• You want to build quicker – This will reduce the time it takes to build substantially, as you can order a shed for delivery in just days, rather than the months it would take you to build something new.
• It can be less expensive – Shed manufacturers can buy their materials at wholesale prices. So you should be able to buy a shed for a lesser price than what it would cost you to make the frame yourself.
• Your shed may be better quality – The truth is, unless you’re well-experienced in construction, a shed built by an expert is probably going to be better quality. Also, a shed you buy should come with a warranty or guarantee, which may save you even more money in future.
• If you want time to gather money – Buying a shed can give you time to save money before building, or get a loan. If finding it difficult to get finance, your bank may be more likely to fund you purchasing a shed, or you may even be able to get financing directly from the builder of the shed itself.
• If you need time before building – It can give you time to, for example, work on improving your building skills.

 

Things to consider, which are the downfalls to purchasing in advance, are:

 

• You’ll have less input into design – Sheds are normally mass-produced. If personalising your granny flat is of high importance, then purchasing a shed may not be ideal, as you’ll have much less say into its’ look. You’ll also have to design the interior layout around the shed you purchased. It’s still worth looking at what sheds are out there to see if you can find one that suits you, but if you have a certain layout or style you want, an off-the-shelf design may not work.
• There are regulations to meet – You must meet the regulations of your local Council to receive approval. Especially important to think about will be the size of your shed, and the alterations that must be made to change it from what is currently an uninhabitable building, to a livable one.
• You will most likely need a floor plan – As you will have to add a bedroom, bathroom, living area, kitchen/kitchenette, windows, remove the wide doors to replace them with something more homely, and likely require stable partitions.

Don’t be put off though – we’ll get into the cost of conversion soon.

 

Simply put – no.

 

This is something to consider prior to purchasing a shed.

 

A big factor to think about is what sort of steel you want. Not all steel is created equally, and it’s important to recognise the difference between steel made in Australia, such as Colorbond, and imported steel.

 

 

Australian steel has been made for our conditions, tested and proved dependable for years. These products have undertaken vigorous tests, both in the factory and in the field, to ensure they can stand-up against our extreme temperatures, corrosions, hails, winds, and more.

 

Imported steel can be more risky. You have a higher chance of it corroding, its’ colour fading, or it warping, earlier on.

 

Also, be wary – some suppliers may use imported steel to manufacture their sheds in Australia, but advertise them as “Australian-made”. Check by asking them where the steel come from. As this is the exoskeleton of your granny flat.

 

Another thing to think about is the conversion you have in mind – what you will be putting in the shed. Considering this will also be a massive help in figuring out what features you require in a shed.

 

How Much do Sheds Cost and What Is the Cost to Convert it Into a Granny Flat?

 

Prices of sheds vary. Custom-built sheds are usually more expensive than those you have to put together yourself. Timber the most expensive, while steel the least.

 

But starting at $12,000+ for a 6m x 10m shed (60m2, the maximum floor size allowable for a granny flat), you can get a steel shed that comes with a lifetime warranty, is fire resistant and waterproof, and maybe even have a warranty for being rust-resistant.

 

Onto costs for conversion. Prices depend upon the sheds size, and how many alterations it requires to be liveable. Put simply though, the larger your shed, and the more complicated your design, the more expensive the conversion could be

 

Let’s begin with approval fees:

 

• Surveyors Report – When building, I paid $1500. You, however, may not need this – it will depend upon your Council.

 

 

Now, costs for conversion itself. These are similar to what it costs to convert your garage, but sheds are normally much bigger in height than garages, so it will cost extra to make the conversion. We have gone over these below:

Many sheds are built on a standard concrete slab. This is okay to park a car in, but because they aren’t lined with a vapour barrier in many cases, as time passes the slab retains more and more water leading to rising damp, which can be a huge problem. There needs to be an engineering solution to this common problem.

 

 

Your granny flat foundation cannot have any settlement, as this can result in the internal linings of the walls to break out in large cracks. So your granny flat must have a much stronger slab or be built on piers.

 

Every Council will have its’ own regulations on what makes it a Class 1a, but some of your typical specifications include that:

 

• The design of its’ foundation conforms to the criteria of the Building Codes of Australia.
• It has sanitary provisions (a shower, toilet, and sink) that are secured to either sewerage or an on-site waste management system.
• It’s connected to either town or tank water.
• It has a smoke alarm.
• You can cook in the kitchen.
• There’s enough room for a washing machine, and
• It complies with the bushfire and flood regulations for your zone.