Avoid back injury (and mashed toes!) when moving flagstones, stone steps and other heavy materials. A landscaping pro shows you five ways to move stone slabs and blocks safely and more easily by using a dolly, plastic pipe and special lifting techniques. Tip 1: Dolly it! The nice thing about a dolly is that you don't have to hoist a heavy object as high as you would with a wheelbarrow. And with the dolly's two wheels and lower center of gravity, the load is much more stable. I use my dolly for moving my 250-lb. plate compactor from the truck to the excavation, for transporting large flagstones across lawns, and for hauling stacks of brick and block to their destination. For heavy outdoor uses like these, rent a dolly that has large pneumatic tires. They roll more easily over surfaces that are rough or soft (grass). Make sure the tires are correctly inflated or you'll get a flat! Walk backward and pull the loaded dolly up a hill or stairs (Photo 2).You'll have more leverage and better control.

And rest the handle on your thigh to support the weight when you have to take a quick break. That way you won't need to tip the dolly upright and then tip the load down again. Use Your Head Before Your Back As a landscape contractor, I move a lot of stone, brick and concrete blocks by hand. I have one basic rule: Use your head before your back. Whenever you face a heavy rock, timber or pile of bricks, stop and consider the various options you have for moving it. Reject any technique that might cause a serious strain, especially to your back. The safe method may require you to make more trips, rent better equipment, ruin more of the lawn or spend a bit more, but don’t take chances with your health. Tip 2: Roll it! You'd be amazed how easy it is to move heavy, awkward objects with three pieces of PVC pipe. I've moved playhouses, yard sheds, empty hot tubs and rocks weighing well over a ton with this trick. Use 4-in. dia. “Schedule 40” PVC, which is available from home centers in 10-ft. lengths.

Here's how to do it: Lift the front edge of the stone with a pry bar and slip two pipes underneath. Place one near the front and one about midway so the stone rests on the pipes.Fox Red Lab Puppies Virginia Position the third pipe a foot or two in front of the stone.Nike Shoes India Ahmedabad Roll the stone forward onto the third pipe until the rear pipe comes free. Used Book Stores Coeur D'Alene IdahoThen move the rear pipe to the front and repeat. This technique works best on relatively flat ground. On mild slopes, you’ll need a helper to shift pipes while you stabilize the load. Don't use this method on steeper slopes. Tip 3: Lift it! Sometimes you have no choice but to lift and carry something heavy, like a stone, a sack of concrete or a bundle of shingles.

If so, keep the strain to a minimum. Rest the stone against your upper thighs as shown, so you won't have to lift the full weight with your arms (Photo 1). Bend your knees and keep your back as straight as possible. As you stand, lean back slightly so that your legs do the lifting, not your back (Photo 2).As you walk with the load, watch your footing. If you stumble, be prepared to release the load, pushing it away with your thighs so it doesn’t drop on your toes! Tip 4: Walk it! There's no need to pick up every heavy stone on the job site. If you're only moving flat, heavy stones short distances, tip them up and walk them forward (photos above). Simply rotate it from corner to corner. This works best on a surface you don't mind tearing up a bit, like grass or dirt. However, use caution on hard surfaces. The edges of heavy stones may chip, or they may grind scratch marks into concrete or asphalt Tip 5: Flip it! When I have to move a really big stone slab by hand—one that won't fit on a dolly—I usually flip it.

Keep in mind that this only works if you're moving across grass, dirt or some other soft surface and the stone or other heavy object is nearly impossible to break. Even lifting the one edge can be a strain, so get low and lift with your legs and arms, not your back. Stay behind the stone and keep your hands clear when you drop it forward. This is an especially safe technique for moving heavy stuff uphill. However, it's slow and best for short distances.Show All ItemsVersión en español I found myself in need to move my noisy woodworking to my back yard to avoid waking up my lady who works night shift. I decided to wire my shed and after some homework and the help of the Instructables community I started my project. Before we start I assume that you know how to wire the different fixtures. First you will need: Liquid tight conduit or direct burial electrical cable Electrical wire (12-2) Switch box Switches, electrical outlets, light fixtures Step 1: The right conduitShow All Items« PreviousNext »View All Steps Download

How to Move an 8-Foot by 10-Foot Wooden Shed in Your Yard An outdoor storage shed can provide additional storage space needed around your house. One of the advantages of a wooden shed is that it can be moved if needed. The wooden shed can be moved without any large equipment, special tools and without tearing up the yard. The do-it-yourself handyman can move the shed with the help of a few friends and a few tools. Determine the location for the shed. Be sure you are not placing the shed on any utility easements or property setbacks. Some neighborhoods have codes for the size, style and placements of sheds that must also be taken into account. Check to see if there are any permits required by local governments. Remove all items from inside the shed. Jack up the side of the shed in the direction you want to move it. Use a floor jack and a scrap piece of plywood to set the jack on. The floor jack can raise the shed enough to slip the PVC pipe under the wood foundation.

You may need to dig a little to get the jack under the foundation. A spade will work for this. Slide a section of PVC schedule 40 pipe under the edge of the shed. You may need to move the jack around the foundation until you get 2 to 3 sections of PVC pipe under the foundation. PVC pipe is available at your local plumbing or building supply store. Place a section of PVC pipe in front of the shed so as it is moved it will roll onto the next section of PVC pipe. Move the last section of PVC pipe from behind the shed and place it in front of the shed as you move across the yard. With the help of a few friends you will be able to move it across the yard. Jack up the shed to remove the PVC pipes when you get the shed into position. Use only schedule 40 PVC pipe; this pipe is thick and can support the shed's weight. By pushing on one corner of the shed you can change directions slowly as you move. Place a layer of gravel over a piece of plastic for a foundation of the shed.

This will help to keep the wood from contact with the ground and keep it from rotting. Don't try and go too fast so you don't take a chance of getting your hands or feet pinched Hub Pages: How to Move a Shed You Tube: How to Move a Shed Secrets of Shed Building: Moving a Storage Shed The task of moving a storage shed can be very complicated or straightforward, depending on the size of shed, construction type, or... Storage sheds built on skids sometimes require leveling if the ground settles or shifts. This requires lifting the shed or jacking up... Although the basic footprint will remain the same as a plain shed, building a cute shed requires choosing a style of roof,... Moving a small building to your land depends on just the building size and type of the building, the construction of the... Storage buildings are a great investment for people who lack storage in a basement or garage. Building a storage shed is not... You may find the need to move your shed for several reasons.