A shed will conjure a quite different picture in people’s minds, and the prices for sheds are so different. In this blog we will look at sheds and look at why the price of a shed of equivalent size, can be so different.

Garden Sheds

I’d guess for most people; their idea of a shed is an enclosed covered structure. That normally sits somewhere in a garden. Inside the shed, you are likely to find storage for garden equipment like lawn mowers, spades, and rakes. It may be lined and is being used as a retreat as a games room and bar! We’ve seen garden sheds used as entertainment areas, gyms, or even as a home office.

Large Commercial or Rural Sheds

It has been estimated that there are over one billion farm and commercial sheds in Australia. In a harsh climate, it is unthinkable that a farm could function without a number of large sheds for animal shelter, machinery cover, product storage or covered working space. Other businesses from small manufacturing plants to giant storage facilities could not function without their massive sheds or warehouses.

Shed Price differences for Garden Sheds

Generally, a garden shed can go from a small, narrow lean-to to a shed large enough to store a car and allow space for a small workshop. A small garden shed can be purchased for as little as $380, and this could rise to around $12,000 for a large garage and workshop.

The obvious price difference in the cost of a garden shed is in the size and the materials used for construction. A wooden shed will cost a lot more than the most popular steel shed kits and the larger the shed the more you will pay for it.

Basically, most garden sheds in Australia are made of the cheapest imported rolled steel. It may look like an Australian-made Colorbond, but it will not be as thick, strong, or long-lasting. In almost all of Australia, it is not necessary to have council approval to build a shed under 10 square metres so it would be true to say that manufacturers do not pay much attention to the strength and quality of the build and design. Very often a garden shed will have no or very few support beams or purlins, relying on the minimal strength of the thin sheeting to hold it together.

Cost of a Garden Shed drives the quality and safety.

Taking the above on board, you will find that garden sheds in Australia use as little steel as possible with as little structural support as possible. They will also be made of the cheapest imported steel from Asia. Cheap imported steel is vastly different from Australian High Tensile steel. It is mild steel which is, in some cases, only around 20% of the strength of its Australian steel equivalent.

In summary for garden shed pricing, a typical garden shed kit is light, inferior quality and not very strong enough to survive the wind conditions that many parts of Australia receive. They are built to be competitive in price and you will find that regardless of manufacturer, a comparable-size shed kit will always be around the same price.

Commercial Shed, Farm Shed and Warehouse Shed Prices - Importance of understanding price differences.

A shed over 10 square metres in size, in almost all locations, requires approval before installation. This approval will mean that the design of the shed will be inspected, and the shed must, by law, be built to the relevant Australian Standard Codes: AS/NZS 1170.0, AS/NZS 1170.1, AS/NZS 1170.2,

AS/NZS 1170.3, AS 1170.4, AS 4100, AS/NZS 4600.

These strict codes ensure the safety of the public and ensure that a shed is fit for purpose.

Factors Affecting Shed Prices - Prices for Sheds are so different.

Everything affecting the price of your large shed is based on the shed materials used, the quality and the quantity. This may sound basic, but it is very poorly understood by customers.

You might assume that the quality and quantity of materials being used for your large shed is the same between one manufacturer and another. This is a huge mistaken assumption! Even so, you will expect your new shed to come with certification. This should state that it is suitable for installation on your specific property. You must understand that there is a huge amount of engineering calculations to be made. This is how we satisfy the 7 basic Australian Standards mentioned above. These calculations are based on many points. These include the type of steel, the strength of the steel, the quantity of steel being used and the distances, (spans), that the steel is to cover.

 Impact of different materials on shed pricing

 There is a stark difference in price between high-quality Australian high-tensile steel and cheap imported soft steel. There is also an enormous difference in the strength of similar gauge mild steel and high tensile steel. If a design is approved by an engineer for using high tensile steel and it is ‘replaced’ by mild steel., then that structure is not up to the necessary Australian Standards. It would appear that this is a common practice with large shed manufacturers. Obviously, the more steel used in the construction of your shed, the more expensive it will be. If you are building a large shed that requires 20 purlins to support the roof, would you notice if the plans supplied just showed 18 purlins with a slightly larger spacing?

Cheap Shed prices and how it is done - Prices for Sheds are so different.

There is a recent photo at the top of the page of a shed being blown apart in the recent cyclone around Townsville. The photo is taken from a video shown on channel 10 news. If a shed is constructed to the proper Australian Standards for the location it is built on, then a shed being blown apart in a medium-strength cyclone should be an impossibility! Australian Standards are there to ensure that a building can survive the maximum winds in the area it is built in.

Many Australian shed manufacturers do not seem to care about anything apart from offering the lowest-priced shed. The fact that it is dangerous and unsuitable for purpose does not matter. The goal is to sell many, sell cheap and make huge profits. The steel you are buying is not strong enough for the job it is being given and there is not enough of it to ensure that it is a safe building fit for purpose. The certification you are supplied with, has probably been done by an in-house engineer. Often it is not worth the paper it is written on. You will certainly find a cheap shed, but you must be aware of the poor and dangerous quality you are purchasing.

How to Find Out if My Cheap Shed is up to Standard?

Up until recently, it was almost impossible for a customer to analyse a quote unless they had a degree in engineering. It is now quite simple for the average person to check their quotes. Just go to the free independent website, The Shed Health Test. Sit down with your quotes and fill in a few basic questions. The site will then do all the necessary calculations. A simple and effective way to ensure you are not being conned into buying a shed that is not fit for purpose.

Who sells a Shed that is designed to all Australian Standards?

You may be surprised to find that most quotes you receive do not pass The Shed Health Test. It has been estimated that there are over 500,000 sheds in Australia that are basically a disaster waiting to happen. The large Australian shed manufacturers seem to have entered into a race to find the cheapest sheds possible. This race has resulted in all of them reaching the bottom of the swamp.

There are only a few smaller businesses offering sheds that meet all Australian Standards. These sheds will last for generations. Have a look at Professional Choice Sheds, get a free quote, and analyse their quote against all others.

The first thing you will notice about a Professional Choice Sheds quote is the mass of your shed. Generally, a Professional Choice shed is 30-40% more mass, (heavier), than most similar-size sheds. The reason for this is that Australian high-tensile steel is heavier than imported soft steel. Another reason is that more and/or thicker beams and purlins are being used and the sheeting is thicker. Only the original Colourbond thick sheeting is used. Professional Choice Sheds is always trying to keep prices as low as possible. However, they will not compromise on meeting Australian Standards. The weight of steel used in a Professional Choice Shed is the minimum required to meet all Australian Standards. You are assured that you are getting a shed that you will be able to pass on to the next generation.

Summary - Prices for Sheds are so different.

In smaller sheds under 10 square metres, there is very little difference in steel shed prices. Garden Shed manufacturers all now produce the lowest quality, lowest price steel sheds possible. They all use minimal low-quality imported steel and use as little of it as possible.

Industrial and rural large sheds are available at low prices also. That is only possible because of 2 reasons:-

• they are using the lowest quality imported steel
• and/or they are not using enough of it to meet all Australian Standards.

The bottom line is there are ways you can check your quotes using The Shed Health Test. You will always find that you end up getting what you pay for. A cheap shed will not last, and at worst, may be responsible for the death or injury of someone. A cheap shed is not properly designed or built for the area it is located. Professional Choice Sheds sell the best quality, properly certified sheds in Australia.