One question I’m often asked is whether an old heating oil tank can be cut up into smaller sections for removal. This question usually comes up because of access issues. An extension may have been built since the tank was installed, or gates, fencing, trees or other obstacles can make it difficult to remove the tank in one piece.

I regularly cut up both plastic and steel oil tanks as part of the removal process. Before an old oil tank is cut up, however, any remaining heating oil and sludge needs to be removed.

In this case study, I’ll look at a recent job involving the removal of a large steel heating oil tank. The tank was elevated approximately four feet above ground level on steel supports and, due to its size, removing it in one piece wasn’t a practical option.

Need an old oil tank removed?
I remove plastic and steel heating oil tanks throughout Northern Ireland, including tanks that need to be cut up because of their size or restricted access. Contact Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email: andrew@removerr.co.uk.

Cutting Up an Old Oil Tank: (case study)

The customer had purchased the property around six months earlier, and in the corner of the garage was a large decommissioned steel heating oil tank with a capacity of approximately 2,000–2,500 litres.

The tank was in an unusual position. It was elevated approximately four feet above the floor on steel H-beams and was partially enclosed by walls on three sides. There was a wall behind the tank, another to the left and a smaller wall on the right, which made removing such a large tank in one piece impractical.

There was also approximately 200 litres of heating oil remaining in the tank. Understandably, the homeowner was concerned about leaving this amount of oil in a redundant tank and the potential consequences if the tank were ever to develop a leak. He contacted me to have the remaining heating oil removed and the old tank professionally dismantled and taken away.

How Do You Safely Cut Up an Old Oil Tank?

Before I could begin dismantling the tank, the first priority was dealing with the approximately 200 litres of heating oil that remained inside.

I initially cut a small access opening, or porthole, into the side of the tank. This served two purposes: it opened the tank for ventilation and also gave me access to the inside. Larger steel heating oil tanks will often have internal support rods or braces running across them, so access to the inside of the tank is necessary when it is being dismantled into separate sections.

The porthole also allowed me to remove the majority of the heating oil before dismantling the tank any further. At this stage I was able to drain approximately 90% of the remaining oil, greatly reducing the amount of liquid left inside the tank and the risk of a spill during the removal.

Draining the heating oil from the tank

Using a Cold-Cutting Method on a Steel Oil Tank

When cutting up an old steel oil tank, I use a cold-cutting method rather than equipment that produces a flame or significant heat and sparks. For this job I used a reciprocating saw fitted with a metal-cutting blade.

Cutting steel in this way still produces small metal fragments and swarf, so suitable PPE equipment is important. I wear eye protection, gloves and clothing that keeps my arms and skin covered while carrying out this type of work.

Once most of the heating oil had been removed, I cut away the front section of the tank. This provided better access to the remaining oil and residue at the bottom.

Because of the position of this particular tank, access to the sides and rear was extremely restricted. I therefore removed the upper section of the tank before working from within the opened tank to dismantle the inaccessible side and rear sections. The internal support rods also had to be dealt with as the tank was dismantled, otherwise the individual steel sections could not be separated and removed.

Cutting the tank into manageable sections

What Happens to the Oil Left in the Bottom of the Tank?

After the larger sections had been removed, I could properly access the bottom of the tank and deal with the remaining heating oil and residue. Oil-absorbent spill pads were used to collect the residual oil and leave the base of the tank clean.

I also placed protective sheeting over the cleaned area while working inside the opened tank. Apart from keeping my footwear clean, this helped prevent residual contamination from being transferred outside the immediate working area.

Once the bottom of the tank was free from heating oil, I was able to divide the remaining base into manageable sections and remove them individually from the steel supports.

Tank base cleaned, cut and removed

Can You Cut Up a Plastic Oil Tank?

Yes, plastic heating oil tanks can also be cut into smaller sections for removal, and I regularly do this where a tank is too large to remove intact or where access to the property is restricted.

The basic principle is similar to removing a steel oil tank. Before cutting the tank, any remaining heating oil and sludge needs to be removed. Once the tank has been emptied, it can then be cut into manageable sections for removal.

