Ultimate Guide To Choosing The Right Farm Shed In NZ

When it comes to choosing the ideal farm shed, everyone’s needs will differ. Whether it’s room for the tractor, shelter for animals or extra storage for tools and machinery, firewood or hay – each and every shed will have its own specific requirements. This makes the decision about which shed to buy a little complicated, so we’ve created this handy guide to help you choose the right shed for the job.

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How To Choose A Good Shed

Selecting the right shed is all about doing your research, but this takes time! To fast-track the process, have a quick read through this list of all the main things to think about when choosing a shed.

1. Fully Assess Your Requirements

The first step to choosing your shed is to specifically identify your storage needs. Consider what the shed is to be used for, what’s got to fit in there, as well as any future space needs or uses that may arise. Having a better understanding of the requirements will provide a good foundation for selecting the perfect shed and getting the best value for money.

Are you looking for a small garden shed to store tools? A wood shed? Implement shed, barn or woolshed? Or maybe a multifunction shed for the motorbikes and ATVs? If you are debating whether to add an extra bay, keep in mind that it is far more economical to do so now as you will save on building consent, delivery and installation fees.

2. Carefully Consider Shed Size

While it can be tempting to reduce the size of your shed to cut down the cost a bit, building a shed that ends up being too small can be a big mistake. Nobody wants to end up being frustrated with being unable to fit everything in or having to build another shed at an even greater cost soon after the first. Striking the right balance between size, cost, and needs is the key to choosing the right farm shed. Some things you will also need to consider when it comes to the size of the shed are the available space, local build regulations and restrictions, and aesthetics.

As a rough guide, some standard shed depths are 6m, 7m, 8m, 9m, 12m, and 15m. Common shed heights range anywhere from 2.4 right up to 14.0m. Bay widths often include 3.0m, 3.6m, 4.0, 4.2, 4.5, 4.8, 5.4 and 6m, but these can usually be customised to suit.

3. Always Go With Durable Materials

Unfortunately, it is a fact that not all construction products are created equal – selecting the right materials at build time will guarantee extended lifespans and less maintenance. Whether it’s roof, walls, purlins and/or poles, they will need to be able to withstand fairly extreme environmental situations.

This is why, generally speaking, most farm sheds in NZ are constructed using metal roofing (corrugated iron) cladding products such as colour steel and either timber or steel framing. However, there are other options if needed. colour steel is a popular cladding product due to its long-lasting and durable nature and the fact that it is available either in standard zinc-coated or pre-painted options.

4. Don’t Underestimate Functionality

Always consider any additional functionality that may be required and how this will fit into your shed design because it’s much easier to add this in at build time.

These might be features that will enhance the workspace, such as windows and roller doors, lighting, shelving, concrete flooring, internal linings, netting and building paper, or spouting and downpipes but could also include aspects such as roof height and access. This is your one chance to tailor the shed to suit your specific requirements – don’t miss out!

5. Sort Through The Different Shed Styles

Part of the difficulty in choosing a shed is that it can be constructed in various styles. From classic American barn-style sheds, gable roof, single or mono-pitch sheds and lean-tos, exploring the different styles is essential to finding the best option to suit your needs.

The specific requirements for the shed will largely influence this decision, for example, whether you need windows, doors and permanent flooring or whether the shed is just to store farm machinery or shelter for animals.

6. Factor In The Weather

This may be as simple as rotating the direction of the shed or re-positioning doors and windows to avoid the worst of the winter winds and rain and to maximise sunlight. But it may also extend to the need for reinforcement for heavy snowfall, ventilation for hot summers and extra consideration for drainage.

Small changes in the design of your shed to factor in the effects of the elements can be the difference between a good shed and a great one!

7. Investigate Local Building Consent And Regulation Requirements

Before beginning any construction project in NZ, it is advisable to check with your local council. There are a number of rules and regulations for building structures like sheds, which can depend on the size, type and intended use of the shed.

Two of the most common questions around building sheds are – do you need consent for a farm shed in NZ? And what is the maximum shed size you can build without a permit in NZ? The short answer is any shed that is under 30 square metres in size does not require building consent, however, larger sheds or those with additional functionality like toilets or showers will require consent. Plus, there are also placement restrictions as to how close to the boundary or waterways sheds are able to be built, along with Resource Consent complications in some cases.

8. Compare Quotes

Not all shed quotes are the same, ensure you are comparing apples with apples when choosing where to purchase your shed. All quotes should be itemised for easy comparison and look out for any exclusions such as flooring, guttering and flashings etc.

It also pays to pay special attention to the smaller useful items that may need to be included such as vermin flashings and bird proofing and whether the supplier can provide these. Freight costs can also be a quite significant factor in some quotes.

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What Else Should You Consider When Building A Shed?

Now that you have got the basics sorted, before committing to the shed of your choice you might want to consider a few extra things that can ensure the successful completion of your shed project.

• Bird Proofing. Due to the open nature of many farm sheds birds nesting and the mess they make can be a difficult problem to address after the shed is built. If the framing or design of the shed enables birds to roost and perch, you will likely have to face this issue head-on at some point. Reducing these perch spots at the time of construction is well worth the effort, as well as blocking any access points for more enclosed sheds such as woolsheds or workshops. Typically, this might include paying special attention to junctions between intersecting framing, small gaps in the roof beams, or purlins bolted on top of the rafters instead of in between them.
• Vermin Proofing. Much like the bird issue above, protecting your shed from vermin such as rats and mice can be an essential design feature, especially for sheds where animal or stock feed is stored. These little critters can find their way in through the smallest of holes or crevices and can cause considerable damage, not to mention that once they find a way in it is difficult to stop them. Constructing your new shed using the right materials is a good first step to prevent vermin from making their way inside, but additional measures might be necessary, such as installing vermin flashings or vermin seals along the shed walls.
• Installation Of Services. While some farm sheds simply provide standalone shelter for machinery or stock, there are a lot of instances where the construction will require consideration for water and electricity supply. Woolsheds, workshops, cabins, and multiuse sheds will all need to think about service connection accessibility and costs.
• The Budget. While it would be nice to assume money isn’t a factor when choosing your shed – it almost always is! Setting an appropriate budget will help you avoid any cost overruns and also ensure value for money. Prioritisation is the key to a good budget, try singling out the most important features needed from the shed and don’t forget to include estimations for materials, labour, earthworks, foundation requirements, access and any unforeseen costs that may arise.
• Construction Timeframes. Finding the right shed for the right price can be satisfying but don’t forget to check on construction timeframes before committing to the purchase. Always ask the manufacturer how long it will take to get the materials and builders on site, especially if you have a deadline to meet like completion for the storage for winter stock feed.
• Shed Access. One of the additional build considerations when constructing a shed is access. Always build your shed in an area with plenty of surrounding space to allow for easy manoeuvring of machinery as well as appropriate room for vehicle access. If required, you might also need to consider the additional costs for creating access points from nearby roads, driveways, and metaled surrounds.
• Environmental Considerations. This might include the use of recycled materials such as old windows and doors, water collection options, especially in rural areas and even the inclusion of solar or wind generation capabilities to meet electrical or lighting requirements.

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Building a new shed is a big investment and a long-term decision, so it is important to get it right! Take a look at the different types of sheds on offer and get a no-obligation quote from the farm shed specialists at GreenWood today.

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