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How to get council approval for your shed plans

So you want to build a shed? There are an array of real benefits of building a shed or a similar structure on your commercial or residential property – more space, better storage capability, and ultimately, if it’s done well, added value to your home or business premises. You do, however, need to follow your local council guidelines and get formal shed council approval to comply with necessary legal requirements and to help avoid any neighbour disputes.

Shed Council Approval

Building a shed or a similar structure of any kind requires more than simply choosing your design and having it built. Shed council approval is essential and requirements will differ between different council localities. There is, however, a general council approval process throughout Australia. This is a great starting point for you, but you will also need to contact your local council to understand specifics for your area and to get the application process underway.

Do I Need Council Approval?

In almost all cases, council approval will be required for your proposed shed. While there may be some exceptions to the rule, these are few and far between so you really need to be certain. Yes, it can be a nuisance, but by getting approval formalised before you even lay your concrete slab, you’re potentially avoiding a world of pain down the track!

What if I don’t bother with shed council approval?” you ask? It may seem tempting, especially if you only want a small shed or carport – but don’t be fooled! Erecting an unapproved shed may result in a legal order to tear it down. Retrospective approval sought after building is virtually impossible to gain, and even if you’re successful, the process can take years and cost you a fortune (literally). In the longer term, if you don’t have council approval for all structures on your property (including sheds, carports, decks, etc), you will have issues with conveyancing when it comes time to sell.

General Tips for Getting Council Approval for Your Shed

  • Have professional plans drawn up for your preliminary shed design (your supplier can usually do this for you).
  • Contact your local council and start the ball rolling on the process. You should receive feedback on your proposal; some design modifications may be required. If so, refine your design. You may simply receive notification that your design complies with local guidelines.

You will need to provide the following information:

  • The type of shed – a sketch (at the very least) showing dimensions
  • The shed’s proposed use/purpose
  • Access to the shed – provide site layout plans including the proposed location of the shed
  • Submit a formal application. You may be advised to tweak your shed design; if so, make necessary alterations and send the application back to council. You’ll need to include plans, engineering documentation, and elevations.

Once you receive approval from the council, you can go ahead and order your shed and begin the installation process.

Some sheds are exempt from council approval – though this varies widely between councils. Even if it turns out you don’t need specific approval for your shed, you need to make sure from the outset and have written notification of the exemption. You’ll also need, regardless of this, to make sure that your shed complies with the relevant local building codes and legislation. This applies to shed size, siting/placement, elevation, zoning, and structure.

Lockyer Sheds – Your Premium Choice

At Lockyer Sheds, we know our business. All our sales staff are fully qualified and accredited as Shed-Safe Accredited salespeople, giving you the peace of mind you need to know that the shed that you are having designed and built by us meets all the expected conditions and compliances. Contact us today by phone or online for a quote and advice, and don’t forget to include details of your geographic location.

Benefits of a custom designed horse stable from Lockyer Sheds

Is a custom designed horse stable a necessity for keeping a horse? All horses need somewhere safe, comfortable, and familiar to rest up, get out of the weather, and enjoy their feed, regardless of whether horse breeding makes up your primary bread and butter, or you keep horses for pleasure.

There are tons of options when it comes to horse stables, and in a wide range of budgets… from a simple kit shed to a custom designed horse stable. The area you have available for erecting your Fair Dinkum horse stable will also require some thought, as you will need the structure to make the best use of the available space, while also possessing all the features you and your horses need.

Regardless of size, a horse stable built to shed safe standards is an investment in you and your horses’ future. The huge range that is available doesn’t make it easy to come to a decision but spending some time on it will ensure your money is well spent.

A horse stable naturally needs to provide ample room for all your animals, while also being strong and sturdy enough to stand up against the sometimes-harsh Australian weather.

There are two main options for purchasing a horse stable:

  1.    You can opt for a kit shed.

This option has a few drawbacks. You may get features you don’t need, or you might miss out on features you need and have to pay through the nose to get them tacked on to the final product. There is never a one-size fits all.

Kit sheds are also not built with site-specific engineering, so a kit horse stable may not be able to stand up to the elements of the area in which it is built.

  1.    Custom Designed Horse Stables

Custom solutions are the best way to go if you want a horse stable that is going to have all the features you need. However not all shed designers are created equal, so you need to go with a shed designer who knows their stuff and has experience in site-specific engineering.  

