Everything you need to know about custom steel shed kits — council approval, COLORBOND® steel, engineering, pricing, delivery, and more. Can’t find your answer? Contact us directly.
A kit shed is a complete set of pre-engineered, pre-cut steel components — columns, rafters, purlins, girts, COLORBOND® roofing and wall cladding, all fasteners, brackets, and connection hardware — delivered to your site ready for assembly. Every Shedz kit includes structural engineering certification calculated for your specific site, footing design specifications, and detailed assembly drawings. You supply the labour — either DIY, owner-builder, or by hiring a local builder or shed erector.
Virtually anything. Our range covers residential sheds (garages, workshops, man caves), farm sheds, hay storage, machinery sheds, equine buildings, commercial premises, industrial warehouses, cyclone-rated structures, and shed homes (steel-framed residential dwellings). Every shed is custom-designed to your specifications — we don’t do cookie-cutter.
The materials are identical — same engineering, same COLORBOND® steel, same Lysaght products. The difference is who assembles it. With a kit, you arrange erection through a local builder or do it yourself. Supply-and-erect companies provide both materials and labour in one package. Kits are typically 20-40% cheaper because you eliminate the shed company’s installation markup and crew travel costs — especially significant on rural properties. Read our full comparison →
Yes, if you’re competent and have the right equipment. Our kits are bolt-together systems with detailed assembly drawings — it’s not stick framing. You’ll need basic tools, a level surface, and ideally a small crane or telehandler for the main frame members. Many owner-builders and farmers erect their own sheds. For larger or more complex builds, we’d recommend engaging a local builder or shed erector.
In most Australian states, any structure over 10m² requires some form of approval — either a Development Application (DA), Complying Development Certificate (CDC), or Building Permit depending on your state. Even smaller sheds may need approval depending on zoning, setbacks, and whether you’re in a bushfire or flood zone. Every Shedz kit includes full engineering certification — the documentation your council or private certifier needs. Read our state-by-state guide →
The typical pathway:
Planning Approval — DA, planning permit, or equivalent. Confirms zoning, setbacks, and any overlays (flood, bushfire, heritage). Timeframe: 4-12 weeks.
Building Permit — Technical compliance with the National Construction Code. Requires stamped engineering (included in every Shedz kit), plus footing design for your soil type.
Inspections — Footings, frame, and final inspection depending on your council.
Some states offer fast-track CDC approval for standard sheds through a private certifier — typically 10-20 business days.
Class 10a = non-habitable structures — garages, carports, farm sheds, storage sheds, workshops. You cannot legally live in a Class 10a building.
Class 1a = residential dwellings — houses, shed homes, granny flats. Must meet full residential building standards including energy efficiency (NatHERS), insulation, plumbing, electrical, fire safety.
Shedz supplies both: standard shed kits are Class 10a, while our shed home kits provide the structural shell for Class 1a residential dwellings.
You can legally live in a shed — but only if it’s been designed, approved, and certified as a Class 1a dwelling. A standard garden shed or farm shed is Class 10a (non-habitable). If you move into a shed without upgrading it to Class 1a, you’re living there illegally, your insurance is void, and council can order you to stop occupying it. Our shed home kits are designed from day one as Class 1a structural shells.
Yes, significantly. QLD uses Development Applications, NSW offers both DA and CDC pathways, VIC requires Building Permits plus potentially Planning Permits, SA has a combined Development Approval process, and WA/TAS/ACT each have their own systems. We’ve navigated approvals in every state. Check your state: QLD · NSW · VIC · SA · WA · TAS · ACT
It depends on your specific requirements — size, wind region, soil conditions, door configurations, and accessories. A kit shed on a flat block in a sheltered valley costs less than the same design on an exposed coastal ridge in a cyclonic wind zone. That’s why we quote based on your specific site address — because the site is part of the product. Contact us with your requirements for an accurate custom quote.
Because every shed is custom-engineered to your site. Two identical-looking 12m × 9m sheds can have different prices if one is in wind region A (southern Victoria) and the other is in wind region C (coastal North Queensland). Putting a single price on the website would be misleading — we’d rather give you an accurate quote for your actual property than a ballpark that’s wrong.
Steel is a commodity and prices fluctuate with global markets. That’s why our quotes are valid for 30 days. Lock in within that window and we hold the price. If you wait 6 months, your quote may change. It’s the same across the industry — anyone telling you otherwise isn’t being straight.
