Australian Prefab Shed

[Big-Red]

Hey guys!

Looking to replace my dilapidated old shed with a bigger one!

Anyone have experience with Aussie Outdoor?? They claim to be a quality construction. And a good $500 cheaper then anyone else.

Looking to build a 7x9x3.6m

 

[rockettgpw]

Hi Big-Red,
I'll take the chance to welcome you to GJ. I'm guessing you are in Aussie? It helps the guys to answer your questions a lot if you fill in your location. There are a few great Aussies on here as you may have already noticed. I'm sure 1/2 cup and Hotfr8 will be along soon.
I'm not familiar with Aussie Outdoor but I'm currently in Adelaide and built an Olympic Industries 27 x 40 x 10 (12m x 7.6m x 3m) about 12 years ago and if the one you are looking at is anything like this I say go for it. Can you post a link to the shed you want?

Oh and be careful on here, your shed is now gonna cost a lot more.......

 

[HOTFR8]

Hey guys!

Looking to replace my dilapidated old shed with a bigger one!

Anyone have experience with Aussie Outdoor?? They claim to be a quality construction. And a good $500 cheaper then anyone else.

Looking to build a 7x9x3.6m

A few things that may help you. A location in your profile would make an answer easier as not every one will know about the company you refer to. Also post an introduction so members get to know who you are and that way you may find the forum much more of a social place and a great help to your build.

A Brickie once told me 'Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten'.

 

[Big-Red]

Thanks for the welcome guys. Have added some info in.

I've seen Aussie outdoor products advertised quite a bit on local TV. http://www.aussieoutdoorsheds.com.au/Sheds/Sheds-info.html

The size is obviously a non standard size so no one has them 'off the shelf'. I have gotten about 5-6 prices. This mob claims quality construction, they said the shed would weigh 1.9ton. dunno if that means much.

These guys are a franchise so that makes me feel a little better. A croud locally who had been operating for several years suddenly shut up shop after going into receivership apparently they where taking people's money up until they shut the doors. Quite a few people lost out.


Trying to find out more info about concreting over the old slab to. Have found a lot of conflicting info on Google.

 

[rockettgpw]

Don't bother trying to cover the old slab, just rip it now and save the heartache later. The way the U.S. guys reinforce concrete is very different to Aus. so stick with your local regs.
Do you plan to build it yourself? not hard with planning and patience. Don't scrimp on fill or compaction. Try to avoid recycled fill, the stuff I got didn't seem to compact well and has dried and hollowed out in places. Evident by drumming under the bathroom floor.
Consider future services like data conduits, gas line, sewer and rain water connections. I joined each side roof gutter by a 90mm under the slab and then continuing to the house tank. I laid out an en suite sized bathroom in a corner when pouring the slab with the 100mm run to 1m out of the slab for later.
I don't know if this is info you need, might give you food for thought.

What part of Tassie are you in? I do love it down there, spent a very fun 3 weeks in our MX5 a few years ago. Hope to get back down in a while, so much left to see and things to enjoy again.

 

[Big-Red]

Hey mate. I'm on the north coast (Devonport). Not a terrible place to live.

Basically I'm looking to do things as cost effective as possible. My initial idea was to put a slab over the existing one around 100~150mm thick, with a deeper footing for the hoist. Some stuff I've found has recommended 'bonding' the top layer to the bottom while others say to drive rebar into the existing slab to anchor it then put a skim coat of sand and black plastic over it to prevent any cracks from being transferred into the top layer.

Unfortunately I don't really have 10k plus to spend on concreting.

Yes I plan on putting it together myself. I'm a mechanic by trade and have assisted in putting other simerlar sheds together.

 

[Big-Red]

Oh and I don't see much need in adding a bathroom (have one at the rear of the house) and gas isn't very popular in Tassie. I don't even have a landline or internet connection so a phone line to the shed isn't nessesary.

Tassie does have some nice roads, just not in Winter. Did you come down with the mx5 club?

 

[Playwme]

What price are they quoting?

I've found it's a lot cheaper just to buy the purlins/steel and build it yourself. Building approvals are the only hurdle there. You're paying them a fair premium for their standard set of approved plans.

How bad is the old slab?

 

[Big-Red]

Best quote has been $8700 which included a PA door. Others where $9300-10,500. The current slab has been poured in seporateable sections, there are some raised concrete dividers, slightly different levels and I'll be cutting into the lawn a bit in one section. So no real avoiding pouring a new one.

 

[Big-Red]

Current proposed building.

 

[Ozwelder]

Though I can't help with your question about Aussie Outdoor, I believe I can shed light on differences between quotes.

My shed is 3 years old and the following is what I found researching the different brands. I inspected a lot of display sheds and took a tape measure and calipers with me.
As you see by my address I live in a cyclone area and am a bit particular. As an ex tradie from the metal construction industry I knew what I was looking for.

The there can be significant quality and materials differences between different brands of shed which are reflected in the prices.

Compare the kit weights between the various kit quotes usually found on the quotation documents.

1.The material thickness of the steel roof and wall sheets. Not all companies use Australian made sheet. Some roof and wall sheetings are from overseas.

The sheet thickness on some are like tissue paper .The paint coatings are nowhere near as thick as Colorbond.

2.Columns.There is big variation in the column width x depth x material thickness and return flanges-the small strengthening flange on the tips of the C. Some are of garden shed strength,just awful.

3.The method of column attachment to the slab- U stirrups cast into the slap supporting the column just off the slab are stronger . The crappier ones are drilled into the slab loxins holding a sheetmetal thickness angle bolted to the under thickness columns. Also check dimensions btween the horizontal top hat members- again big variation

4.The windows doors and other hardware were less substantial than the dearer quotes.Door hinges and locks are cheap interior quality zinc and showing rust spotting.

That's where the price differences are.

Ozwelder

 

[rockettgpw]

Oh and I don't see much need in adding a bathroom (have one at the rear of the house) and gas isn't very popular in Tassie. I don't even have a landline or internet connection so a phone line to the shed isn't nessesary.

Tassie does have some nice roads, just not in Winter. Did you come down with the mx5 club?

Fair enough if you don't need the extras. My main need for the bathroom was we were knocking off the house one for extensions.
We travelled on our own in the MX5, but we kept encountering the same group of bikers all down the west coast. Very hard to choose a favourite road but had a blast with the bikers coming down from the hydro area. The drive out to Gordon Dam was surreal, such a great driving road with virtually no one else there and a real feeling of isolation. Watching a trio of adventurers abseil down the dam wall was pretty cool.
Yeah I don't think I could take the corners the same way in winter.

 

[Big-Red]

Thanks for the reply Ozwelder. I'm going to have a look around the local displays before making the final decision. I have heard some have the c-sections Tech screwed together, but I haven't seen it myself.

I have to get my head around what to do with slab. I've got a idea of what I want to do but have to make sure it will work. Keep an eye out for a new thread.