In my experience, cutting up a plastic oil tank is generally a simpler process than dismantling a steel tank. There is no steel swarf to contend with and the same considerations around heat and sparks associated with cutting metal do not apply. I normally use a reciprocating saw for plastic tanks as well, although fitted with a blade suitable for cutting plastic rather than the metal-cutting blade used on a steel tank.

Restricted access is probably the most common reason I cut up plastic oil tanks. Over the years, I’ve removed hundreds of oil tanks from properties where extensions, new fencing, gates, mature trees or other changes to the property have made it difficult or impractical to remove the tank in one piece.

In these situations, cutting the tank into smaller, manageable sections is often the simplest way to remove it. This is particularly useful where access is limited through a side passage, gateway or other narrow area of the property.

Oil Tank Removal Across Northern Ireland

Removerr provides oil tank removal and disposal services across Northern Ireland. This service covers plastic oil tanks, metal oil tanks, single skin and bunded oil tanks. Where access is restricted or a tank is too large to remove in one piece, it can also be cut into smaller sections as part of the removal.

As part of the service, a pre-notification is submitted to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) three working days before the tank is removed. The quoted price includes the removal and disposal of up to two drums (40 litres) of waste heating oil, which is normally more than enough to deal with any residual oil or sludge remaining in the bottom of the tank.

Once the tank has been removed and the waste has been processed, customers receive a copy of the relevant paperwork confirming the disposal.

If you have an old oil tank that needs removed, call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@remover.co.uk for a quote.

Yes, asbestos cement can be dangerous because it contains asbestos. However, it is generally considered a lower-risk asbestos-containing material because the asbestos fibres are tightly bound within the cement. The risk of asbestos exposure increases significantly when the material is damaged, broken, drilled, cut or otherwise disturbed.

Call Removerr on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk for a quotation.

What is asbestos cement?

Asbestos cement is a building material that was widely used throughout the UK before asbestos products were banned. It was made by mixing asbestos fibres with cement and water to produce a strong, durable material that could be formed into products such as corrugated roofing sheets, cement boards, soffit and fascia boards, guttering, downpipes, soil pipes and flue pipes.

Typically, asbestos cement contains around 10–15% asbestos, with chrysotile, commonly known as white asbestos, being the type most often found. The asbestos fibres are bound within the hardened cement, which makes them less easily released than fibres in some other asbestos-containing materials.

This is why asbestos cement is generally regarded as a lower-risk form of asbestos, although it is certainly not risk-free. The risk of exposure increases when asbestos cement is damaged, broken or otherwise disturbed.

Asbestos cement products containing asbestos are no longer manufactured in the UK, with modern fibre-cement products now using alternative fibres.

When Does Asbestos Cement Become Dangerous?

Asbestos cement becomes more dangerous when it is damaged or disturbed, allowing asbestos fibres that were previously bound within the cement to be released. This can happen when asbestos cement is broken, drilled, cut, sanded or smashed into smaller pieces, particularly if power tools are used.

The problem is that asbestos fibres are extremely small and cannot normally be seen with the naked eye. If you accidentally break an asbestos cement sheet, for example, you cannot simply look around and determine whether asbestos fibres have been released into the air. What may appear to be ordinary dust can contain microscopic asbestos fibres that can be breathed into the lungs.

microscopic asbestos fibres

This is one of the reasons it is important to identify asbestos-containing materials before carrying out building, renovation or demolition work. If asbestos cement is in good condition, keeping it intact and avoiding unnecessary disturbance significantly reduces the likelihood of fibres being released.

Related guide: Are Asbestos Fibres Visible to the Human Eye?

Can You Tell Asbestos Cement by Looking at It?

For the average homeowner, identifying asbestos cement just by looking at it can be difficult. Many asbestos cement products have a distinctive appearance, but there are also modern fibre-cement products that can look very similar.

From experience, I receive plenty of enquiries from homeowners who are unsure whether a soil pipe, guttering, flue pipe, garage roof or corrugated boiler house roof contains asbestos. In many cases, the appearance of the material, together with information such as the age of the property or when the building was constructed, can give a good indication of whether it is likely to be asbestos cement.

