Key takeaways

  • You can't spot asbestos by eye. Corrugated cement roof panels, siding shingles and old roofing felt can contain it. Only a lab test of a sample taken by an accredited professional settles it.
  • Rules depend on where you live. Federal asbestos demolition rules don't cover an isolated small residential building, but states can be stricter. Colorado requires a certified inspection and a 10-working-day notice to CDPHE before demolishing a facility.
  • Pre-1978 paint may contain lead. Avoid dry sanding, scraping and burning. Mist surfaces and clean up wet.
  • Mouse droppings: wet, never dry. Air the shed out for 30 minutes, soak droppings with disinfectant for 5 minutes, wipe up with paper towels. No sweeping, no vacuuming.
  • Don't burn treated wood. Wear gloves and wash your hands after handling it.
  • Power off, then a pro. Switch off the shed circuit at the panel and get a licensed electrician to disconnect it before anyone pulls a wall down.

Most old sheds come down without drama. But a shed that has stood for decades can collect things you don't want to breathe, touch or fall through: old roofing, old paint, mice, wasps, chemicals and sometimes a live circuit. That is not a reason to panic. It is a reason to look before you swing a hammer. Below, hazard by hazard: what to look for, what official guidance says, and who to call. Rules are set by your state, county and city, so confirm what applies at your address.

Quick reference: old shed hazards at a glance

Common old-shed hazards, the signs, and who handles them
HazardSignsWhat to doWho to call
Asbestos cement roof or sidingGray corrugated or flat cement panels, cement siding shinglesLeave it intact. Don't break, cut, drill or sand it. Test before demolition.Accredited asbestos inspector (in Colorado, CDPHE-certified)
Old roofing felt or asphalt shinglesTar paper, rolled roofing, old shingles under newer onesCan't be judged by eye. Include it in the asbestos inspection.Asbestos inspector
Lead-based paintOld, peeling paint on a shed that may predate 1978Assume lead until tested. No dry sanding or burning. Work wet.Lead-safe certified (RRP) contractor if you are hiring
Pressure-treated (CCA) woodSkids, posts, floor framing or other ground-contact wood, especially pre-2004Gloves, mask, goggles. Wash hands. Never burn it.Local waste program
Rodents and hantavirusDroppings, nests, chewed insulation or stored items, urine smellAir out 30 min, gloves, soak 5 min, wipe up. Don't sweep or vacuum.Pest control; health department if heavy
Wasps, hornets, beesNests under eaves or in roof framingDeal with nests before demolition, not during.Pest control (or a beekeeper for honeybees)
Black widow, brown recluseWebs in dark corners, under floors, in stored itemsGloves, long sleeves. Shake out anything you pick up.Medical care if bitten
Stored chemicalsPesticides, fuel, oil, paint, pool chemicals, old batteriesKeep in original containers. Don't mix, pour out or bin them.Your household hazardous waste (HHW) program
ElectricalLights, outlets, a cable or conduit to the houseSwitch off at the panel. Don't cut or dig up cables.Licensed electrician; building department for permits
Structural collapse, snow loadSagging roof, split framing, stuck doors, creakingStay out and off the roof.A structural engineer or a demolition crew

Asbestos in old sheds: roofs, siding and roofing felt

If you are searching "is my shed roof asbestos," you are probably looking at gray, ridged panels on a garden shed or garage. That is the classic case. EPA lists asbestos cement products and roofing and siding shingles among the building materials that have contained asbestos. Colorado's health department (CDPHE) adds roofing felt and roofing shingles to its list of common products, and notes that asbestos was used more widely in building materials before the 1990s.

The UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE), cited here only as background since its rules don't apply in the US, lists asbestos cement roof sheeting, bitumen roof felt and shingles among materials that can contain asbestos.

Why you can't tell by looking

EPA is direct about this: you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos simply by looking at it, unless it is labeled.

Age doesn't settle it either. CDPHE warns that buildings of any age may contain asbestos. A 1989 EPA ban on many asbestos products was largely overturned in court in 1991, and asbestos-containing products can still be imported. So "the shed was built in the '90s" is a good sign, not proof.

Is it dangerous right now?

