Your Job – Garage & Outbuilding Clearance

This page explains what goes into a garage or outbuilding clearance once you have been quoted. For a general description of the service, see our Garage & Outbuilding Clearance page.

Several types of waste in one space

A garage or shed often holds several kinds of waste in the same space. Alongside ordinary items such as tools and shelving, we commonly find:

• Out-of-date plaster
• Compost
• Bags of rubble
• Floor and wall tiles
• Ceiling tiles
• Roofing materials
• Old paint
• Weedkiller
• Fluorescent tubes
• Tyres

Why a small garage can affect the quote

A bag of broken tiles can weigh far more than a box of household goods, and it takes more effort to carry. Some items cost more to dispose of, and others need to be handled separately rather than going in with the general load. That is why a garage that looks small can cost more than you would expect, and why the contents matter more than the floor area. For more on what is expensive to dispose of, see why disposal costs vary.

What we look out for

• Unlabelled containers. Tins, tubs and bottles with no label, where we cannot tell what is inside.
• Leaks. Containers that have leaked or are corroded, and anything standing in a spill.
• Old materials. Some older building materials need checking before they are disturbed. See hazardous household waste.
• Broken glass. Often hidden in boxes, behind windows or under other items.
• Unstable shelving. Racking and shelves that may move or fall when items are taken off them.
• Items behind the front row. What you can see from the door is not always what is at the back.

If we find something that needs to be checked, or is not safe to handle, we stop and tell you before going on. It may change the quote.

Access and carrying

Heavy loads make the route matter even more. We look at:

• How far we have to carry heavy loads to the van
• Whether the van can get near the door
• Narrow side passages
• Soft ground, such as grass or earth, which makes carrying harder
• Steps, including steps down into a garage or shed

See Your Job – House Clearance for how parking and carry distance change the time.

What to point out at the survey

• Paints, chemicals and weedkiller, including anything unlabelled
• Old building materials, such as plaster, rubble, tiles and roofing
• Anything tucked away in cupboards, on high shelves or at the back
• Anything you want to keep
• Anything you know is damaged, leaking or unsafe
• Any outbuildings, sheds or lean-tos that are part of the job

Photographs of the inside of the garage or shed, and the way in, help us give a more accurate quote. If the space is very full, see our Hoarding Clearance page.

Ready to go ahead?

Arrange a free survey or call us on 0151 733 3355. You can also go back to Your Job to see the other services.