At Lockyer Sheds, all Fair Dinkum Sheds are Shed Safe accredited. What this means is that every shed is built to the same tough Australian standards explicitly created for sheds. Shed Safe is a third-party accreditation program which gives shed buyers the confidence they need in the engineering and site specification of the steel shed they are going to put up on their property.

Plus, while we’re talking about custom designed horse stables, we may as well mention, that should you already have a shed, we can also modify it to incorporate stabling solutions that will fit onto the existing structure so well, you will think it was part of the original design.  

The Australian Steel Institute is behind the Shed Safe standard, and as they are the pinnacle of the Australian steel industry, you know a Shed Safe shed will be safe, strong, and durable.

To qualify for Shed Safe accreditation, both the manufacturer and the shed seller need to fall in line. In this way, customers of Lockyer Sheds looking for horse stable solutions are guaranteed to be offered a design that is appropriate for the site and is also suitable for the use to which it will be put.

Lockyer Sheds specialise in horse stables that are completely customizable to your exact specifications, So, just tell us what you need, and we’ll come up with a design that your horses will love.

We’ve been building sheds for more than 17 years now so hop onto our website at https://lockyersheds.com.au, or call us up on 07 5466 5858 and let us get started at building you a horse stable you know you can trust.

Building the Right Shed for Your Geographic Location

A lot of shed builders will plonk a shed down in any location without a care in the world about whether the site is right for the type of shed that’s going up. It’s called generic-engineering, and it pays no attention to the terrain, wind region, or shielding and terrain.

Sometimes you might get lucky, and your shiny new shed will stay upright for years.  However, all it might take to have your shed come tumbling down like a house-of-cards would be a good and strong westerly, or a couple of days of heavy rain.

And with all the global warming that’s been going on, we’ve been told to expect more of the occasional stiff breeze from a cyclone or two. Remember cyclone Debbie? She huffed and puffed and blew a few dodgy sheds down. Don’t risk a cyclone destroying your valuable property and use a cyclone rated, Shed Safe accredited design.

Without paying attention to the type of shed and whether it’s right for the geographic location it’s going up on, you’re essentially gambling with your money, and possibly your livelihood. Plus, it’s no fun being on the inside of a shed that’s about to fall down around your ears.

It’s a safe bet that you want your shed to stay upright for a few years yet, and the best way to do that is to use site-specific engineering, a process that happens long before the hammer and nails come out.

In Australia, most local authorities take a very dim view on structures that don’t use site-specific engineering. So, if your shed goes up without it, it’s most likely not going to be up to code.

If you can’t be bothered checking, don’t be too surprised if an official-looking type comes knocking and gives you an order to take the shed down; that’s definitely going to blow the monthly budget.

Wind Regions

Those in the know have divvied up Queensland into a number of wind regions. Outside of these areas the topography and terrain must also be considered to determine the type of structure which can be erected in that area. All Lockyer Sheds are fully compliant with all local codes so we can help you identify the exact type of structure you need and ensure it’s suitable for your area.

Shielding and Terrain

The engineering required for your shed will be determined by the local landscape, the terrain, and the positioning of the building. If the wind is free to blow through, unfettered by trees or surrounding buildings, the structure will need a more highly specified design than the average garage built in the middle of suburbia.

Topography

Sheds at the top of a hill cop a lot more wind than a shed that’s nestled away in Frog Hollow. The physical position of the shed will play a lot into the engineering required if it’s to stand a chance at staying upright. If your shed supplier doesn’t know the specific location of where it will be erected, then any quote they provide is a non-starter.

Once you have a design firmly in hand, it will then be certified and cross-checked by one of the specialists at Lockyer Sheds, who all have the necessary qualifications to ensure your next shed is safe, secure, and up to code.

The team at Lockyer Sheds will ensure that every factor about your structure has been considered and that it can withstand whatever the terrain and weather will throw at it for many years.

When you call, throw in the details about the geographic location, and we’ll send you back an accurate quote. And don’t forget, our Fair Dinkum Sheds are all Shed Safe accredited.

Call Lockyer Sheds today, a small family-owned business which knows all there is to know about sheds. After all, we’ve been doing it for over 17 years now, so we should know a thing or two about what makes a good quality shed.