Usually not, if it is intact. EPA says asbestos material in good condition that won't be disturbed should be left alone, and that exposure generally happens only when the material is disturbed or damaged. Demolition is that kind of disturbance. EPA also says not to dust, sweep or vacuum debris that may contain asbestos. OSHA notes the fibers are too small to see, and that breathing them can cause asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Don't stand on it. Separate from the fiber question, old cement roof sheets are fragile. HSE says fiber cement sheets will not safely support a person's weight and can shatter without warning; roughly half of fall deaths and serious injuries in British agriculture involve fragile roofs. Never climb onto a shed roof to inspect it.

Testing: who takes the sample

EPA recommends that a trained and accredited asbestos professional take samples for analysis. CDPHE says the only way to know is to have the material tested by an accredited laboratory, and that an inspection by a Colorado-certified Asbestos Building Inspector can confirm where asbestos-containing material is. Inspectors in Colorado must work for a registered asbestos consulting firm; CDPHE publishes the list.

On a shed, expect samples of the roofing (panels, felt or shingles) and any cement-board siding. Ask for a written report; it is useful even when the result is negative.

Federal rules vs. state rules

  • Federal (EPA). In a 1995 Federal Register notice, EPA said that, in its opinion, demolishing or renovating an isolated residential building with four or fewer dwelling units is not covered by the federal asbestos air rule (the NESHAP), but demolishing more than one on the same site by the same owner is. EPA's homeowner page adds that federal law doesn't require a professional for single-family homes, but some states and localities do.
  • Workers (OSHA). If you hire a company, its employees are covered by OSHA's asbestos standards for construction, including exposure monitoring and training.
  • States can be stricter. Colorado is one example. Whether a rule applies to your shed is a question for your state agency or an asbestos consultant.

Colorado: Regulation 8 and shed demolition

Colorado regulates asbestos under Regulation 8, Part B, enforced by CDPHE's Air Pollution Control Division. CDPHE publishes the following:

  • Inspection before demolition. The building or area to be demolished must be inspected by a Colorado-certified asbestos inspector, and CDPHE says demolition needs a state-issued demolition permit before work begins.
  • Notice even if nothing is found. A Demolition Notification Application must be submitted to CDPHE, with a fee, even if no asbestos was found, and there is a ten working-day notification period before demolition can start.
  • Trigger levels for single-family residential dwellings: 50 linear feet on pipes, 32 square feet on other surfaces, or the volume equivalent of a 55-gallon drum.
  • Removal above the triggers. Friable asbestos material over the trigger levels must be removed by a Colorado-certified General Abatement Contractor before demolition. Non-friable material such as tar-impregnated roofing over the triggers must be demolished without making it friable.
  • Disposal. All asbestos waste must go to an approved asbestos waste disposal site, regardless of quantity. Regulation 8 requires it sealed wet in leak-tight, labeled containers.
  • A narrow homeowner exemption. Section III.B.1.c says certain abatement requirements don't apply to a homeowner doing abatement on the single-family dwelling that is their primary residence. It is about who may do abatement; on its face it doesn't remove the demolition inspection and notice steps.
  • A newer-building exception. An inspection may be excused for buildings built after October 12, 1988, if the architect, engineer or a certified inspector completes CDPHE's form stating no asbestos was used.

Regulation 8 doesn't specifically mention sheds, garages or outbuildings, and we have not found a CDPHE page that says whether a small backyard shed counts as a "facility" for demolition purposes. Before you demolish a shed in Colorado, email cdphe.asbestos@state.co.us or call 720-507-5136 and ask. Your city's demolition permit may also ask for the state paperwork; see do you need a permit to demolish a shed? and our Denver and Colorado pages.

Lead-based paint

EPA says a home built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, and the older it is, the more likely. Old or worn lead paint makes chips and dust, and that dust is the hazard when it is breathed or swallowed.

What the RRP rule covers

EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule says anyone paid to do work that disturbs paint in housing and child-occupied facilities built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices. It generally doesn't apply to homeowners working on their own home, with exceptions for landlords, childcare providers and people flipping houses. Fifteen states and one tribe run their own programs instead of EPA. Whether RRP reaches a detached shed on your lot is a question to put to your contractor or your state lead program; don't assume either way.

Safe practices if the paint stays in the picture

EPA's do-it-yourself guidance boils down to keeping dust down and contained:

  • Keep family members, kids and pets away from the work area.
  • Mist surfaces with a spray bottle or pump sprayer before scraping, cutting or drilling.
  • Use wet sanding sponges, not dry sanding. If you use a heat gun, keep it under 1,100°F. Never burn painted wood.
  • Wear a disposable N-100 respirator, coveralls and gloves.
  • Clean up with a HEPA vacuum, then wet disposable cloths until they come up clean.

