There are lots of things to think about when buying a shed. Whether you're after a DIY kitset shed or want our professional shed installers to do it for you, this guide will help you work through the considerations needed to find the perfect shed. For advice from our shed experts, visit our shed display yard in Albany, Auckland to see 25+ sheds on display, call us or email us.
Some sheds are better for certain purposes than others, for example, sheds with internally framing are best if you want to line your shed and hang shelves and items. If you live near the sea, timber sheds or steel sheds with extra rust protection are a good idea.
Sheds with timber frames allow you to line the interior with plywood, pegboard, or attach shelves and hanging devices. We also provide a range of shelves and other shed accessories to help you create whatever shed storage arrangements you need.
All of our sheds are waterproof but frost and condensation can make some sheds a little damp. Steel sheds can get condensation on the inside if the base is not completely dry. There are several options for shed floors, bases and foundations that will help with a dry shed interior. Timber sheds are generally better insulated and can be lined with building paper. If you want to line or insulation a shed, you’ll need to choose a framed shed.
Steel sheds come in plain steel known as Zincalume and a range of Coloursteel colours. Coloursteel colours cost a little more than plain steel / Zincalume. If you see a shed with more than one colour, it can likely be changed to a single colour and vice versa. We can even help you find a shed to match the colour of your house - let us know the paint colour and we'll work it out.
Pine sheds such as our Pinehaven timber sheds can be painted or stained. Cedar sheds are generally chosen for their good looks, so most people prefer to use an oil or clear stain on those. All our timber sheds are made of treated timber for outdoor use, so it's not necessary to paint or stain your timber shed, but you can if you want to.
Resin sheds such as our Keter resin sheds are a great choice if you want a lightweight, low-maintenance shed that is easy to assemble without tools, and move if you need to. Resin sheds need a perfectly flat, level base to sit on and may still need ground fastenings - sheds have been known to blow away in cyclones!
There are a few important things to think about when deciding where your shed will go, and how big it can be.
→ Download shed measuring guide
Sheds need to be assembled on flat, level ground - this means no more than 1-2 degrees slope or it will be wobbly and hard to assemble. While sheds can be placed directly on the ground, this may not keep the content completely dry.
Learn how to prepare a flat, solid base for your shed yourself, or book an expert shed installer to visit your site and give you an estimate for installing your shed for you.
It can help to measure big items that need to go in your shed and map the out on paper to work out how big your shed needs to be. We recommend always going a little bigger than you think you need if you have the space - we’ve never heard anyone say they wish they bought a smaller shed!
Approximate size of common items stored in sheds:
Lawnmower: 750mm x 500mm
Ladder: 200mm x 500mm
Single Kayak: 3200mm x 750mm
Lawnmower (handle up): 1500mm x 500mm
4 Burner BBQ: 1500mm x 600mm
Quad Bike: 2100mm x 1200mm
Bicycle: 1700mm x 600mm
Wheelbarrow: 1300mm x 500mm
Many of our sheds have multiple options for door type. Choose sheds with single doors or sheds with double doors. Cabins, offices and sleepouts can have single or double glazed doors - check out sheds with french doors or sheds with ranch sliders. Sliding doors are a great option for sheds in tight spaces. Roller doors are great for maximum access to the sheds contents, or where large items need to go in and out.
On many sheds, you can move the door to the center, left or right of the long side of the shed, or even move it to the short end of the shed if you’re trying to fill a narrow space. Check out narrow sheds.
Many sheds can have windows in a number of positions. Even a small shed can benefit from adding a window to let light in, keep the shed warm and dry and make it easier to see what’s inside. Cabins, offices and sleepouts come with windows as standard, with many options for changing the position or adding more windows. Adding clearlight roof panels is another create option for bringing light into a shed. Use the customisations options on each shed's product page to understand the options and pricing for different door options.
Most of our customers assemble their sheds themselves - they are all DIY kitset sheds, and we provide well-written instructions and a list of tools required for each shed. Factors impacting the complexity of shed assembly are:
Is there enough space where you are planning to place your shed? Consider how the door will open, roof overhangs and ease of access for assembly and getting in and out of the shed.
How much work will be required to provide a solid, flat base for your shed to sit on? 'Flat' means no more than a few degrees of slope or your shed will be wobbly and generally hard to assemble. There are many ways to prepare the ground for your shed - laying pavers or gravel, timber 'skids', or set in ground foundations if it's a larger building.
→ Shed bases & foundations
We deliver most sheds for free to a local Gubba or Mainfreight depot.
Most sheds will fit in a car when boxed up, but some will require a trailer. We'll soon have a guide that will help you understand which sheds can be picked up in a car.