Why you need a Lockyer Shed

Every Aussie should be the proud owner of a shed. Sheds aren’t just a place to store your boat, build your next hot-rod, or to use as a “man-cave” for enjoying an afternoon coldie with your mates; a shed is an essential part of the Australian lifestyle.

You don’t want just any shed though. Sure, those tinny little garden sheds from Bunnings will keep your lawnmower dry, and may even provide a safe place for your tools for a time. Well, at least until the next big storm blows it over the fence – and then it’s your neighbour’s problem. Just make sure you get your tools back.

If you need a shed to make your bread and butter, then it’s even more vital you go for quality and use a team who have what it takes to build you a shed that lasts.

Lockyer Sheds have been building quality sheds for years; we’ve built warehousing sheds, sheds to keep the cows in, office sheds, sheds for cars, backyard sheds that won’t fall over no matter how hard you push, and sheds that stay put when it gets windy.

Have you ever heard of a garaport? Yep, we build those too. If you cross your average garage with your average carport, you get a garaport. There’s a special place in our heart for the garaport, as it offers the best of both worlds.

You get a nice shady place to store your ride, and a secure place to keep your precious tools, bar fridge, or pool table. Some people even use them to keep their caravan out of the weather when they come home to roost for a while. Chuck in a table, chairs, and a barbecue and you’ve got yourself a nice place to hang out with the neighbours.

If you’re after something a little more straightforward and cheaper, we also do standard carports to protect your vehicle from the harsh noon-day sun and occasional hail storm. You have your choice of heritage style dutch gable, or the more economical skillion style carport. Whichever way you go, you get a strong building that won’t break the bank and will last for years.

Whether it’s for business or pleasure, some of us just need a shed where we can get stuff done. If that’s the case, then talk to us about designing a workshop that’s just right for your needs. Every single one of our sheds are built from Australian made Bluescope steel, come with site specific engineering, your choice of cladding, high tensile steel framing 450 grade, and no extra charge for custom sizing.

We aren’t afraid of anything at Lockyer Sheds, so if one of our regular plans doesn’t suit don’t be afraid to shoot us a few specifications so we can knock out a plan for your next shed that will knock your socks off.

We have a range of cladding so you can have whatever finish you like. Go for something different with our horizontal corrugated cladding, or maybe you prefer a more classic look; in which case our M-Panel weatherboard look should be right up your alley. Our talented team of engineers can also build you a shed with eve’s and gable extensions if that’s your thing.

Lockyer Sheds is a highly regarded small family operated business famous for their high-quality sheds and excellent workmanship. They have been building sheds for over 17 years, and have recently expanded their business to more regional areas of Queensland. If you’re passing through Goondiwindi or Warwick, you’ll likely see one of their constructions gracing the horizon.

So, if owning a shed that won’t fall over is a priority, give us a call on 1300 768 393 today.  You can even get a quote online by clicking here.

Buy with Lockyer Sheds. Buy with Confidence

BLUESCOPE STEEL + FAIR DINKUM SHEDS = CONFIDENCE.

Build with Lockyer Sheds and Reap the Rewards.

When designing, building and buying a new shed, there are, initially, four key things you should keep in mind. It’s important to ensure that your designer, supplier and builder is;

  • Shed Safe Accredited;
  • Using quality, top of the range Bluescope Steel;
  • Equipped and qualified to offer site specific engineering; and
  • Willing to provide you with a buyers’ guide.

These four things are all instantly available to you when you choose to build with Lockyer Sheds. Lockyer Sheds are proud to offer customers a sense of comfort and confidence when choosing them. We work hand in hand with Fair Dinkum Sheds to deliver a product that is exceptional and well received every time.

Fair Dinkum Sheds is a leading distributor of residential, commercial and industrial buildings, garages, carports, barns and farm sheds. Due to the technologically advanced, industry leading software program that Lockyer Sheds uses through Fair Dinkum Sheds, we can quote and design buildings in minutes.

All Fair Dinkum sheds and buildings are fully engineered to suit your specific site and local weather conditions and all designs incorporate the use of Australian made, Bluescope Steel. In addition to the reliability of Bluescope steel, our Fair Dinkum Sheds partnership also enables us to offer customers galvanised steel frames; which require little maintenance, vertical cladding is standard with all building and customers can choose from a large selection of colours.

