Aussie DIY budget build
- Thread starter spectral
- Start date
Carves
Well-known member
Either side of the door ... tis handy for reversing in at night, especially with a trailer.
Shed looks great ...
panthersteve
Well-known member
I've been thinking of putting some of those up/down lights on my place but haven't seen anywhere with them yet (although I haven't looked too hard). Where did you get yours ?
Cheers
Steve
Cheers
Steve
sean Buick 76
Well-known member
Really nice work thanks for sharing!
AusAndrew
Member
Great looking shed! How close were you allowed to build to your fences? I always thought it was a meter, could just be the photos but it looks closer. I'm in the process of buying my first house after getting ore-approval yesterday so the hunt is on for a house with a flat yard with room for a 6x9 out the back, would be nice to be able to jam it right against the fence. Flat blocks with side access for under 400k on the Gold Coast is hard to come by.
Hi Steve, Just off ebay mate . http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/NORWOOD-...hash=item19f0152a73:m:mGvCkGG1aCKi3p_5ZJDRoWg
Cheers Sean!
Hi Andrew, my shed is 500mm from the rear boundary, and 200mm from the side boundary. The previous shed had a relaxation granted when it was built, and I just kept the same distances. Certifier had no issue at all with it.
Good luck with the house hunting!
hewey
Well-known member
Good luck mate
. I'm in NSW so different planning rules, but with my block its 1m from the fence/boundary. We've got a sewer line that runs across our block in the backyard so need to keep clear of that too, but it runs across the centre of our yard. I found when I had a place I was serious on, the local council was actually pretty good in answering questions about what I could build without approval and what I'd likely be able to do with approval. I'm sure some of these guys will be able to give you some more QLD specific guidance 
Well after a few financial setbacks over the last 3 months, I have finally got my electrician booked to come next Tuesday to finish off all the cabling. So much is waiting for this job to be done - so we can start seeing a bit more progress soon hopefully.
On a brighter note, I had a birthday and got a new shopvac and a fantastic retro Kincrome shop stool from family
On a brighter note, I had a birthday and got a new shopvac and a fantastic retro Kincrome shop stool from family
Motoman1100
Well-known member
Nice looking build and a really great write up of your progress. I really enjoy reading the threads from Down Under. It's good to see how others build and make use of what's available.
Great job!
Great job!
HOTFR8
Banned
Well after a few financial setbacks over the last 3 months, I have finally got my electrician booked to come next Tuesday to finish off all the cabling. So much is waiting for this job to be done - so we can start seeing a bit more progress soon hopefully.
On a brighter note, I had a birthday and got a new shopvac and a fantastic retro Kincrome shop stool from family
Keep us posted on the progress and nice score.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
spectral, thanks for the update and someone was very thoughtful on your birthday, well done.
Grumblebum
Well-known member
Looks good there spectral, your build still maintains the character that you don't get so much with a colourbond shed (although there are some cool colourbond sheds around).
Does your block slope to the back a bit or is that just the way the photos look ?
Looking forward to seeing your internal fit out. Only suggestion on lighting while you are getting electrical sorted is maybe add a floodlight at the front somewhere so you can see on those odd nights that you need to fix something. I've used some coach type lights outside my double panel door on either side when I did my extension, but they are useless if you need to work on one of the vehicles at night.
Kids must be loving that driveway for the bikes and scooters.
Cheers Grumblebum
Does your block slope to the back a bit or is that just the way the photos look ?
Looking forward to seeing your internal fit out. Only suggestion on lighting while you are getting electrical sorted is maybe add a floodlight at the front somewhere so you can see on those odd nights that you need to fix something. I've used some coach type lights outside my double panel door on either side when I did my extension, but they are useless if you need to work on one of the vehicles at night.
Kids must be loving that driveway for the bikes and scooters.
Cheers Grumblebum
Hi guys,
MIB: Yeah I loved Toowoomba area, but unfortunately just no real career opportunities out that way compared to Brisbane. Maybe in retirement....
Grumblebum: Thanks for the advice, yeah I have 3 external lights going in (see next post), but you are right and I will likely add a spotlight as well. My block does have a decent slope towards the rear, about 6-7 metres from front to back.
MIB: Yeah I loved Toowoomba area, but unfortunately just no real career opportunities out that way compared to Brisbane. Maybe in retirement....
