Most metal sheds are thin panels held together with hundreds of small screws and bolts. They come apart fairly quickly, but rusted panels have sharp edges and can tear in the wind, so they need careful handling. The metal is usually recycled.
Wood sheds
Wood sheds are heavier and sturdier. They usually need to be cut down in sections: roof, walls, then the floor frame. Rotted floors and shingled roofs add time and weight.
Resin and plastic sheds
Resin sheds snap together and are light, but they often crack and become brittle with age. They’re usually the fastest to take down.
How to prep for removal day
- Pull out anything you want to keep. Everything else can stay inside. We clear the contents along with the shed.
- Disconnect power. If your shed has electric run to it, have an electrician disconnect it before removal day.
- Set aside paint and chemicals. Wet paint, gasoline, propane, pool chemicals and pesticides can’t go in our truck. Your town’s household hazardous waste program takes them. In the Town of Hempstead and North Hempstead it’s called S.T.O.P., and the Town of Oyster Bay runs S.T.O.P. days at its Old Bethpage complex.
- Clear a path. Move cars out of the driveway, unlock gates and let us know about dogs, sprinkler heads or anything in the yard we should watch for.
- Talk to your neighbor if the shed sits on or near the property line and we’ll need to work from their side.
During: what happens on removal day
- The crew walks the job with you and confirms what stays and what goes.
- Everything inside the shed is carried out and loaded first.
- The shed comes down from the top: roof, then walls, then the floor or base frame.
- Every panel, board and fastener is carried to the truck. Metal goes to recycling where possible.
- The area is cleaned up so you’re not left picking screws and glass out of the grass.
Most single sheds are done in a few hours. Large or heavily loaded sheds can take longer.
After: what your yard will look like
When we leave, the shed and everything in it is gone and the spot is cleaned up. If your shed sat on pavers, blocks or a concrete slab, tell us up front whether you want those left in place or taken too, so the quote covers it.
Expect the ground underneath to look flat and bare for a while. Grass usually grows back on its own within a few weeks of spring or fall weather, or you can reseed. If you’re building something new there, it’s ready for your contractor.
Removing other backyard structures at the same time
If you’re clearing the yard for a new project, it’s usually cheaper to do everything in one visit than to book separate jobs. We also take down and haul away:
- Swing sets and play sets
- Above-ground pools
- Old decks
- Hot tubs (power must be disconnected by an electrician before we arrive)
- Yard debris, old patio furniture, grills and broken fencing
Shed removal with Junk Done Right
We take down and remove metal, wood and resin sheds across Long Island, from Merrick, Bellmore and Wantagh to Massapequa, Plainview and Smithtown. We’re a local, licensed and insured crew based in Merrick, and Long Islanders voted us Best of Long Island in 2022, 2024, 2025 and 2026.
See our shed removal service page for real before-and-after photos. The quickest way to a price is to text us a few photos of the shed, or book online.