However, appearance alone cannot provide a definite identification. If you are unsure about a material, particularly before cutting, drilling, breaking or removing it, the safest approach is to treat it as potentially containing asbestos until it has been properly identified.

Examples of soil pipes, corrugated sheets & boiler flue

Is Asbestos Cement Safe if Left Undisturbed?

In most cases, asbestos cement that is in good condition and left undisturbed presents a low risk. For example, an asbestos cement garage roof that remains intact, with no significant cracks or damage, does not necessarily need to be removed simply because it contains asbestos. Asbestos cement is a hard-wearing material and the fibres remain tightly bound within the cement when it is in good condition.

In my experience, asbestos cement is often removed because of changes being made to a property rather than because the material has suddenly become dangerous. A garage or outbuilding may be demolished, an old roof replaced, or asbestos may be identified during renovation work. Some homeowners also simply prefer to have known asbestos-containing materials removed from their property.

The same applies to other asbestos cement products. An old asbestos soil pipe may have remained undisturbed for decades but need replacing during a bathroom renovation when new waste pipes need to be installed. Asbestos guttering is often removed when old brackets and fittings begin to fail, while asbestos cement flue pipes commonly become redundant when an old heating system is replaced.

The important point is that the presence of asbestos cement does not automatically mean it needs to be removed. If it is in good condition and can remain undisturbed, leaving it in place may be perfectly appropriate. Removal often becomes necessary when the material deteriorates or when renovation, demolition or other work means it can no longer be left alone.

Does Asbestos Cement Deteriorate With Age?

Asbestos cement can deteriorate with age, although the age of the material alone doesn’t necessarily tell you what condition it will be in. I have removed asbestos cement products that have been in place for 50 or 60 years and are still remarkably solid, while others of a similar age have shown much more obvious signs of deterioration.

The environment in which the asbestos cement has been installed can make a significant difference. External products such as corrugated roofing sheets, guttering and downpipes are continually exposed to rain, frost, wind and changes in temperature. Over many years, this weathering can gradually affect the surface of the cement and, in some circumstances, cause it to become more brittle.

Asbestos cement that has been protected from the elements can remain in surprisingly good condition for decades. This is why condition is generally more important than age when assessing an asbestos cement product. Cracking, broken edges, significant surface deterioration or material that has become noticeably brittle are more useful indicators that its condition is beginning to change.

How Should Asbestos Cement Waste Be Disposed Of?

Although asbestos cement is considered a lower-risk asbestos-containing material, it still contains asbestos and must be handled and disposed of correctly. The fact that the fibres are bound within the cement does not mean that the material is risk-free, particularly once it has been removed, damaged or broken.

From experience, I regularly receive calls from homeowners and contractors after asbestos cement has already been removed and is sitting on the property awaiting disposal. This could be an old soil pipe, guttering and downpipes, asbestos cement roof slates or corrugated roofing sheets from a garage, shed or boiler house.

One of the difficulties is that asbestos cement cannot simply be taken to your local recycling centre or disposed of with normal household or construction waste. There are only a limited number of authorised waste facilities in Northern Ireland that accept asbestos waste.

Removerr provides asbestos cement removal and collection services throughout Northern Ireland, including corrugated roofing sheets, soil pipes, guttering and downpipes, flue pipes and other asbestos cement waste.

Before any asbestos is removed from the property, we submit the required waste documentation to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The asbestos is appropriately double-bagged or double-wrapped before being transported for disposal, and once it has been accepted and signed off at the disposal facility, both homeowners and contractors receive a copy of the completed paperwork for their records.

For asbestos cement removal and collection in Northern Ireland, contact Removerr for a quotation. Call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.

No. In most cases, you don’t need to empty your oil tank before removal. However, it’s important to let your oil tank removal company know approximately how much heating oil remains in the tank, as this may affect how the tank is removed and whether the remaining oil can be transferred or requires disposal.
Need an oil tank removed? anywhere in Northern Ireland, call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.

How Do I Know How Much Oil Is Left in My Tank?