Typically yes — 20-40% cheaper. The kit materials are identical; you’re saving the shed company’s installation margin, crew wages, and travel costs. The savings are even greater on rural and remote properties where supply-and-erect companies charge significant travel premiums. A competent local builder can erect a kit shed to the same standard — or better — than a high-volume shed company’s crew. Full cost comparison →
Yes. Our free 3D Shed Designer lets you configure your shed — choose width, depth, height, roof style, door positions, window placements, and COLORBOND® colours — then visualise it in 3D before submitting for a quote. You can also come to us with your own sketch or specifications and we’ll design it from scratch.
22 COLORBOND® colours — from light neutrals (Surfmist, Shale Grey, Dune) to bold options (Monument, Deep Ocean, Manor Red). Most customers choose two colours — one for roofing and one for walling. All colours come with BlueScope’s manufacturer warranty of up to 45 years. See our complete colour guide →
Absolutely. Open bays and enclosed bays on the same structure. Roller doors on one end, sliding doors on the other. A lean-to off the side. Mezzanine floors. Different eave heights. Wall sheeting on three sides with an open front. If it can be engineered, we can build it. Every Shedz shed is custom — we don’t force you into pre-designed templates.
Gable (standard peaked), skillion (single slope), mono-pitch, and dutch gable. Roof pitch is fully customisable to match existing structures or specific drainage requirements. Your engineer will recommend the optimal pitch for your wind region and use case.
Because your shed is engineered to your exact site coordinates. Wind speed, terrain category, shielding from surrounding buildings and vegetation, soil classification, and bushfire attack level all vary by location — sometimes within the same street. A shed that’s adequate in Toowoomba might fail in Townsville. We don’t use generic engineering — your shed is designed for exactly where it’s going to stand.
Australia is divided into wind regions (A, B, C, D) that determine minimum engineering standards. Region A covers most of southern Australia. Region C covers cyclone-prone northern areas. The higher the region, the stronger (and more expensive) the engineering needs to be. Your wind region is determined by your exact site coordinates, terrain, and topography. Learn more about cyclone ratings →
For most sheds, your engineer will specify footing designs based on assumed soil classifications typical for your area. For larger or more complex structures (particularly commercial and industrial buildings), a site-specific soil test may be required. Your council may also require one depending on local conditions.
Yes — every Shedz kit is individually engineered by a registered structural engineer for your specific site. We don’t use generic “one-size-fits-all” calculations. Your engineering package includes wind load calculations, structural member sizing, connection details, bracing requirements, and footing specifications — all calculated for your exact location.
Every Shedz kit includes:
• All structural steel — columns, rafters, purlins, girts, bracing
• COLORBOND® roofing and wall cladding (your choice of 22 colours)
• All fasteners, brackets, and connection hardware
• Gutters and downpipes
• Doors (roller doors, PA doors as specified)
• Engineering certification for your specific site
• Assembly drawings and material schedule
• Footing design specifications
• Delivery to your site
The kit covers the complete steel structure. You’ll need to arrange separately:
• Concrete slab/footings — pour to our engineering specifications
• Erection labour — your builder, shed erector, or DIY
• Crane hire — for main frame assembly (your erector usually arranges this)
• Electrical and plumbing — if required for your application
• Internal fitout — insulation, linings, partitions (relevant for shed homes)
Typical delivery timeframes are 3-6 weeks from order confirmation, depending on shed size, specifications, and current manufacturing schedules. Larger or more complex builds may take longer. Remote locations may require additional transport time.
Yes. We deliver custom shed kits to all states and territories — QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, TAS, and ACT, including regional and remote areas. Delivery cost is calculated based on your location and included in your quote.
Kits are delivered on flatbed trucks. All components are labelled and bundled for efficient unloading and assembly. You’ll need a reasonably flat, accessible area for the truck to unload — typically a forklift or crane is used. We coordinate delivery timing with you to ensure someone is on site to receive the kit.
A shed home (also called a shouse, shome, or barndominium) is a full-sized residential dwelling built within a steel portal frame structure. It’s not a shed with a bed in it — it’s a fully compliant Class 1a house that uses shed construction methods because they’re faster, stronger, and more cost-effective than traditional brick-and-timber. Shedz supplies the engineered steel shell; your builder completes the internal fitout to residential standards.
A shed home is a full-sized primary dwelling on rural or semi-rural land — no size restrictions, typically 150m²+ with multiple bedrooms and living areas. A granny flat is a small secondary dwelling (usually capped at 60m²) on an existing suburban block. Completely different products for different situations. Read our full comparison →
Technically yes, but practically it’s often a nightmare. Converting a Class 10a shed to Class 1a means upgrading engineering, adding insulation, waterproofing, compliant windows and doors, energy compliance, smoke alarms, and getting the lot re-certified. Many older sheds weren’t designed to carry the loads of internal linings, and the slab often doesn’t have a moisture barrier. In most cases, you’ll spend more converting than starting fresh with a purpose-built Class 1a kit.
