Best way to demolish single-car garage?
I have an old 12×19′ single car garage on my property and would like to take it down myself. I have already taken the 12×5′ shed-roof addition on it, but am wondering if I am going about it the proper (read: safe) way.
It is a simple gable end box – I plan to take a circular saw and cut up along the rafters on each side, and take down the roof piece by piece from back (alley) to front (back yard).
After the roof is off – the walls should be simple enough to deconstruct.
Anyone have any other suggestions (other than using a truck to pull it down, or a backhoe/bulldozer). There are two other garages within two feet on both sides of the building, an alley directly behind and approx. 25′ to the back of the house.
Thanks!
Thanks for your suggestions – I think I’m going to get on the roof, make three cuts from ridge to edge on each side. Then, from inside the garage I’ll use a sawzall to cut the nails joining the deck to the rafters and take it apart that way. It’ll limit my time on the roof when it’s in an unstable condition.
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4 Responses to “Best way to demolish single-car garage?”
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You seem to have the proper idea.
Just plan ahead carefully.
Don’t let anything heavy be unsupported or unstable.
You’re playing ‘pick-up-sticks’ with your body involved.
You might want to consider some temporary props when you start on the walls.
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further instruction will be distributed there.
Good luck agent x
so much for my can of ether trick…..rip it out piece by piece the safest way with everything so close to it.
Check your existing rafter bracing. It should have a 2×4 brace running end to end on bottom chord tying the rafters together. attach a 2×4 under the rafters full length near the peak , then run a diagonal from top to bottom. This will hold the rafters in place while removing the roof boards.Then the rafters can be removed one at a time. If not properly braced each rafter could fall as you cut the roof boards, with the last 2 falling any direction with you on top. A few 2×4’s are a lot cheaper than a few medical bills!!!