Grumblebum: Thanks for the advice, yeah I have 3 external lights going in (see next post), but you are right and I will likely add a spotlight as well. My block does have a decent slope towards the rear, about 6-7 metres from front to back.
Alrighty, FINALLY got the electrical sorted after a 3 month delay... ah well. I committed to my wife that I would not use a credit card or dip into our savings to pay for this garage, so when some unexpected bills come up, the build took a back seat for a bit.
No use complaining, nobody listens! So lets get onto it..
Firstly, I'll say that I'm mighty impressed with my electricans.. they had this entire job done in 3 hours and there was 5 guys all working together to get it sorted and let me get back to work.
So in total we have 11 double GPOs, a 15A outlet for my welder and then 10 double T5 light fixtures inside. Outside we have 2 x "up and down" lights on the front wall, and a downlight outside the pedestrian entry door.
There are double RCDs on each circuit (4 circuits in total), so there is protection at the main switch board, and also on the sub board inside the workshop. I used a nice flush mount switchboard, so it will look real nice when I finish the drywall.
I'll let the pictures do the talking.
A shot of the garage in the late afternoon with the exterior lights on. You can see how the up light reflects nicely against the hardwood decking timber I've used under the eaves. This is used elsewhere in our house, so its a nice match
Same shot (bit more zoomed in, oops), at night time. My camera struggled to get a real good focus, but you get the idea.
Here we are with the garage door raised and the internal lights on, its plenty bright enough to work in that for sure. I think with the white ceiling and walls when its finished it will reflect even nicer as I currently have a few shadows here and there
Moving inside , here is the subboard, nothing fancy, but will look neat
This is the car storage/working area. The lights are arranged around the car, rather than on top which causes more shadows (picked up some good tips from the Lighting forum, thanks guys!). You can see my white overhead cupboards in the background that will go up at ceiling height to get more awkward things up off the floor and out of sight.
This is the general work area, yet to be organised of course. I have a double T5 above each work surface and another in the middle as my main workbench is on wheels.
This is my main storage drawer area and working counter top. It will hold my vice, bench grinders/sanders and other items that you keep on a counter top There are 8 power outlets across its length.
So there we have it. Its now time to get the drywall/gyprock up, mud it, and paint it, then start decorating
Thanks for reading.
No use complaining, nobody listens! So lets get onto it..
Firstly, I'll say that I'm mighty impressed with my electricans.. they had this entire job done in 3 hours and there was 5 guys all working together to get it sorted and let me get back to work.
So in total we have 11 double GPOs, a 15A outlet for my welder and then 10 double T5 light fixtures inside. Outside we have 2 x "up and down" lights on the front wall, and a downlight outside the pedestrian entry door.
There are double RCDs on each circuit (4 circuits in total), so there is protection at the main switch board, and also on the sub board inside the workshop. I used a nice flush mount switchboard, so it will look real nice when I finish the drywall.
I'll let the pictures do the talking.
A shot of the garage in the late afternoon with the exterior lights on. You can see how the up light reflects nicely against the hardwood decking timber I've used under the eaves. This is used elsewhere in our house, so its a nice match
Same shot (bit more zoomed in, oops), at night time. My camera struggled to get a real good focus, but you get the idea.
Here we are with the garage door raised and the internal lights on, its plenty bright enough to work in that for sure. I think with the white ceiling and walls when its finished it will reflect even nicer as I currently have a few shadows here and there
Moving inside , here is the subboard, nothing fancy, but will look neat
This is the car storage/working area. The lights are arranged around the car, rather than on top which causes more shadows (picked up some good tips from the Lighting forum, thanks guys!). You can see my white overhead cupboards in the background that will go up at ceiling height to get more awkward things up off the floor and out of sight.
This is the general work area, yet to be organised of course. I have a double T5 above each work surface and another in the middle as my main workbench is on wheels.
This is my main storage drawer area and working counter top. It will hold my vice, bench grinders/sanders and other items that you keep on a counter top
There are 8 power outlets across its length.
So there we have it. Its now time to get the drywall/gyprock up, mud it, and paint it, then start decorating
Thanks for reading.
Last edited:
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Let there be light, looking fantastic spectral
HOTFR8
Banned
After a set back the update is great to see. I guess you are pleased with the progress.