The benefits of building with Lockyer Sheds does not stop there. Along with being Shed Safe accredited, incorporating the use of Bluescope Steel, offering customers a buyers’ guide and the benefit of site specific engineering, is a long list of advantages.

These further advantages include;

  • Downpipes and guttering
  • Choice of a wide range of cladding
  • Fully bolted Portal frames
  • 180 degree opening deluxe personal door as standard
  • Coloured tek screws included as standard to match your Colorbond colour selection
  • Choice of 250 B & D™ roller doors
  • Hold downs either bolt down, cast in u bolt or leg in ground
  • Engineered drawings provided to the Australian standards as1170 as4100 as3680
  • Wind rating which adheres to code requirements
  • Can be designed for snow or cyclonic conditions
  • Buildings are engineered to meet all the Australian Institute 2009 design code requirements
  • Delivery to all metropolitan and major provincial areas included
  • … and more!

There is another point that Lockyer Sheds consider to be a key factor in helping our current and future customers make a confident buying decision. Along with having the necessary license to keep your job site safe and productive, providing exceptional products and impeccable service; we are a locally owned, small business with 17 years’ experience. We take great pride in every building we put our name to and pledge to our customers that we will build their shed, garage or industrial building with as much attention to detail as if it was our very own. Any size, any design, anywhere, we can offer;

  • Full project management;
  • High quality materials;
  • A workmanship guarantee;
  • The bonus of a full custom design service;
  • No hidden costs; and
  • A level of service that you’ll only ever get from a local, family run business.

So, if you want to build with confidence, Lockyer Sheds should be your first port of call. To arrange a meeting with an expert member of our team or for more information on Fair Dinkum Sheds’ products or the Bluescope Steel range, contact us today.

Barn Sheds – Think Outside the Barn Shaped Box

Barn Sheds and farm sheds are becoming increasingly popular. Not because there is an excess of farm animals that need to sleep in them or that more people want to roll around in them, but because their uses are becoming more and more varied and redefined. Lockyer Sheds have a huge range of shed solutions to suit any requirement. Whether you wish to use your brand-new barn shed as Air BnB accommodation, a wedding venue, it’s for a home handyman or a team of tradies – or you wish to build a teenager’s retreat or an awesome man cave, we’re your guys.

Lockyer Sheds work hand in hand with Fair Dinkum Sheds to deliver a product that is exceptional and well received every single time.

All of our shed work is Shed Safe accredited. We only use Australian made Bluescope Steel to ensure your shed is of the highest quality and will stand the test of time. In addition, we make sure to look at the finer details like ensuring you have site specific engineering, to avoid any last-minute build problems.

Included in those finer details are things like;

  • Colour coded screws as standard
  • The choice of cast in brackets, cast in bolts or dyna bolts for your hold down brackets
  • Custom sizing at no extra charge, and
  • Fully bolted frames with no welding involved

Other features of our top-quality barn sheds are;

  • .42BMT/.47TCT sheeting on all our sheds as standard
  • Monoclad/Corrugated or M panel available in sheeting profile
  • 450 grade High tensile steel framing
  • All sheds engineered to Australian Standards – AS1170, AS4100, AS3680

So, if you’re considering designing and building a barn shed, no matter its purpose, contact Lockyer Sheds for an obligation free chat today! Contact us online or call 1300 768 393.

Alternatively, if you’re wanting to do more research before contacting us, check out our Buying Guide.

The valuable addition of a shed

Custom Sheds and Garages – Add Instant Value to your home

It’s a common misconception that a shed or garage is just a set of four steel walls, a roof and a dodgy padlock on the front. These days they offer so much more than just extra storage or a place to store your garden tools. While these uses are by no means obsolete, the evolution of custom sheds and garages means that they offer so much more to consumers than they used to.

Another misconception is also that it’s a men’s domain. Wrong. We’ve all heard of the Man shed or man cave, well, step back boys! For the rise of the ‘She Shed’ is imminent! It’s an exciting time for shed builders. We get to see customers of all varieties becoming just as passionate about what we do, as we are.

We’ve built sheds to store boats, cars, caravans and jet skis, to house horses, sheep and cows. We’ve constructed outdoor buildings for seamstresses, entrepreneurs, schools and farmers and buildings of all kinds from industrial sheds to work sheds, garden sheds, stable solutions, single and double carports. With the way the industry is developing there seems to be no limits to what we can achieve.