If you’re unsure how much heating oil is left in the tank, the easiest method is to dip the tank using a clean stick. Once you’ve removed the stick, take a photograph showing the wet section together with a photograph of the oil tank itself. Sending both images to the oil tank removal company will allow them to estimate how much heating oil remains in the tank and recommend the best course of action.

What Happens to the Heating Oil?

The amount of heating oil remaining in your tank will usually determine what happens next. In some cases, the oil can simply be removed as part of the oil tank removal process, while in others it may be more practical to transfer the oil into another suitable tank. The condition and age of the heating oil will also influence whether it can be reused or whether it needs to be disposed of as waste.

Small Amounts of Heating Oil

If only a relatively small amount of heating oil remains in the tank, for example between 10 and 200 litres, this can usually be removed by the company carrying out the oil tank removal. Once the remaining oil has been removed, the tank can then be removed and disposed of.

Larger Quantities of Heating Oil

Where a larger quantity of heating oil remains in the tank, for example 200 litres or more, the most economical option is often to arrange a heating oil transfer rather than dispose of the oil.

If the heating oil is still in good condition, it can usually be pumped into another suitable oil tank. This may be a newly installed oil tank at the same property or, in some cases, a tank belonging to a neighbour, family member or friend who is happy to take the oil. Transferring the oil allows it to be reused and can often save the cost of disposing of a large quantity of heating oil as waste.

Waste heating oil

When Should Heating Oil Not Be Transferred?

If the heating oil has been sitting in a tank for more than two years, or has become contaminated with water, sludge or dirt, it may no longer be suitable for reuse. In these situations, it is generally treated as waste heating oil and removed for disposal rather than being transferred into another tank.

A common example is when someone purchases a property that has an old oil tank remaining in the garden, but the heating system has since been converted to gas or another fuel. In many cases, the new owner has no way of knowing how long the heating oil has been sitting in the tank or whether it has become contaminated. In this situation, I would generally recommend treating the heating oil as waste rather than transferring it into another oil tank.

Need an Oil Tank Removed?

Removerr provides professional oil tank removal throughout Northern Ireland, including the removal of plastic oil tanks, metal oil tanks, single-skin tanks and bunded oil tanks. We can also arrange the transfer of reusable heating oil or the removal and disposal of waste heating oil, depending on the condition and quantity remaining in the tank.

As oil tanks containing residual heating oil are classed as hazardous waste, the required paperwork is submitted to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) before the tank is removed. Once the oil tank has been collected and the waste has been processed, you’ll receive a copy of the completed hazardous waste paperwork for your records.

Asbestos cement sheets are one of the most common types of asbestos waste that we collect and dispose of throughout Northern Ireland. Although asbestos cement is considered a lower-risk asbestos-containing material, it still needs to be carefully handled and disposed of at a licensed hazardous waste facility.

In a recent case study, I was asked to collect and dispose of asbestos cement waste from a large garden centre in Northern Ireland. The asbestos waste consisted of two pallets: one containing a number of intact asbestos cement sheets, and the other containing a one-ton builder’s bag filled with broken sections of asbestos cement board, together with an asbestos cement flue pipe.

The purpose of the job was to safely remove and dispose of the asbestos waste, freeing up valuable storage space within the business’s external storage area.

If you have asbestos cement sheets, asbestos cement boards or an asbestos cement flue pipe that require safe collection and disposal anywhere in Northern Ireland. Please get in touch for a free, no-obligation quotation,

Call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.

If you’re wondering how much asbestos removal typically costs, you may also find our guide to the Cost of Getting Rid of Asbestos in Northern Ireland helpful.

Disposal of Asbestos Cement Sheets in Northern Ireland

In their existing condition, neither pallet was suitable for transportation. The intact asbestos cement sheets first needed to be wrapped in heavy-duty 1000-gauge polythene, while the broken asbestos cement boards had to be transferred from the damaged builder’s bag into a certified asbestos waste bag fitted with an approved 50-micron polyethylene (PE) liner.