Yes. If your property has a Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) rating, your shed must be engineered accordingly. BAL ratings range from BAL-LOW to BAL-FZ (Flame Zone) and affect materials, construction methods, and sometimes design. We factor your BAL rating into every engineering package — it’s part of the site-specific calculation.
If your property is in a designated cyclone wind region — coastal QLD north of Bundaberg, northern WA, NT — then yes, cyclone-rated construction is mandatory. This isn’t optional; it’s a regulatory requirement that affects every component of your shed. Every Shedz kit is engineered to your specific wind region. Learn more →
Yes, typically 15-30% more than a standard wind-region shed of the same size. The additional cost comes from heavier steel sections, more fasteners, larger footings, and more complex engineering. This is non-negotiable — it’s there to protect your property, your livestock, and your equipment. Read our cyclone guide →
100% Australian-made BlueScope steel. Roofing and wall cladding is genuine COLORBOND® steel — not imported alternatives or painted steel. Structural members use high-strength steel sections engineered for your specific wind region. COLORBOND® is manufactured by BlueScope at Port Kembla, NSW.
COLORBOND® steel carries a manufacturer warranty of up to 45 years from BlueScope. The exact warranty period depends on the product, colour, and your property’s distance from the coast. Coastal properties (within 1km of surf) have different warranty terms. Full warranty documentation is provided with every kit.
COLORBOND® is low-maintenance, not no-maintenance. Wash every 6 months in coastal areas, annually elsewhere — fresh water and a soft brush. Check fasteners annually for loosening. Keep gutters clear. Don’t stack materials against the cladding (traps moisture). Touch up scratches with matching paint. Follow the maintenance schedule and your warranty stays valid. Full maintenance guide →
The golden rule: go bigger than you think. Whatever size you’re considering, add at least one bay wider and one bay deeper. Your needs will grow. A double garage needs minimum 6m × 6m. Farm machinery starts at 15m × 12m with 4.5m+ eave height. Hay storage depends on bale count and stacking height. Read our complete sizing guide →
Clearspan means no internal columns — the entire width of the shed is open, unobstructed space. This is essential for machinery storage, hay sheds, and any building where you need to move large equipment or vehicles inside. We engineer clearspans from 12m to 30m+ depending on your requirements.
Standard eave heights range from 2.7m (small residential) to 8m+ (industrial warehousing). 3m suits basic garages. 4.2m is standard for farm machinery. 5-6m for hay storage and commercial. 6m+ for industrial, warehousing, and crane clearance. Height affects engineering — taller buildings have greater wind exposure.
Three things: 38 years of building experience behind every design (our founder is a registered Builder, not a salesman), site-specific engineering (not generic calculations), and genuine BlueScope COLORBOND® steel with up to 45 year warranty. We’re a kit specialist — we don’t try to be everything to everyone. We design and engineer premium shed kits, and you build them with your trusted local builder.
We don’t maintain display centres — that overhead goes into your kit price instead. But we can connect you with past customers in your area who are happy to show their builds. The best display shed is one that’s been standing on a real property, through real weather, for real years.
All of Australia — every state and territory. QLD, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, TAS, ACT, and NT. Including regional, rural, and remote areas. Check your state for specific information: QLD · NSW · VIC · SA · WA · TAS · ACT
A livable shed is a steel-framed building designed as a residential dwelling — not just a storage shed with a bed in it. It uses the same portal frame construction as agricultural and industrial sheds, but is engineered and certified for habitation. Livable sheds are increasingly popular across Australia as an affordable alternative to traditional housing, especially on rural and semi-rural properties. Shedz supplies the structural kit — frame, cladding, and engineering — and you or your builder handles the internal fit-out to create your livable shed home.
Yes — livable sheds are one of the most common owner builder projects in Australia. A steel shed kit arrives pre-cut and pre-drilled, making the frame erection straightforward for a qualified shed builder or carpenter. You manage the project under your owner builder permit, engage subcontractors for electrical, plumbing, and fit-out, and save significantly on builder margins. See our Owner Builder page for state-by-state permit details.
They’re essentially the same thing — a livable shed and a shed home both refer to a steel-framed building designed for residential use. “Livable shed” is the common term people search for. “Shed home” is the industry term for a Class 1a residential dwelling using portal frame construction. Shedz supplies the structural kit for both — same engineering, same quality, same COLORBOND® steel. If you need the full documentation package (architectural plans, energy compliance, council submission docs), our sister brand Shed Homes delivers the complete build-ready package.
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