Further to the evolution of the structure itself, is the design. No longer are people building sheds out the back to hide from the world. Now they are a feature. Designed and colour coded to blend in with the main building, the humble shed or garage is now often considered an attractive, valuable asset.

Adorn it with all the fixtures and fittings that your heart desires, change the layout, add a mezzanine, choose from a huge range of BlueScope steel colours and styles and construct the perfect shed to compliment and add value to your home.

By adding a shed, you are making a very desirable addition to your home. Make it a brilliant one, and you’re cooking with gas!

Whatever your requirements or preferences, Lockyer Sheds have a prefabricated, BlueScope Steel coil, framing and sheeting option to suit your needs – and if there’s nothing that quite fits your specifications – they’ll start from scratch! To discuss your ideal shed design, contact Lockyer Sheds today! They’ll build your dream shed, at a fixed price – any size, any design, anywhere!

Visit lockyersheds.com.au or call us on 1300 768 393.

Lockyer Sheds… There’s a Good Reason They’re So Fair Dinkum.

When the Lockyer Sheds team say they’re fair dinkum, it’s not just a term of phrase.

As an authorized re-seller of Fair Dinkum Sheds, they are one of the 150 local distributors who provide real, local service and who have sold more than 180,000 sheds and garages across the country.

Lockyer Sheds are very proud of their affiliation with Fair Dinkum Sheds. They offer quality, reliability, variety and so much more.

All Fair Dinkum structures can be easily customised, they come with fully engineered plans, provide site specific plans and engineering calculations, are made from Colorbond steel and Zincalume steel.

Aesthetics are important to both the Lockyer Sheds and the Fair Dinkum Sheds teams, which is reflected in the large choice of colours, styles, design and accessories offered with all Fair Dinkum structures. Their wide range of options allows you to create the building you have dreamed up, with no limitations.

Whether you require a completed shed or garage built for you, or you want to do it yourself, a Fair Dinkum shed is your answer. The DIY option even comes with a DVD and manual to assist with installation.

Fair Dinkum Sheds are members of the Australian Steel Institute, they are an exclusive shed partner of the Australian Men’s Shed Association and have been been awarded ShedSafe accreditation from the Australian Steel Institute – so when you choose Lockyer sheds and ultimately, Fair Dinkum, you know you’re getting a reliable, up to standard product, recommended by the best in the industry.

So, if you’re looking to add a farm shed, work shed, garage, double carport, stable, farm building, industrial/commercial shed or even an airplane hanger to your property, Lockyer Sheds have got a prefabricated building to suit.

With Lockyer Sheds, you have the benefit of being able to choose from a Fair Dinkum Sheds product, which means you will be provided with a top-quality product with a reputation to match.

To chat to a Lockyer Sheds consultant about your Fair Dinkum custom shed options, click here now!

Why we use Colorbond for all of our builds

Lockyer Sheds has successfully delivered a wide variety of residential, commercial and industrial projects including sheds, garages and carports of all shapes and sizes. While our designs and specifications on each job vary greatly due to our ability customize to suit any client’s needs – one thing remains the same – our use of COLORBOND® steel.

Some client’s question why we love it and use it so exclusively.
The answers are simple, but plentiful.

COLORBOND® steel is;

  • lightweight
  • durable
  • easy to maintain
  • It comes in a huge variety of prefabricated designs
  • It is aesthetically pleasing
  • Recyclable
  • Convenient to use
  • It offers comfort and security
  • Established in 1966, COLORBOND® steel stands the test of time, in both a structural sense and in terms of the company’s longevity.

The use of COLORBOND® means you have a wide range of options for inclusions like doors, windows, colours, profiles, lighting, overhangs, shelving and so much more.

COLORBOND® steel is specifically designed to withstand the intense weather we experience here in Australia. It is tested for Australian conditions and is therefore the perfect option for any garage, shed or carport, be it residential, agricultural or industrial, built here in our beautiful sunburnt country.

Lockyer Sheds are your local, highly experienced, accredited shed builders who are waiting to chat to you about custom sheds, carport prices, carport designs, your very own garage or shed design ideas and their exclusive use of COLORBOND® steel.

So, whether you want to design and build a double carport, double garage, barn style shed, school gymnasium or airplane hangar, choose COLORBOND® steel and contact the Lockyer Sheds today!  You won’t be disappointed.