PugetDude
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Great build, thanks for documenting and sharing it with us.
Always good to see how garages are built around the world.
Subscribed for the interior build-out!
Always good to see how garages are built around the world.
Subscribed for the interior build-out!
Thanks everyone, yes a big relief to not be constantly unrolling and rolling extension leads when I want to do some work. Just little things, like now I can put my bar fridge down there etc.
PugetDude: Yep 100% agree about seeing how things are done differently in other areas of the world. When I first joined this board, I was interested in the way you construct your timber wall frames without noggings. Rather you seem to cover the entire wall in OSB plywood before cladding.
We generally won't do that, most timber framed houses will be made up here with a structure similar to my steel version above, with single sheets of bracing ply and straps in certain areas to give it strength.
Like this :
http://masterbuiltconstructions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timber_frame.jpg
PugetDude: Yep 100% agree about seeing how things are done differently in other areas of the world. When I first joined this board, I was interested in the way you construct your timber wall frames without noggings. Rather you seem to cover the entire wall in OSB plywood before cladding.
We generally won't do that, most timber framed houses will be made up here with a structure similar to my steel version above, with single sheets of bracing ply and straps in certain areas to give it strength.
Like this :
http://masterbuiltconstructions.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/timber_frame.jpg
jwhcars
Well-known member
Very Nice job building your shed.
CodeRedZ
Well-known member
great progress
hewey
Well-known member
Lighting outside and in looks great, nice work
Merry Xmas to all at GJ..
Managed to get a day in the shed today.. its starting to feel wrong calling it a shed. My wife has already earmarked it into a granny flat conversion in 10 years time when our autistic son gets a bit older to give him some independence I think I'll build in under the house before I give it up!! haha
Anyway.. Ceilings are all in now. Was a right royal PITA above the garage door, technically I should have taken it down, but given its weight and limited lifting equipment, I just worked around it. Plus its just perfectly aligned now and I'd hate to go through the tedious tasks of mm by mm movement again to get it right.
Nothing fancy about the ceilings, just 10mm gyprock screwed to the battens. Painted under the lights so I don't have to take them down again.
On reflection I would have had a couple more battens in there, even though its to engineers specifications there is a bit of bounce in them.
Pictures:
I'll get the majority of the walls up over the New Year long weekend. Easier work than the ceilings. I'll have two full 1200mm courses per wall, leaving a 600mm gap at the bottom that I am thinking about using an aluminium or similar composite material to avoid damaging the gyprock with little splashes or similar. Not sure yet... open to ideas??
Take care all. Have an excellent new year.
Managed to get a day in the shed today.. its starting to feel wrong calling it a shed. My wife has already earmarked it into a granny flat conversion in 10 years time when our autistic son gets a bit older to give him some independence
I think I'll build in under the house before I give it up!! hahaAnyway.. Ceilings are all in now. Was a right royal PITA above the garage door, technically I should have taken it down, but given its weight and limited lifting equipment, I just worked around it. Plus its just perfectly aligned now and I'd hate to go through the tedious tasks of mm by mm movement again to get it right.
Nothing fancy about the ceilings, just 10mm gyprock screwed to the battens. Painted under the lights so I don't have to take them down again.
On reflection I would have had a couple more battens in there, even though its to engineers specifications there is a bit of bounce in them.
Pictures:
I'll get the majority of the walls up over the New Year long weekend. Easier work than the ceilings. I'll have two full 1200mm courses per wall, leaving a 600mm gap at the bottom that I am thinking about using an aluminium or similar composite material to avoid damaging the gyprock with little splashes or similar. Not sure yet... open to ideas??
Take care all. Have an excellent new year.
Last edited:
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Looking great spectral.
It shouldn't take you very long to put the walls up but the fun part is yet to come, the stopping and sanding. Then there is the dust to deal with.
Have you considered hiring one of those nifty sanders that the plasterers use?
With the bottom 600 I would be inclined to plaster that as well then perhaps cover it with a vinyl or a thin aluminium checker plate. You could also do a corrugated dado??
Interested to see what you finally decide on.
Regards
It shouldn't take you very long to put the walls up but the fun part is yet to come, the stopping and sanding. Then there is the dust to deal with.