For demolition, the simplest approach is usually to take the shed apart in panels without sanding or scraping the paint at all. EPA strongly encourages hiring certified contractors.

Pressure-treated wood (CCA)

Older sheds often sit on pressure-treated skids, floor joists or posts. Wood treated before 2004 may be chromated copper arsenate (CCA). The manufacturers voluntarily cancelled CCA for most residential uses effective December 31, 2003, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. A ban was never imposed, so wood already in place stayed.

  • Never burn it. EPA says not to burn CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting, because the smoke and ash can carry toxic chemicals.
  • Protect yourself. EPA advises goggles and a dust mask when sawing it and washing your hands after handling. CPSC adds gloves, working outdoors, and washing all exposed skin with soap and water.
  • Don't sand or power wash it (CPSC).
  • Disposal. EPA says CCA wood can generally go out as ordinary municipal solid waste, but tells homeowners to check with their state or local waste program first. See shed disposal and recycling.

Rodents and hantavirus

A closed-up shed is ideal mouse housing. The concern is hantavirus, which CDC links to contact with rodents' urine, droppings and saliva. Stirring up their dust is the risk. CDC says symptoms of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome usually appear 1 to 8 weeks after contact with an infected rodent, and that 38 percent of people who develop respiratory symptoms may die. Colorado has tracked cases since 1993, according to CDPHE. It is rare, but it is why cleanup is done wet.

CDC's clean-up steps

Colorado's health department points residents to CDC's instructions:

  1. Ventilate. Open all doors and windows for 30 minutes before you start.
  2. Glove up. Rubber or plastic gloves.
  3. Spray, then wait. Spray droppings, urine and nests with an EPA-registered disinfectant or a bleach solution of 1.5 cups of household bleach per gallon of water (1 part bleach to 9 parts water) until very wet. Let it soak 5 minutes.
  4. Don't sweep or vacuum. CDC says that can put virus-laden droplets into the air.
  5. Wipe up with paper towels and throw them away in a covered garbage can.
  6. Mop or sponge the area with disinfectant.
  7. Wash gloved hands, then remove the gloves and wash your hands with soap and warm water.

For a heavily infested building, CDC describes more protection: coveralls, boots, gloves, goggles and a respirator with HEPA filters, and suggests contacting your local health department.

Wasps, hornets and bees

CDC's NIOSH notes nests can be found in trees, under roof eaves and even on equipment like ladders, and that stinging insects are most common in warmer months. Check under the eaves and inside the roof framing before you start, and have nests dealt with first, not mid-demolition.

  • If you are attacked by several insects, NIOSH says run away and get indoors or into shade; don't jump into water.
  • Remove a stinger by wiping with gauze or scraping with a fingernail. Don't squeeze it or use tweezers. Ice reduces swelling.
  • People with known venom allergies can have anaphylaxis, which is life-threatening. NIOSH advises carrying epinephrine. If anyone has trouble breathing after a sting, call 911.

Black widows and brown recluses

NIOSH says black widows are most common in the southern and western US, and brown recluses in the Midwest and South. Both like undisturbed, sheltered places: woodpiles, eaves, under structures and in stored items.

  • Wear gloves, long sleeves and long pants.
  • Shake out gloves, boots and anything you pick up from the shed.
  • Black widows have a red marking on the underside of the abdomen. Brown recluses have a dark violin shape on the head.
  • Seek medical care after a bite. NIOSH notes brown recluse venom can destroy skin tissue.

Rather not deal with it? Send us photos of the shed and what's inside. We'll tell you what we can take, what needs a specialist first, and quote the rest.

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Chemicals stored in the shed

EPA says paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and need special care at disposal. Its basic rules:

  • Keep products in their original, labeled containers. Never move them into food or drink containers.
  • Never mix them. EPA warns incompatible products can react, ignite or explode.
  • Don't pour them down drains, storm sewers or onto the ground, and don't put them in the regular trash.
  • Take them to your local household hazardous waste (HHW) program.

