Garden Sheds

The great New Zealand shed is the dream of most DIY enthusiasts and in fact it’s the aim of most people with a hobby. A shed provides the space to store and organise your prized toys and precious tools with all the privacy and security to carry out repairs and preparations.
 
Choosing a shed for your home is a relatively simple process and has a lot to do with what you require the shed for and how much space you have to fit it on your property. It helps to run through what it is you will exactly be using the shed for and what you will be storing in it. If you require the shed for storing large objects like bikes or lawn mowers, it really is important to ensure you have the correct size of access to the shed – is the door big enough?
 
So lets start from the ground up …
 
The foundation for your shed will consist of one of two options. The kitset wooden floor is a great option for ease of installation and by all means it is an appropriate substrate on which to build your shed. Plan on pegging the floor to the base if you live in a windy area and in New Zealand this is pretty much everywhere.
 
The second option is to pour a 100mm recessed concrete floor for the shed to sit into. This will require more work and the investment in concrete, however it is a more robust and permanent solution. The shed frame will need to be secured to the slab with a 8mm bolts through six to sixteen clamps depending on the size of the shed. Manufacturers will provide you with the plans you require to pour the correct slab for the shed you have chosen.

So, what type of shed will you choose? Well the options are many, but there are some basic fundamentals.

Wooden sheds
Wooden garden sheds can have aesthetic appeal depending on the location and surroundings and they are often the most expensive ones to buy. You will also need to spend money on them to ensure that they remain in a good condition. If you fail to varnish, paint or apply a wood preservative to them over time, they may begin to rot and warp.

PVC sheds
Because of what we have mentioned above more and more people are buying sheds that are made from either metal or PVC. PVC and metal sheds generally need little or no maintenance to ensure that they remain looking good long after they have been installed. PVC sheds again tend to be more expensive but are resilient in highly corrosive environments.
 
Metal sheds
The material sturdy sheds are made from is called Zincalume, which is a blend of Zinc and Aluminium. This material has been tried and tested in New Zealand conditions for years and it has proven to be strong, yet light and extremely resistant to corrosion, even over and above galvanised models. The colour on the outside of the shed, apart from being available in a huge range of colours is also applied over a series of primer coats over the Zincalume providing added protection.
 
The internal framework of your shed is steel framed, which will tension the Zincalume membrane exterior once it has been assembled correctly. This provides you with a very rigid structure capable of absorbing the worst New Zealand weather can throw at it.
The size of your shed will depend on what you are using it for however you will find they range from a handy 1530mm x 785mm through to a whopping 3770mm x 3770mm and feature two standard heights of 1830mm and 1980mm plus the ability to customize the height is you require.
 

No building consent is required in New Zealand for a structure under 10 square metres.

The great thing about a garden shed is the ability to specifically customise it to your requirements; this includes the position of the door(s). Have them anywhere on the shed for easy access, double doors for larger sporting gear and bikes, or a single door if you will be using it as a tool shed/workshop. You can add shelf brackets and tool racks, plus skylite roof panels for more light or a louvre window and extra wall height.
 
Now you have the specifications of what you want and you are ready to receive your shed. There are options here too and you need to think about the logistics of how you will receive the shed and how you will assemble it. 
 
Tools required:

• Battery drill
• Drill Bits
• Screwdriver
• Riveter
• Tape measure
• Ladder
• A good mate

 
Here are the options on how you can receive your shed:
 
Boxed
 
The boxed shed is delivered in smaller pieces allowing you to handle it easily and to transport it more economically. The shed will be easy to install and will take about half to a full day in this format, it’s always good to have an extra pair of hands to help you put your shed together.
 
Panel
 
This is exactly the same shed as the boxed version, however you will reduce the amount of time it takes to install by over half. All the components will be received in four walls and the roof. You simply join the corners and slip on the roof.

 All quality sheds will come with full instructions and the full list of parts to ensure you have all you need to install your very own shed properly and accurately. For those with a general level of DIY skills this is an easy task, however if you are short of time then there are installation services available, ask you local Mitre 10 team member and they will help you find the right shed for you.