Have you considered hiring one of those nifty sanders that the plasterers use?
With the bottom 600 I would be inclined to plaster that as well then perhaps cover it with a vinyl or a thin aluminium checker plate. You could also do a corrugated dado??
Interested to see what you finally decide on.
Regards
thanks 1/2 cup.. the reason for perhaps changing the material is that being a working area, I'll likely bump engine cranes, welding carts etc in it and was worried about putting holes in it, but as you say, a 1.6mm ally over the top of the plaster could work as well for protection.
I looked a zinc mini-orb as well, its actually quite expensive.. and a bit too "barn" style for the Martini Porsche theme that I've always loved... I could be persuaded though .. I'll have a Google.
I looked a zinc mini-orb as well, its actually quite expensive.. and a bit too "barn" style for the Martini Porsche theme that I've always loved... I could be persuaded though .. I'll have a Google.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
spectral Mini Orb is expensive, not sure why
My shed is lined with 6mm Hardiflex with a 2 inch Meranti kick board and in thirty years have had no trouble with it. That said not being painted it looks fairly drab.
Regards
Grumblebum
Well-known member
Hi spectral, I ditto 1/2 cup. I would start with a full sheet 10 mm off the floor and work up.
I also used 6mm villa board in my garage for the walls for the same reason you are after as its more durable if it gets hit with something. But I'm assuming you already have the material in hand already so likely too late to change ? You could do something on the bottom later when time permits.
Have a good new year...
Cheers Grumblebum.
I also used 6mm villa board in my garage for the walls for the same reason you are after as its more durable if it gets hit with something. But I'm assuming you already have the material in hand already so likely too late to change ? You could do something on the bottom later when time permits.
Have a good new year...
Cheers Grumblebum.
Thanks for the suggestions. I picked up a 100mm vinyl strip that has a curve section at the bottom. I think that will do the job for now, and will leave an inch or so at the bottom as suggested (covered by the vinyl strip)
Had another day of drywall/gyprocking.. probably about 70% done and all the high boards completed so no ladders for a while.. whew!
Its nothing fancy for you seasoned pros, but for a first timer I'm happy with how it is progressing!
Can't wait for it to be done so I can move all my stuff back to the edge of the garage.. very annoying having everything in the middle.
Had another day of drywall/gyprocking.. probably about 70% done and all the high boards completed so no ladders for a while.. whew!
Its nothing fancy for you seasoned pros, but for a first timer I'm happy with how it is progressing!
Can't wait for it to be done so I can move all my stuff back to the edge of the garage.. very annoying having everything in the middle.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
I know the feeling but it is worth the wait.
Looking great.
Regards
Looking great.
Regards
Another day, and I finished off all the drywall/gyprock.. I took all your advice and finished the plaster to the ground, leaving a 15mm or so gap. I'll run the protective edge when I decide what to use.
Next will be mounting those white cupboards you can see up along the roof line above the windows.
I'll start the filling and sanding next weekend I'd say - not really looking forward to that part
Did a bit of a tidy up as well and moved things around to give me some more space as it was annoying me bumping into things.
And as I was packing up, I decided to take another photo from outside as the light was just right
Next will be mounting those white cupboards you can see up along the roof line above the windows.
I'll start the filling and sanding next weekend I'd say - not really looking forward to that part
Did a bit of a tidy up as well and moved things around to give me some more space as it was annoying me bumping into things.
And as I was packing up, I decided to take another photo from outside as the light was just right
Hi again all,
Been working on the interior when I get the chance, rare these days, I'm sure we can all relate to that!
I had an old roller toolbox that I really don't need as a floor standing unit, so I decide to mount it up under the island bench near the vice. It holds all my clamps, chocks, blocks etc that I that will use with my vice regularly. Always handy to have things like that close at hand. Was an easy job really, took off the caster wheels, put some 3" square plates on the underside of the top and screwed up through them into the hardwood of the bench. I will likely paint it blue eventually to match my Homak 42" roller that you can see in the background.
I then set about making my desk. This is all from second hand stuff that I got on ebay. The key part is the 4 x metal 3 drawer filing cabinets. The idea is similar to the toolbox benches I've seen elsewhere on this site. I've welded a frame from 50mm SHS gal, and slotted in the cabinets from above
Put on the bench top (another second hand piece) and that finished it off
Its pretty level, but I will get some little adjustable feet as there is a very slight wobble/rock in it. All up it owes me about $145 which fits in with the budget aspect of the build
I also mounted up the white open cupboards that you've seen in previous photos up at roof height to store very seldom used items.