Asbestos HSE Compliant, 50 Micron Liner bag

Once the intact asbestos cement sheets had been wrapped and sealed, and the broken asbestos cement had been transferred into the approved lined asbestos bag, all of the asbestos waste was securely tied, taped before being loaded into the van for removal and disposal at a licensed hazardous waste facility.

Asbestos Collection and Disposal Throughout Northern Ireland

Whether you’re a homeowner, or commercial business, Removerr provides asbestos collection and disposal across Northern Ireland.

We regularly collect and dispose of asbestos cement sheets, corrugated asbestos roofing sheets, asbestos cement boards, asbestos soil pipes, asbestos flue pipes, asbestos guttering, asbestos downpipes and asbestos roof slates. All asbestos waste is transported to a licensed hazardous waste disposal facility in accordance with HSE regulations.

Before any asbestos waste can be removed from your property or business, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) must be notified in advance. As the licensed waste carrier, Remover will submit the required hazardous waste pre-notification to the NIEA on your behalf before any asbestos is collected.

Once the asbestos has been accepted and processed at the licensed disposal facility, you’ll receive a copy of the completed hazardous waste paperwork for your records.

If you require an asbestos collection anywhere in Northern Ireland, or would like a free, no-obligation quotation, please get in touch.

Recently, we were asked to remove a 10ft x 6ft garden shed and its contents from a property in Newtownabbey. The customer was not replacing the shed and wanted the area cleared to create more usable space at the side of the house and garden.

Need a shed removed in Newtownabbey or the surrounding area? Call Andrew on 07434 691 809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk for a free quotation.

Shed Removal in Newtownabbey

The existing timber shed had been used for general garden storage and contained a mixture of household items, garden equipment and other unwanted materials.

The customer had decided that a full-sized garden shed was no longer necessary and planned to replace it with a much smaller outdoor storage unit, providing enough space for a couple of bicycles and a lawnmower while freeing up the remainder of the area.

The job involved clearing and sorting the contents of the shed, dismantling the timber structure and removing all of the resulting waste from the property.

Recycling Shed Contents

Access to the property was excellent, allowing us to reverse the van into the driveway directly in front of the shed. Before dismantling could begin, the shed was completely cleared.

The contents were sorted as they were removed, separating recyclable metals and plastics from general household waste. Any paints or potentially hazardous materials were also kept separate.

Sorting materials during the clearance rather than simply loading everything together helps maximise recycling and ensures that different waste streams can be handled correctly.

Shed content to be cleared & recycled

Dismantling the Garden Shed

Once the shed had been completely cleared, dismantling could begin.

The first stage was to remove the shed door before using a reciprocating saw to cut the larger timber panels into smaller, more manageable sections.

For example, a 10ft side panel would normally be divided into approximately three sections. This makes the timber considerably easier and safer to handle.

Several sections were then removed from one side and the front of the shed.

As these sections were removed, the remaining structure gradually became less stable. Because there was adequate clear space beside the shed, the remaining structure could then be carefully pulled over in a controlled direction.

By cutting the larger panels beforehand, much of the shed naturally separated into smaller sections as the structure came down.

The remaining timber panels were then separated and loaded into the van. A few additional cuts were required to divide the roof and floor into manageable sections before the final materials could be removed.

Shed demolition

Shed Removal Service vs Hiring a Skip

Once the shed, its contents and all dismantled materials had been removed, the area was left clear and ready for the customer’s smaller outdoor storage unit. Hiring a skip would still have required the customer to empty and dismantle the shed, cut the larger panels into manageable sections and load all the waste themselves.

By using our shed removal service, the entire process was taken care of, from clearing and dismantling the shed to loading and responsible disposal of the waste. The customer was very pleased with the result and now had considerably more usable space at the side of the property.

Shed Removal & Disposal in Newtownabbey

Removerr provides shed removal services throughout Newtownabbey and the surrounding areas. We can dismantle and remove wooden and metal sheds of various sizes, including clearing and disposing of any unwanted contents.

We also remove greenhouses, pergolas, timber decking, tree houses, climbing frames and other unwanted garden structures, along with general waste and hazardous materials that may be discovered during the clearance.

For a free quotation, call 07434 691809 or email andrew@removerr.co.uk.