Denver, for example, says these items should never go in the trash, down drains or storm sewers, or be left at the curb, and runs an at-your-door HHW collection program plus paint recycling and battery disposal for residents. Check your own city or county's program. We can't take hazardous liquids in a load, so clear them out first or tell us what is there.

Electrical: shed circuits and buried feeders

Many sheds have a light or outlet fed from the house, often by a buried cable. Treat any wiring as live until a qualified person proves otherwise.

  1. Find the breaker that feeds the shed and switch it off.
  2. Have a licensed electrician disconnect the shed and terminate or remove the circuit back to the house. Don't cut the cable to "make it safe."
  3. Ask about a permit. Rules vary. Douglas County, Colorado, for example, requires an electrical permit to alter or replace any part of an electrical system, allows homeowners to do electrical work on their own primary residence without a license, and requires a licensed, registered electrical contractor for everything else.
  4. Don't dig out a buried feeder. If the foundation or a trench is coming out, call 811 first. Colorado 811 says you are legally required to contact it at least three business days before you dig, and notes that privately owned utilities are not included. A buried cable from your house to your shed is usually private, so 811 won't mark it. Your electrician should locate and deal with it. See shed foundation removal.

Structural collapse and roof snow load

An old shed with rotten skids or a sagging roof can fail without much warning, during demolition or under snow. FEMA's Snow Load Safety Guide gives a sense of the weights involved: one foot of fresh snow ranges from about 3 pounds per square foot for light, dry snow to 21 pounds per square foot for wet, heavy snow, and one foot of ice weighs about 57 pounds per square foot.

FEMA lists warning signs of an overstressed roof that apply just as well to a shed:

  • popping, cracking and creaking noises;
  • sagging roof members or sheathing;
  • doors and windows that can no longer be opened or closed;
  • cracked or split wood members;
  • severe roof leaks.

FEMA's advice when you see these signs is to get out and have a qualified professional inspect. For a shed: stay out, keep kids and pets away, and don't climb on the roof. A leaning shed needs a plan for which way it will fall. See how to tear down a shed.

How we handle hazards on a shed job

For a quote we ask for photos of the shed, its roof and siding, the route out and the base. If the roofing looks like cement panels or old felt, we'll ask whether it has been tested before anything is broken. Wiring must be disconnected by a licensed electrician before removal day, and chemicals cleared to your HHW program. If the shed is unsafe to enter, tell us.

What this page is not

This guide summarizes published guidance from EPA, CDC, OSHA, FEMA, CPSC, Colorado CDPHE and local agencies. It is not legal, medical or engineering advice, and it doesn't decide whether a rule applies to your shed. Your state agency and local building department have the final say, so confirm local requirements before you start.

Rather not deal with it? Shed Gone takes old sheds down and hauls them away. Send a photo and we'll tell you what needs sorting first.

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See what shed removal costs, our pricing or the areas we serve.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if my shed roof is asbestos?

You can't by looking. EPA says you generally can't tell whether a material contains asbestos unless it is labeled. A trained, accredited asbestos professional should take a sample for lab analysis.

Is it safe to leave an asbestos cement shed roof alone?

EPA's guidance is that asbestos material in good condition that won't be disturbed should be left alone. The risk comes from breaking, cutting, drilling, sanding or power washing it.

Can I take down my own shed if it has asbestos?

It depends on your state and local rules. Federal law doesn't require a professional for single-family homes, but some states do. In Colorado, Regulation 8 requires an inspection by a certified inspector before demolition and notice to CDPHE. Confirm with your state agency before you start.

How do I clean mouse droppings out of a shed safely?

CDC says to air the shed out for 30 minutes, wear rubber or plastic gloves, spray droppings with a disinfectant or 1 part bleach to 9 parts water, let it soak 5 minutes, then wipe up with paper towels. Don't sweep or vacuum.

Does an old shed have lead paint?

It might. EPA says homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint and the older the home, the more likely. Assume old paint could contain lead until a test says otherwise, and avoid dry sanding or scraping.

Can I burn old shed wood?

Don't burn pressure-treated wood. EPA says not to burn CCA or other preservative-treated wood in a residential setting, because the smoke and ash can carry toxic chemicals. Painted wood from an old shed can also contain lead.

Who disconnects the electricity to a shed?

A licensed electrician, after you switch the circuit off at the panel. Some places, such as Douglas County, Colorado, let homeowners do electrical work on their own primary residence with a permit. Ask your building department what applies to you.

Sources