I'll move the spray cans down into the filing cabinet lower drawers soon. The black boxes are paper archive boxes, which fit perfectly.
You can also see my pride and joy B&O Beovox speakers up there. These are now 43 years old and sound absolutely beautiful. They are currently powered by a big old Sony AVR, which is going to be replaced with one of those Topping Class T amps in a week or so and tidying up the wiring.
Next will be a bit more sanding on the drywall, and then a paint. I've just been putting it off because its been soooo hot, and sweat + drywall dust is just awful. I reckon I might tackle it over the Easter weekend if its cooled down a bit.
Thanks for reading ..
Been working on the interior when I get the chance, rare these days, I'm sure we can all relate to that!
I had an old roller toolbox that I really don't need as a floor standing unit, so I decide to mount it up under the island bench near the vice. It holds all my clamps, chocks, blocks etc that I that will use with my vice regularly. Always handy to have things like that close at hand. Was an easy job really, took off the caster wheels, put some 3" square plates on the underside of the top and screwed up through them into the hardwood of the bench. I will likely paint it blue eventually to match my Homak 42" roller that you can see in the background.
I then set about making my desk. This is all from second hand stuff that I got on ebay. The key part is the 4 x metal 3 drawer filing cabinets. The idea is similar to the toolbox benches I've seen elsewhere on this site. I've welded a frame from 50mm SHS gal, and slotted in the cabinets from above
Put on the bench top (another second hand piece) and that finished it off
Its pretty level, but I will get some little adjustable feet as there is a very slight wobble/rock in it. All up it owes me about $145 which fits in with the budget aspect of the build
I also mounted up the white open cupboards that you've seen in previous photos up at roof height to store very seldom used items.
I'll move the spray cans down into the filing cabinet lower drawers soon. The black boxes are paper archive boxes, which fit perfectly.
You can also see my pride and joy B&O Beovox speakers up there. These are now 43 years old and sound absolutely beautiful. They are currently powered by a big old Sony AVR, which is going to be replaced with one of those Topping Class T amps in a week or so and tidying up the wiring.
Next will be a bit more sanding on the drywall, and then a paint. I've just been putting it off because its been soooo hot, and sweat + drywall dust is just awful. I reckon I might tackle it over the Easter weekend if its cooled down a bit.
Thanks for reading ..
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
Just awesome, love what you have done.
I am thinking over heads as well.
Many thanks for the update.
Regards
I am thinking over heads as well.
Many thanks for the update.
Regards
Just came across and read through your thread, spectral.
Can imagine how idyllic it would be living 2 hours west, you said near Toowoomba?
Your new set up looks great, and is both well planned and well executed.
I like the fact that you've located it in the back yard, and have side access available to enable that.
Well done
Can imagine how idyllic it would be living 2 hours west, you said near Toowoomba?
Your new set up looks great, and is both well planned and well executed.
I like the fact that you've located it in the back yard, and have side access available to enable that.
Well done
Grumblebum
Well-known member
Looking good spectral.
GB.
GB.
Motoman1100
Well-known member
I love the filing cabinet Idea! What a great way to repurpose some old cabinets.
Thanks Motoman! Yeah at $30 each they were cheap and practical storage. Bonus points was that the top drawers come with partitioning plates that you can adjust forwards and backwards to change the size of the compartments.
In other news, my little Topping Class T amp arrived today. I need to put a small shelf on the wall for it, but I couldn't help myself and plugged it in without tidying the cables etc.
Amazing sound from such a small package, highly recommended. This is the VX1 with built in USB DAC for those that have a PC/Laptop in their garages as well as direct line-in for iPods/Phones etc. Quality kit.
In other news, my little Topping Class T amp arrived today. I need to put a small shelf on the wall for it, but I couldn't help myself and plugged it in without tidying the cables etc.
Amazing sound from such a small package, highly recommended. This is the VX1 with built in USB DAC for those that have a PC/Laptop in their garages as well as direct line-in for iPods/Phones etc. Quality kit.